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Tetrodotoxin Open-label Efficacy and Safety Continuation Study (TEC-006OL)
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified March 2011 by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

First Received on July 28, 2008.   Last Updated on May 2, 2011   History of Changes
Sponsor: Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Information provided by: Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00726011
  Purpose

Different pathophysiologic mechanisms are responsible for the development of chronic pain disorders. Pain pathways are triggered in part by ectopic discharges of voltage-sensitive sodium channels, which are in abundance in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a selective blocker of Na+ channels and causes analgesia either by decreasing the propagation of action potentials by Na+ channels and/or by blocking of ectopic discharges associated with chronic pain.

Tectin™ is an injectable formulation of TTX extracted from the puffer fish (fugu). Results from animal pharmacology studies revealed that Tectin™ is a more potent analgesic than standard analgesic agents such as aspirin, morphine or meperidine.

At present, the management of severe cancer pain generally includes the use of opiates. This can often result in undesirable side effects, and treatment with this type of medication is not always effective. Because currently available pain-relieving therapy is unsatisfactory for many patients, there is a need for new therapeutic approaches for the management of moderate or severe cancer pain.

Recent studies indicate that intramuscular (into a muscle) or subcutaneous (under the skin) injections of tetrodotoxin (Tectin) may reduce pain in cancer patients who did not respond to standard therapies.

The current proposed study (TEC-006OL) is designed to provide the option for all patients who participated in the TEC-006 study (both tetrodotoxin and placebo-treated) to receive or continue to receive tetrodotoxin treatment.


Condition Intervention Phase
Pain
Cancer
Biological: Tetrodotoxin
Phase III

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: A Multicentre, Open-label, Long-term Efficacy and Safety Continuation Study of Subcutaneous Tetrodotoxin (Tectin™) for Moderate to Severe Cancer-related Pain

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Efficacy: long-term efficacy of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in reducing pain and improving quality of life. Safety: long-term safety and tolerability of s.c. TTX [ Time Frame: Repeat treatment for patients with meaningful analgesic response ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • For each Treatment Cycle: the total number of days a subject meets the definition of pain response. [ Time Frame: Repeat treatment for subjects with meaningful analgesic response ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 120
Study Start Date: July 2008
Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2011
Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Tetrodotoxin
There is only one arm; active treatment with Tectin
Biological: Tetrodotoxin
30 µg twice daily for 4 days; repeated every two weeks as long as there is a meaningful analgesic response
Other Name: Tectin

  Show Detailed Description

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

All patients who participated in the TEC-006 study (tetrodotoxin and placebo-treated) will be eligible for inclusion in this study provided they wish to continue to receive treatment and meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

NOTE: The blinded treatment assignment of patients in the TEC-006 will not be revealed to either the investigator or the patient. Patients will not be aware which treatment they received in the TEC-006 study. All patients will receive tetrodotoxin treatment in the TEC-006OL study.

A patient will be eligible or continue to be eligible for inclusion in this study (First Treatment Cycle and subsequent Treatment Cycles) only if all of the following criteria apply:

  1. Male or female 18 years of age and over
  2. In-patients or out-patients with a diagnosis of cancer
  3. Patients must be experiencing somatic, visceral and/or neuropathic pain related to cancer.
  4. Inadequately controlled pain: Pain intensity described as 'moderate', 'severe' or 'excruciating', as assessed by the VRS during the screening/baseline period of the First Treatment Cycle, and a baseline pain intensity score of ≥4 as assessed by NRS (worst, average, or component-specific pain).
  5. Life expectancy of > 3 months.
  6. Ability to communicate well with the Investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study.
  7. Willingness to give written informed consent (prior to any study-related procedures being performed) and to be able to adhere to the study restrictions, appointments and examination schedule.

