Safety and Efficacy of Gabapentin in Postherpetic Neuralgia

Condition(s) targeted: Neuralgia,Postherpetic

Intervention: Gabapentin Extended Release tablets (Drug)

Phase: Phase 3

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: Depomed

Overall contact:
Karen O'Brien, Phone: 512-747-5662, Email: Karen.O'Brien@austin.ppdi.com

Gabapentin and pregabalin are treatments for some types of neuropathic pain, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). However, these treatments usually need to be taken 3 times a day for effective pain control. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a new gabapentin tablet, which only needs to be taken once a day, is safe and effective for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

Official title: A Phase 3 Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Gabapentin Extended Release (G-ER) Tablets in the Treatment of Patients With Postherpetic Neuralgia

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Primary outcome:

The primary study objective is to assess the relative efficacy of G-ER versus placebo in reducing the average daily pain score from the baseline week to the final week of the efficacy treatment period (Treatment Week 10) in patients with PHN

Daily pain scores will be measured using an electronic diary.

Secondary outcome: Secondary objectives include assessment of changes from baseline in average daily sleep interference scores

Detailed description: The primary study objective is to assess the relative efficacy of G-ER dosed once daily (1800 mg following the evening meal), versus placebo in reducing the mean daily pain score from the baseline week to the end of the efficacy treatment period (Treatment Week 10) in patients with PHN.

Secondary efficacy measures will include changes from baseline in mean weekly sleep interference scores, Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and Investigator-Rated Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC).

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men or women 18 years or older who have experienced pain for at least 6 months, but not more than 5 years after the healing of a herpes zoster skin rash(typically about 4 months after the rash first appears).

2. Patient has a pain intensity score of at least 4 on the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Patients should never be informed of the pain intensity criterion prior to screening or randomization.

3. Patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative follow-up urine pregnancy test at randomization.

4. Patient has a mean baseline week pain intensity score of at least 4 on the 11-point NRS scale at the end of a 1-week baseline period and has completed at least 4 days of daily pain diary entries during the baseline week.

5. Patients must have a minimum washout period of greater than 5 times the half-life of the drug of several medications.

6. Patients currently treated with gabapentin pr pregabalin at screening may be eligible for the study, but must have a tapering period wherein the dose of gabapentin or pregabalin is reduced gradually over a period of 5 days followed by a two day washout prior to the Baseline Week.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have previously not responded to treatment for PHN with gabapentin or pregabalin.

2. Patients who previously experienced dose-limiting adverse effects that prevented titration of gabapentin to an effective dose.

3. Patient is a nursing mother.

4. Patient has hypersensitivity to gabapentin.

5. Patient has had neurolytic or neurosurgical treatment for PHN.

6. Patient has severe pain from causes other than PHN.

7. Patient has used injected anesthetics or steroids within 30 days of baseline.

8. Patient has skin conditions in the area affected by the neuropathy that could alter sensation.

9. Patient is in an immunocompromised state.

10. Patient has an estimated creatinine clearance less than 50 ml/min.

11. Patient has had malignancy within past 2 years other than basal cell carcinoma.

12. Patient has had gastric reduction surgery.

13. Patient has severe chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation [unless attributed to drugs that will be washed out], uncontrolled irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or unexplained weight loss.

14. Patient has any abnormal chemistry or hematology results that are deemed by the investigator to be clinically significant.

15. Patient has a history of substance abuse within the past year.

16. Patient has a history of seizure (except for infantile febrile seizure) or is at risk of seizure due to head trauma.

17. Patient has a history of chronic hepatitis B or C, hepatitis within the past 3 months, or HIV infection.

18. Patient has any other clinically significant medical or psychological condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator would jeopardize the safety of the patient or affect the validity of the study results.

19. Continuing use of any concomitant medication excluded by Inclusion Criterion 5.

20. Patient has participated in a clinical trial of an investigational drug or device within 30 days of the screening visit.

Karen O'Brien, Phone: 512-747-5662, Email: Karen.O'Brien@austin.ppdi.com

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Recruiting

Birmingham, Alabama, United States; Recruiting

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States; Recruiting

Phoenix, Arizona, United States; Recruiting

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States; Recruiting

Lancaster, California, United States; Recruiting

La Habra, California, United States; Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States; Recruiting

Pismo Beach, California, United States; Recruiting

San Francisco, California, United States; Recruiting

Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States; Recruiting

Pueblo, Colorado, United States; Recruiting

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States; Recruiting

Naples, Florida, United States; Recruiting

New Port Richey, Florida, United States; Recruiting

Orlando, Florida, United States; Recruiting

Tampa, Florida, United States; Recruiting

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States; Recruiting

Marietta, Georgia, United States; Recruiting

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States; Recruiting

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States; Recruiting

Shreveport, Louisiana, United States; Recruiting

West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, United States; Recruiting

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States; Recruiting

Chaska, Minnesota, United States; Recruiting

Florissant, Missouri, United States; Recruiting

Jefferson City, Missouri, United States; Recruiting

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States; Recruiting

High Point, North Carolina, United States; Recruiting

Bismarck, North Dakota, United States; Recruiting

Fargo, North Dakota, United States; Recruiting

Canton, Ohio, United States; Recruiting

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States; Recruiting

Kettering, Ohio, United States; Recruiting

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States; Recruiting

Warwick, Rhode Island, United States; Recruiting

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, United States; Recruiting

Pelzer, South Carolina, United States; Recruiting

Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States; Recruiting

Austin, Texas, United States; Recruiting

Longview, Texas, United States; Recruiting

New Braunfels, Texas, United States; Recruiting

San Antonio, Texas, United States; Recruiting

Wichita Falls, Texas, United States; Recruiting

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States; Recruiting

Spokane, Washington, United States; Recruiting

Starting date: February 2008
Ending date: September 2009
Last updated: October 30, 2008