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NCT Number: NCT07672236

A Clinical Study to Compare BupiZenge With Lidocaine for Pain Due to Oral Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Most patients who receive radiation therapy for head and neck cancer develop painful sores in the mouth called oral mucositis. For many of them, these sores are severe and result in debilitating pain. The sores usually start in the third week of radiation and last aboutfive weeks, often continuing for two weeks after treatment ends. Current pain treatments, for instance lidocaine solution, only give short-lasting pain relief.

BupiZenge is a lozenge that dissolves slowly in the mouth and contains bupivacaine. Bupivacaine is a long-acting pain-relieving medicine and has been safely used for many years for both children and adults, and its safety profile is well understood. The BupiZenge lozenge is designed to give longer and more reliable pain relief for patients with mucositis in their mouth.

This study will check if BupiZenge works better to reduce pain than lidocaine, and if better pain control improves quality of life and reduces the need for strong pain medicines like opioids.

The main goal is to see how much mouth pain decreases after taking BupiZenge compared to lidocaine. This is measured by asking the patients to rate their pain score on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). This is done at different time-points, from before the dose until three hours after dose on the last day of radiotherapy.

The study will include 150 adults, both women and men, aged 18 to 80 years, who have head and neck cancer and are scheduled to receive radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. These patients will be randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups. The first is BupiZenge, which is a lozenge containing bupivacaine, which dissolves slowly in the mouth. The second is lidocaine, which is a liquid solution for use in the mouth that you gurgle or swish around in the mouth.

The study begins with a combined screening and run-in period that can last up to five weeks. During radiotherapy, patients record their mouth pain each day using a number scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). If the pain score is at least 4 (moderate pain) and they have developed mucositis in the mouth within 5 weeks, patients are randomly assigned to receive either BupiZenge or Lidocaine.

Treatment continues at least until radiotherapy is completed. If the patient has pain and mouth sores, and the treatment is working well, it may continue after radiotherapy ends, but only until the sores heal or for a maximum of six weeks in total, whichever occurs first. After treatment ends, there is a 30-day follow-up period.

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Key information

Conditions

Head & Neck Cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms Mouth Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Oral Mucositis Stomatitis Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

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About this study

Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of bupivacaine in plasma will be evaluated in a sub-trial including participants randomized to the BupiZenge treatment arm.

Approximately 15 participants (no more than 25), across all designated PK sites, will participate in a PK sub-trial. Blood samples will be collected before the dose and at scheduled time points up to three hours after the dose for PK evaluation. Samples will be analyzed by a central laboratory, and results will be reported to the Sponsor or Sponsor's designee during the course of the trial. Overall, the PK sub-group represents a targeted, ethical, and efficient approach to verify systemic safety parameters for BupiZenge in the intended patient population.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participant must provide signed written informed consent prior to trial participation and must be willing and able to comply with all requirements and restrictions of the trial.
  • Male or female aged ≥ 18 on the day of consent and ≤ 80 on the first day of dosing.
  • Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or nasopharynx.
  • About to start IMRT with curative intent with daily fractions of 2.0 Gy to 2.2 Gy to a cumulative intended dose of at least 60 Gy and a maximum of 72 Gy. Proton therapy given at equivalent biological doses is allowed.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0-2.
  • Female participants of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive measure or practice total sexual abstinence from the time of giving informed consent until at least 24 hours after last dose of IMP.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participation in another investigational interventional clinical trial within 3 months prior to first dosing, or for a longer period if required by local regulations, or within 5 half-lives of the investigational agent taken (whichever is longer). An exception is studies where patients are randomized to different radiotherapy settings, e.g. participation in DAHANCA 35 is allowed.
  • Previous radiation therapy to the head and/or neck area.
  • Pre-existing OM, active herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, or untreated or uncontrolled oral candidiasis.
  • Receiving high-dose (> 15 mg per day prednisolone), corticosteroids (for any indication).
  • Known allergy or intolerance to bupivacaine, lidocaine, or any of the excipients in the products.
  • Significant cardiac disease such as AV block II-III or requiring treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs in class III (e.g., amiodarone).
  • Inability to eat or drink, or dependence on an enteral feeding tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG] or nasogastric tube) for any reason.
  • Moderate/severe liver or kidney disease defined as:
  • AST/ALT > 3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN (unless related to Gilbert's syndrome)
  • glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2
  • Known diagnosis of epilepsy.
  • Known phenylketonuria (PKU).
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Any condition or circumstance-based on the investigator's assessment-that could increase risk to the participant, confound trial results, or interfere with compliance / participation (including inability or unwillingness to follow trial procedures, or any clinically significant physical or psychiatric condition).

