A Study to Evaluate Topical Phenylephrine Gel in the Management of Faecal Incontinence

Condition(s) targeted: Faecal Incontinence

Intervention: 10% Phenylephrine hydrochloride gel (Drug)

Phase: Phase 3

Status: Terminated

Sponsored by: S.L.A. Pharma AG

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Susan Clark, MD FRCS, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: St Mark's Hospital, The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

The aim of the study is to test the hypothesis that topical application of phenylephrine improves faecal continence and quality of life in subjects with passive faecal incontinence after ileo-anal pouch construction.

Official title: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate Topical 10% Phenylephrine Gel in the Management of Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis (IPAA)-Related Faecal Incontinence

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

Primary outcome: The primary efficacy variable will be the change from baseline to the end of study in the faecal incontinence score (St Mark's)

Secondary outcome:

Efficacy:

Number of daytime faecal incontinence episodes of liquid/mucus and solid stool

Number of nights with nocturnal incontinence episodes of liquid/mucus and solid stool

Number of incontinence episodes of gas

Faecal incontinence quality of life scale

Subject satisfaction with treatment

Subject assessment of overall change from baseline

Loperamide or other constipating agent usage

Anal manometry measurements

Safety:

AEs

Blood pressure

Pulse rate

Changes in other physical examination findings

Changes in biochemical or haematological markers

Detailed description: Faecal seepage and even frank incontinence at night can be a problem for approximately 30% of patients who have undergone ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA). Nocturnal seepage may be a problem in patients who do not have gross incontinence, or who may even have no incontinence during the day. Although baseline continence during the day is maintained by involuntary control of the internal anal sphincter, this can be supplemented by voluntary contraction of the external sphincter. While sleeping, this supplementary external sphincter effect is lost and internal anal sphincter tone is reduced, leading to seepage. This is obviously distressing and leads some patients to wear a pad to reduce the soiling that may occur.

The primary objective is to determine the effect of 10% phenylephrine hydrochloride gel, applied three times a day, on the change from baseline to the end of study (8 weeks)in the faecal incontinence score (St Mark's) with passive faecal incontinence after ileo-anal pouch construction, compared with placebo.

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

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Incontinence of solid or liquid stool/mucus following ileo-anal pouch construction, at

least once per week over the last month

- At least six months must have elapsed since IPAA surgery or six months since closure

of a loop ileostomy created during IPAA surgery, whichever is the later

- Aged 18 years or over

- If female, the subject must not be lactating and must be (a) post-menopausal, (b)

surgically sterilised, or (c) have a negative pregnancy test result prior to entry into the study and will use adequate contraception for the duration of the study (sterilization of partner, abstinence, an intra-uterine device (IUD), double barrier method or oral hormonal contraception).

- Written informed consent to participate has been provided

NB: Seepage, leakage, soiling of faecal material is regarded as incontinence.

Exclusion Criteria:

- A history of surgery to the anal sphincter complex

- Active pouchitis (determined by clinical examination and macroscopic inflammation on

endoscopy. Patients on maintenance antibiotics need not be excluded but their antibiotic dose should remain the same throughout the study)

- Undergone pelvic radiotherapy at any time

- Cardiac or cardiovascular disease, including ischaemic heart disease, history of

stroke, cerebral arteriosclerosis, aneurysm, tachycardia or hypertension

- Hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus

- Crohn's disease (indeterminate colitis is not an exclusion criterion)

- The use of α- or β-adrenoceptor agonists (other than inhaled β-adrenoceptor agonists)

or antagonists, other sympathomimetics or any cardiovascular drugs during the study (including eyedrops, nasal drops and OTC cold cures containing phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine)

- The use of mono-amine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants in the 4 weeks

prior to the first dose of study medication or during the study

- Any mental or other impairment which, in the investigator's opinion, would render them

unlikely to be able to comply with the requirements of the study

- Considered by their physician unlikely to be able to comply with the protocol

- Participation in a clinical trial within the past three months

- Known hypersensitivity to phenylephrine or excipients

- History of drug or alcohol abuse

St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom

Starting date: February 2007
Ending date: November 2007
Last updated: November 28, 2007