Study of NGX-4010 for the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia

This study is a 12-week randomized, double-blind, controlled multi-center evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NGX-4010 for the treatment of PHN. Eligible subjects will have pain from PHN, with average numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) scores during screening of 3 to 9 (inclusive). Painful areas of up to 1000 square centimeters will be treated during a single treatment administration in this study. Subjects will be randomly assigned to receive active NGX-4010 patches or low-concentration control patches that are identical in appearance, according to a 1:1 allocation scheme.

Subjects may be on stable chronic oral pain medication regimens, but currently will not be using any topical pain medications on the affected areas. NPRS scores for the average pain in the past 24 hours will be recorded daily in the evening, beginning on the day of the Screening Visit (usually on Day -14). Subjects will continue to record NPRS scores in a take-home diary from the evening on the day of treatment through the evening before the Termination Visit at Week 12. Subjects will return for interim follow-up visits at Weeks 4 and 8 following study treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of PHN, with at least 6 months of pain since shingles vesicle crusting
• Average NPRS scores for PHN-associated pain during screening period of 3 to 9
• Intact, unbroken skin over the painful area(s) to be treated
• If taking chronic pain medications, be on a stable (not PRN) regimen for at least 21 days prior to Study Patch Application Visit (Day 0) and willing to maintain medications at same stable dose(s) and schedule throughout study
• Female subjects with child-bearing potential must have a negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy test, within 7 days of Study Patch Application Visit
• All subjects must be willing to use effective methods of birth control and/or refrain from participating in a conception process during the study (or, in the event of early termination from the study, for 30 days following experimental drug exposure)
• Be willing and able to comply with protocol requirements for the duration of study participation.
• Subjects must sign an informed consent form for this study approved by the Investigator's Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee (IRB/IEC).

Exclusion criteria

• Concomitant opioid medication, unless orally or transdermally administered and not exceeding a total daily dose of morphine 60 mg/day, or equivalent. Parenteral opioid use is excluded, regardless of dose.
• Unavailability of an effective rescue medication strategy for the subject, such as unwillingness to use opioid analgesics during study treatment, or high tolerance to opioids precluding the ability to relieve treatment-associated discomfort, as judged by Investigator.
• Active substance abuse or history of chronic substance abuse within the past year, or prior chronic substance abuse (including alcoholism) judged likely to recur during the study period by Investigator.
• Recent use (within 21 days preceding the Study Patch Application Visit [Day 0]) of any topically applied pain medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, menthol, methyl salicylate, local anesthetics including Lidoderm (lidocaine patch 5%), steroids or capsaicin products on the painful areas.
• Participation in a previous NeurogesX clinical trial in which subject received NGX-4010 (either blinded or open-label study treatment).
• Current use of any investigational agent, or Class 1 anti-arrhythmic drugs (such as tocainide and mexiletine).
• Diabetes mellitus, unless well-controlled as evidenced by an HbA1c level less than or equal to 9%.
• Hypertension, unless adequately controlled by medication.
• Significant pain of an etiology other than PHN. Subjects must not have significant ongoing pain from other cause(s) that may interfere with judging PHN-related pain.
• Painful PHN areas located on the face, above the hairline of the scalp, and/or in proximity to mucous membranes.
• Any implanted medical device (spinal cord stimulator, intrathecal pump or peripheral nerve stimulator) for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
• Hypersensitivity to capsaicin (i.e., chili peppers or OTC capsaicin products), local anesthetics, oxycodone hydrochloride, hydrocodone bitartrate or adhesives.
• Significant ongoing or untreated abnormalities or conditions, including active malignancy defined as treatment required in the last five (5) years, that in the opinion of the investigator would interfere either with the ability to complete the study or the evaluation of AEs.
• Recent history of a significant medical-surgical intervention in the judgment of the Investigator; including/not limited to major surgery or percutaneous angioplasty/coronary artery stent placement within the past 3 months, and receipt of immunosuppressive therapy within 3 months, prior to the Study Patch Application Visit [Day 0].
• Evidence of cognitive impairment including dementia that may interfere with subject's ability to complete daily pain diaries requiring subject's recall of average PHN pain level in the past 24 hours.