A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Multicenter, Efficacy and Safety Trial of Single Cycle Tetrodotoxin in the Treatment of Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathic Pain
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Intervention
- Tetrodotoxin
- Conditions
- Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathic Pain
- Sponsor
- Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Enrollment
- 35
- Locations
- 14
- Primary Endpoint
- NPRS Pain reduction - at week 4
- Status
- Terminated
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
To be eligible for the trial, subjects must have ongoing moderate to severe neuropathic pain related to a prior course of platinum and/or taxane chemotherapy and have no clinical evidence of actively progressive disease.
The trial period will comprise a Screening period (up to 35 Days), randomization and a 4-day treatment period, followed by a 12-week follow up period (12 weeks total after initial treatment), and an End-of-Trial/Follow-up visit which will occur at Week 13. This is a study to research the effects of the study drug on neuropathic pain compared placebo.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Male or female subjects aged ≥21 years.
- •Subjects and their partners must agree to using effective methods of birth control from the time of signature of the informed consent form up until 30 days following the end of the Treatment Period.
- •Subjects with neuropathic pain attributed to platinum and/or taxane chemotherapy for a minimum of 3 months duration from screening.
- •Subjects with cancer who have completed a chemotherapy regimen that included taxanes or platinums (or in combination) and have no clinical evidence of actively progressive disease. Subjects must have undergone at least a 90-Day washout period between the last dose of cytotoxic chemotherapy/radiotherapy agent and randomization. Concurrent hormonal therapy and immunotherapy that do not cause neuropathy are permitted.
- •Subjects with a score of 4 or higher out of 10 on the Diagnosing Neuropathic Pain-DN4 Questionnaire (Appendix F) at Screening.
- •Subjects must have at least 10 non-missing scores in the 14 Days prior to randomization during their Baseline Period.
- •Subjects with moderate to severe neuropathic pain that has been stable for 14 Days. Stable pain will be confirmed using an 11-point (0-10) NPRS. To establish moderate or severe stable pain, the average daily pain scores during the 14-Day Baseline Period must be ≥4 with fluctuation in the daily pain score of ≤2 points in increase or decrease. Subjects with an average pain score \>9 at Baseline will be excluded.
- •Subjects with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 0 or 1 (Oken et al, 1982).
- •Subjects who are able to communicate well with the trial staff and to comply with the trial requirements (restrictions, appointments, and examination schedule).
- •Subjects who are able to complete the trial-related questionnaires independently in either English or in the local language.
Exclusion Criteria
- •History of peripheral neuropathy attributed to any cause other than platinum or taxane chemotherapy (e.g., radiotherapy, vinca alkaloids, diabetes, alcohol, toxin, hereditary, human immunodeficiency virus, or severe malnutrition).
- •Subjects who have received TTX at any time prior to enrolment.
- •Subjects receiving agents known to cause peripheral neuropathy within 90 Days of randomization.
- •Current use of any other therapy (including alternative nonmedical therapy) for the treatment of neuropathic pain within 60 Days of randomization unless the dose is stable for the 60 Days immediately prior to randomization. Subjects who fail this criterion can be rescreened after 60 Days of stability.
- •Current use of opioids or plans to start using opioids during the study period. However, opioids at doses of ≤90 mg morphine equivalents per day are permitted as long as subject is on stable dose for at least 60 days prior to randomization and plan on staying on that stable dose (fixed dose and schedule) throughout the study.
- •Subjects who require rescue medication for breakthrough pain with medication other than acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Before and after randomization, acetaminophen will be allowed at doses up to 2600 mg per day \<3 times a week or Ibuprofen will be allowed at doses up to 1200 mg per day \<3 times a week.
- •Any concomitant medication that prolongs the QT or QRS interval unless on a stable dose for 60 Days prior to randomization.
- •Subjects with known impaired renal function as determined by a screening serum creatinine \>1.5x normal.
- •Subjects who have not recovered from all toxicities related to chemotherapy to \< grade 1 or mild AE's with the exception of CINP.
- •Subjects who have inadequate organ function tests including: Hgb \< 10 g/dl; ANC \< 1500/µL; Plt. count \< 100,000/µL; liver function (ALT and/or AST) more than 2 times the upper limit of normal.
Arms & Interventions
Tetrodotoxin for injection
30 µg, 1 ml SC injection in the thigh or abdomen, twice daily for 4 Days
Intervention: Tetrodotoxin
Placebo
1.0 mL of placebo, SC injection in the thigh or abdomen, twice daily for 4 Days
Intervention: Placebo
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
NPRS Pain reduction - at week 4
Time Frame: At week 4
The Change from Baseline (average of Days -14 to -1) at Week 4 in average weekly NPRS scores in subjects treated with TTX compared to Placebo
Secondary Outcomes
- NPRS Pain reduction - at week 8(At week 8)
- NPRS Pain reduction - at week 12(At week 12)