Clinical trial NCT00300222 (phase 3, status: completed)
Conditions: peripheral nervous system diseases, pain, neuralgia, herpes zoster, shingles
ICD codes: G64, M35.06, P14.9, P14.8, C47.9, D36.10, R94.138, N50.82, R07.2, R07.82, R10.13, R10.33, R14.1, R52, G50.0, M54.81, B02.22, M79.2, B02.39
Drugs: ngx-4010
SMILES: COC1=C(O)C=CC(CNC(=O)CCCC\C=C\C(C)C)=C1
Eligibility criteria:

        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.