Treatment and study plan

BupiZenge 25 mg

Drug

1 lozenge as needed. Do not chew or swallow. Dosing interval: ≥ 3 h. Max dose/24 h: 8 lozenges.

Lidocaine viscous 2%

Drug

10-15 mL as needed. Hold the solution in the mouth and distribute evenly, then either spit out or swallow. Dosing interval ≥ 3 h. Max dose/24 h: 120 mL.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total pain reduction in oral cavity pain over 3 hours after taking study treatment on the last day of radiotherapy

    Time frame: From before to 3 hours after dose, on the last day of radiotherapy

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). Participants will rate their pain before taking the study treatment and at several time points after dosing. These measurements will be combined to assess how pain changes over time after treatment and to compare BupiZenge with lidocaine.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total pain reduction in oral cavity pain over 3 hours after taking study treatment

    Time frame: From before dose to 3 hours after dose, on Day 1 and during Weeks 1 to 3

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). Participants will rate their pain before taking the study treatment and at several time points after dosing. These measurements will be combined to assess how pain changes over time after treatment and to compare BupiZenge with lidocaine.

  2. Proportion of patients with meaningful pain reduction over 3 hours after taking study treatment

    Time frame: From before dose to 3 hours after dose, on the last day of radiotherapy and during Weeks 1 to 3

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). Patients who achieve at least a 30% reduction in their overall pain will be considered responders. Pain scores will be collected before dosing and at several time points after dosing, and combined to assess the overall change in pain over time. The proportion of responders will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  3. Change in oral cavity pain 15 minutes after taking study treatment

    Time frame: From before dose to 15 minutes after dose during the week before end of radiotherapy and during Weeks 1 to 3 after radiotherapy

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). Weekly pain changes will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  4. Change in oral cavity pain 60 minutes after taking study treatment

    Time frame: From before dose to 60 minutes after dose during the week before end of radiotherapy and during Weeks 1 to 3 after radiotherapy

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). Weekly pain changes will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  5. Change in oral cavity pain from Day 1 before dose to later pre-dose assessments

    Time frame: From before dose (Day 1) to before dose during the week before end of radiotherapy and during Weeks 1 to 3 after radiotherapy

    Oral pain will be measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Weekly changes in pain before dose will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  6. Safety as measured frequency and severity of adverse events

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Adverse events and serious adverse events will be collected and graded using CTCAE v6.

  7. Change from baseline in hematology laboratory parameters.

    Time frame: From informed consent to 30 days after treatment discontinuation.

    Hematology laboratory parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count with differential count and platelet count) will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline. The frequency of values below, within, or above the reference range will be summarized by visit.

  8. Change from baseline in chemistry laboratory parameters.

    Time frame: From informed consent to 30 days after treatment discontinuation.

    Chemistry laboratory parameters (CRP, Albumin, ALT, AST, ALP, Bilirubin (total and conjugated), Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Creatinine, hCG (if applicable)) will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline. The frequency of values below, within, or above the reference range will be summarized by visit.

  9. Changes from baseline in body weight

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Body weight will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline. Changes in weight will be expressed as both absolute (kg) and relative (%) changes.

  10. Changes from baseline in blood pressure.

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Blood pressure will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline.

  11. Changes from baseline in heart rate.

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Heart rate will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline.

  12. Changes from baseline in body temperature .

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Body temperature will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline.

  13. Changes from baseline in respiratory rate.

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    Respiratory rate will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics, including changes from baseline.