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply:

  1. Planned initiation of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or bisphosphonates within 30 days prior to enrolment.
  2. Use of anaesthetics.
  3. Use of lidocaine, and other types of antiarrhythmic drugs.
  4. Use of scopolamine and acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting drugs such as physostigmine.
  5. History of CO2 retention, or SaO2 <80% either on room air or O2 of not greater than 2-4 L/min by nasal cannula.
  6. Second or third degree heart block or prolonged QTc interval (corrected for rate) on screening ECG (confirmed > 450 msec on repeated occasion) or any other active cardiac arrhythmia or abnormality that would constitute a clinical risk.
  7. Coagulation or bleeding defects if in the opinion of the Investigator this represents a risk to the subject considering the subcutaneous (s.c.) route of administration.
  8. Known hypersensitivity to puffer fish, tetrodotoxin and/or its derivatives.
  9. Received an investigational agent other than tetrodotoxin within 30 days prior to screening or who is scheduled to receive an investigational drug other than tetrodotoxin during the course of the study.
  10. Females who are lactating or at risk of pregnancy (i.e., sexually active with fertile males and not using an adequate form of birth control).
  11. Females with a positive pregnancy test at screening or on admission to study site.
  12. Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, is likely to interfere with the successful collection of the measures required for the study or poses a risk to the patient.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00726011

Contacts
Contact: Lyne Cantin 604-676-7910 lynec@wexpharma.com

Locations
Australia, New South Wales
Sacred Heart Hospice, St. Vincent's Hospital Recruiting
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2010
Contact: Clinical Trials Nurse     02 8282 8305 or 02 8282 9446     jchambers2@stvincents.com.au    
Principal Investigator: Richard Chye, Prof            
Australia, Queensland
Mater Hospitals Recruiting
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4101
Contact: Angela Tupani     +61 (7) 3163 3884     Angela.O'Shea@mater.org.au    
Principal Investigator: Janet Hardy, Prof            
Australia, South Australia
Southern Adelaide Palliative Services Recruiting
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5041
Contact: Aine Greene     +61 (8) 8275 1057     Aine.Greene@health.sa.gov.au    
Principal Investigator: Peter Allcroft, Dr.            
Australia, Victoria
Monash Medical Centre, Moorabin Campus Recruiting
Bentleigh East, Victoria, Australia, 3165
Contact: Gilian Kruss     +61 3 9928 8809     gillian.kruss@southernhealth.org.au    
Principal Investigator: Michael Franco, Dr.            
Royal Melbourne Hospital Recruiting
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3050
Contact: Gillian McCarthy     +61 (3) 9342 7067     Gillian.McCarthy@mh.org.au    
Principal Investigator: Brian Le, Dr.            
The Alfred Hospital Recruiting
Prahran, Victoria, Australia, 3181
Contact: Julia Brinsdon-Farr     +61 3 9076 0825     J.Farr@alfred.org.au    
Contact: Paula Balchin     +61 3 9076 0825     J.Farr@alfred.org.au    
Principal Investigator: Michelle Gold, Dr.            
Canada, British Columbia
WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. Recruiting
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1G8
Contact: Lyne Cantin     604-676-7910     lynec@wexpharma.com    
New Zealand
Christchurch Hospital Recruiting
Christchurch, New Zealand, 4710
Contact: Kate Grundy, Dr.     +64 3 3641 473     Kate.Grundy@CDBH.govt.nz    
Principal Investigator: Kate Grundy, Dr.            
Waikato Hospital Recruiting
Hamilton, New Zealand, 3240
Contact: Peter Kirk, Dr.     +64 7 839 8691     kirkp@waikatodhb.govt.nz    
Principal Investigator: Peter Kirk, Dr.            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Investigators
Study Chair: Dr. Neil Hagen, MD, FRCPC Tom Baker Cancer Centre
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Lyne Cantin, Project Manager, WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00726011     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: TEC-006OL
Study First Received: July 28, 2008
Last Updated: May 2, 2011
Health Authority: Canada: Health Canada

Keywords provided by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.:
due
cancer treatment

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Tetrodotoxin
Sodium Channel Blockers
Membrane Transport Modulators
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Pharmacologic Actions
Cardiovascular Agents
Therapeutic Uses
Anesthetics, Local
Anesthetics
Central Nervous System Depressants
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Central Nervous System Agents

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on February 12, 2012