azd1386 and Pain

Dose-finding studies in non-oncology areas are usually conducted in Phase II of the development process of a new potential medicine and it is key to choose a good design for such a study, as the results will decide if and how to proceed to Phase III. The present article has focus on the design of a dose-finding study for pain in osteoarthritis patients treated with the TRPV1 antagonist AZD1386. We describe different design alternatives in the planning of this study, the reasoning for choosing the adaptive design and experiences with conduct and interim analysis. Three alternatives were proposed: one single dose-finding study with parallel design, a programme with a smaller Phase IIa study followed by a Phase IIb dose-finding study, and an adaptive dose-finding study. We describe these alternatives in detail and explain why the adaptive design was chosen for the study. We give insights in design aspects of the adaptive study, which need to be pre-planned, like interim decision criteria, statistical analysis method and setup of a Data Monitoring Committee. Based on the interim analysis it was recommended to stop the study for futility since AZD1386 showed no significant pain decrease based on the primary variable. We discuss results and experiences from the conduct of the study with the novel design approach. Huge cost savings have been done compared to if the option with one dose-finding design for Phase II had been chosen. However, we point out several challenges with this approach.

Topics: Benzimidazoles; Clinical Trials Data Monitoring Committees; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Research Design; TRPV Cation Channels

Many patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) have insufficient relief on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Some patients have a hypersensitive esophagus and may respond to transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonists. Aim. To investigate the effect of the TRPV1 antagonist AZD1386 on experimental esophageal pain in NERD patients.. Enrolled patients had NERD and a partial PPI response (moderate-to-severe heartburn or regurgitation ≥3 days/week before enrolment despite ≥6 weeks' PPI therapy). Fourteen patients (21-69 years, 9 women) were block-randomized into this placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover study examining efficacy of a single dose (95 mg) of AZD1386. On treatment days, each participant's esophagus was stimulated with heat, distension, and electrical current at teaching hospitals in Denmark and Sweden. Heat and pressure pain served as somatic control stimuli. Per protocol results were analyzed.. Of 14 randomized patients, 12 were treated with AZD1386. In the esophagus AZD1386 did not significantly change the moderate pain threshold for heat [-3%, 95% confidence interval (CI), -22;20%], distension (-11%, 95% CI, -28;10%), or electrical current (6%, 95% CI, -10;25%). Mean cutaneous heat tolerance increased by 4.9°C (95% CI, 3.7;6.2°C). AZD1386 increased the maximum body temperature by a mean of 0.59°C (95% CI, 0.40-0.79°C), normalizing within 4 h.. AZD1386 had no analgesic effect on experimental esophageal pain in patients with NERD and a partial PPI response, whereas it increased cutaneous heat tolerance. TRPV1 does not play a major role in heat-, mechanically and electrically evoked esophageal pain in these patients. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: D9127C00002.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Benzimidazoles; Body Temperature; Cross-Over Studies; Dilatation; Double-Blind Method; Electric Stimulation; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Heartburn; Hot Temperature; Humans; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; Male; Middle Aged; Pain; Pain Threshold; Proton Pump Inhibitors; TRPV Cation Channels; Young Adult