  14. Tolerability as measured by dose modifications due to adverse events

    Time frame: From signature of informed consent up to 30 days after treatment discontinuation

    The number of participants who require dose modifications of study treatment due to adverse events will be recorded.

  15. Adverse Events related to local tolerability in the oral cavity, as assessed by CTCAE v6.0, will be summarized.

    Time frame: From Week 2 up to Week 5.

    Local tolerability in the oral cavity will be assessed and the result will be summarized by visit using descriptive statistics. The investigator will inspect the oral mucosa or tongue where the lozenge was placed to assess for any visible irritation or other local reaction. Any observed irritation will be documented and reported as an AE.

  16. Oral intake of opioids during the treatment period with concomitant BupiZenge/lidocaine treatment and radiotherapy comparing BupiZenge with lidocaine.

    Time frame: From randomization up to Week 5.

    Use of opioid pain medication will be recorded and converted to oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day. Opioid use will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  17. Time (days) to start of opioid medication during radiotherapy comparing BupiZenge with lidocaine

    Time frame: From randomization up to Week 5.

    The number of days from randomization until the participant first starts opioid pain medication will be recorded and compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  18. Change in Modified Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire (mOMDQ) Total Score

    Time frame: From randomization up to Week 5.

    Participants will complete the mOMDQ. Changes in the total score will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  19. Quality-of-life measured as change from baseline using RAND SF-36 questionnaire

    Time frame: From randomization up to Week 5.

    Participants will complete the Quality-of-life questionnaire RAND SF-36. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) score will be calculated according to the RAND SF-36 scoring algorithm. Change from baseline in PCS score will be summarized using descriptive statistics.

  20. Progression of oral mucositis from WHO Grade 2 to Grade 3 or higher

    Time frame: From randomization up to Week 5.

    The proportion of participants with worsening of oral mucositis, from WHO Grade 2 to Grade 3 or higher, during radiotherapy will be assessed and compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  21. Maximum Plasma Concentration [Cmax] of bupivaccaine in plasma.

    Time frame: Before the dose up to three hours after the dose. Two occasions per participant during the six-week treatment period

    Blood samples will be collected from approximately 15 of the participants receiving BupiZenge treatment.

  22. Maximum Plasma Concentration [Cmax] of bupivaccaine in plasma.

    Time frame: Before the dose up to three hours after the dose. Two occasions per participant during the six-week treatment period

    Blood samples will be collected from approximately 15 of the participants receiving BupiZenge treatment. Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine will be summarized descriptively at each time-point and visit they are assessed.

  23. Time to maximum Plasma Concentration [Tmax] of bupivaccaine in plasma.

    Time frame: Before the dose up to three hours after the dose. Two occasions per participant during the six-week treatment period

    Blood samples will be collected from approximately 15 of the participants receiving BupiZenge treatment. Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine will be summarized descriptively at each time-point and visit they are assessed. Tmax will be summarized using median and range.

  24. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 3 hours after dose (AUC0-3h)

    Time frame: Before the dose up to three hours after the dose. Two occasions per participant during the six-week treatment period

    Blood samples will be collected from approximately 15 of the participants receiving BupiZenge treatment. AUC 0-3h will be summarized descriptively at each time-point and visit they are assessed.

  25. Health Resource Utilization Questionnaire (HRUQ) Total Score at 30 days after treatment

    Time frame: Assessed 30 days after end of treatment

    Participants will complete the HRUQ. The questionnaire is structure for collecting healthcare utilization data in clinical research and health-economic evaluation. The total score will be compared between BupiZenge and lidocaine.

  26. Change in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Total Score from baseline to 30 days after treatment

    Time frame: From screening to 30 days after end of treatment

    Participants will complete the WPAI questionnaire. Change from baseline in total score will be summarized using descriptive statistics.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CONTACT

[email protected]

+468311420

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

OncoZenge AB

Industry

Collaborators

  • LINK Medical Research AB

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized, Open-label, Phase III Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of BupiZenge Compared to Lidocaine for Pain Associated With Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer

Acronym: BEAM-Pain

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 26, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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