Efficacy and Safety of ALGRX 3268 in Management of Needlestick Pain in Children.

Management of pain due to minor procedures such as venipuncture or peripheral venous canulation still represents an unmet medical need, especially in pediatric setting. Current therapeutic products have a relatively delayed onset of analgesia of at least 10 minutes; moreover the most used products require application with at least 30-60 minutes prior to procedure. Development of ALGRX 3268 is aimed at addressing this unmet need in management of pain associated with needlestick procedures.

ALGRX 3268 (Previously known as PowderJect(R) Dermal Lidocaine) is used for local anesthesia to provide within 1-3 minutes painless needle or cathether insertion for blod drawing. ALGRX 3268 is a single-use disposable system, incorporating a drug cassette and glass cylinder into a single hand held device, with a button to actuate the system.

The purpose of this phase III, multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ALGRX 3268 versus placebo in pediatric patients 3 to 18 years of age, who undergo venipuncture or peripheral venous canulation procedures. The trial will enroll approximate 504 evaluable subjects at centers located in the US.

Three age groups are enrolled: 3-7 years, 8-12 years, 13-18 years. Within each age group subjects are randomized to receive ALGRX 3268 0.5 mg/20 bar or pressure matched placebo. One to 3 minutes after administration of study treatment at the back of the hand or antecubital fosa, venipuncture is performed with a needle/Vacutainer, needle/syringe or "butterfly", at the discretion of the investigator.

Subjects 3-18 years are asked to assess pain on venipuncture using Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale, anchored at 0 for "no hurt" and 5 for "hurts worst". Assessment of pain will be analyzed in each age group 3-7, 8-12, 13-18 and using Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale.

Children in the middle (8-12) and older (13-18) age groups will also rate pain at the ACF and BOH using a 100 mm VAS anchored at 0 for "no pain" and at 100 for "extreme pain". Parent/legal guardian will evaluate child's level of pain on a 100 mm VAS anchored at 0, for "no pain", and at 100 for "extreme pain".

Safety ratings of skin are completed at 15 and 30 minutes following the procedure. AEs/SAEs will be monitored.

Inclusion criteria

• Outpatient children of either gender [M/F: 1:1] undergoing venipuncture or peripheral venous cannulation at the antecubital fossa or back of hand. Children must have sufficient cognitive skills to identify faces depicting extremes of pain on the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, (ages 3-12) and/or the extremes of pain on a 100 VAS (ages 8-18).
• Ages 3-7, 8-12, 13-18 years inclusive. Informed consent forms must have been approved by the appropriate IRB. Signed informed consent must have been granted by the parent/legal guardian and assent to participate should have been sought (either verbally or in writting) from each child.
• In females of childbearing potential who in the judgement of the investigator or designee were sexually active, a negative preganancy test must have been documented prior to enrollment. A negative urine preganancy test was required in all teenage girls over the age of 14 years. Surgically sterile females do not require a pregnancy test.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous history of allergic reactions to any local anesthetic. Any medical condition or instability that in the judgement of the investigator might have adversely impacted the conduct of the study and the collection of data.
• Subjects in whom the investigator determined that venipuncture could not be accomplished cleanly.
• Active local infection or other skin pathology on the dorsum of the hand. Subjects with tattos, surgical scars, ports, implantable devices or a skin condition that may have interfered with placement of study treatment or skin site assessments.
• Female subjects who were pregnant or lactating; females with a positive serum or urine pregnancy test; females of childbearing potential who were not using adequate contraception.
• Prior participation in an ALGRX 3268 study.
• Venipuncture at the proposed site within the prior 2 weeks (longer if bruising was apparent).