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Tetrodotoxin Open-Label Efficacy and Safety Continuation Study (TEC-006OL)
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc., July 2008
Sponsors and Collaborators: Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Multicentre
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

MedlinePlus related topics: Cancer
Drug Information available for: Tetrodotoxin
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Open Label, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: A Multicentre, Open-Label, Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Continuation Study of Subcutaneous Tetrodotoxin (Tectin™) for Moderate to Severe Cancer-Related Pain

Further study details as provided by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Efficacy: long-term efficacy of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in reducing pain outcome and improving quality of life. Safety: long-term safety and tolerability of s.c. TTX [ 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.

Estimated Enrollment: 120
Study Start Date: July 2008
Estimated Primary Completion Date: June 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
  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: Donna Shum 604-676-7896 donnas@wexpharma.com

Locations
Canada, British Columbia
WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. Recruiting
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1G8
Contact: Donna Shum     604-676-7896     donnas@wexpharma.com    
Sponsors and Collaborators
Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Multicentre
Investigators
Study Chair: Dr. Neil Hagen, MD, FRCPC Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Study Director: Dr. Jean Bourgouin, MD, CSO Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
  More Information

Responsible Party: WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. ( Jean Bourgouin, MD, Chief Scientific Officer )
Study ID Numbers: TEC-006OL
Study First Received: July 28, 2008
Last Updated: July 30, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00726011  
Health Authority: BGTD (Biologics & Genetics and Therapies Directorate): Health Canada

Keywords provided by Wex Pharmaceuticals Inc.:
due
cancer treatment

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Tetrodotoxin
Pain

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

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 14, 2009