A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Clinical Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of ARX-F01 Sublingual Sufentanil in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery

The purpose of this study is to evaluate dosages of ARX-F01 (opioid pain medication) versus a placebo (or sugar pill) for the treatment of post-operative pain in subjects following abdominal surgery. We hypothesize that subjects receiving placebo will have poor pain relief and will drop out of the study sooner and more often than the ARX-F01 treated subjects.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria at Screening:

1. Male or female patients between 18 to 80 years of age.
2. Patient is scheduled to undergo an upper or lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.
3. Patient must be classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I - III.
4. Patient must have Body Mass Index \[BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2)\] between 18 and 39, inclusively.
5. Female patients of childbearing potential must be using an effective method of birth control from the screening visit through the end of study. Acceptable methods of birth control include oral or transdermal contraceptives, condom, spermicidal foam, intrauterine device (IUD), progestin implant or injection, abstinence, vaginal ring, or sterilization of partner. The reason for non-childbearing potential, such as bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, hysterectomy, or postmenopausal for ≥1 year, must be specified in the patient's case report form (CRF).
6. The patient must be willing and able to understand the study procedures and the use of pain scales, and to communicate meaningfully with the study personnel.
7. The patient must provide written informed consent and sign the Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria at Screening:

1. Patient is scheduled to undergo a laparoscopically-assisted abdominal surgery.
2. Patient has previously not responded to opioid analgesics for treatment of pain.
3. Patient is currently taking or has taken an opioid for more than 30 consecutive days of daily use at a daily dose equivalent to greater than 15 mg morphine within the past 3 months prior to surgery (e.g. more than 3 doses per day of Vicodin®, Norco®, Lortab® with 5 mg hydrocodone per tablet).
4. Patient has an allergy or hypersensitivity to opioids.
5. Patient currently has sleep apnea that has been documented by a sleep laboratory study.
6. Patient has any screening laboratory test value outside the laboratory normal range which is considered clinically significant by the Investigator.
7. Patient is a woman who is pregnant or lactating.
8. Patient has psychiatric disease or encephalopathy severe enough to prevent patient from providing reliable study documentation.
9. Patient, in the Investigator's judgment, does not have adequate ability to read and understand English.
10. Patient has a medical condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, could adversely impact the patient's participation or safety, conduct of the study, or interfere with the pain assessments, including chronic abdominal pain or active infection.
11. Patient has clinically significant renal or liver impairment which could affect metabolism or clearance of sufentanil.
12. Patient has a painful physical condition other than acute abdominal pain that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may confound post-operative pain assessments.
13. Patient has a history of drug, prescription medicine, or alcohol abuse within the past 2 years or a positive drug screen test for cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, phencyclidine, or methadone at screening.
14. Patient is receiving oxygen therapy at the time of screening.
15. Patient has participated in a clinical trial of an investigational drug or device within 30 days of screening visit or is scheduled to receive an investigational product other than ARX-F01 while participating in this study.

Exclusion Criteria at Randomization (during early PACU time period):

1. Patient has a respiratory rate that is less than 8 breaths per minute or greater than 24 breaths per minute.
2. Patient has arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) of less than 90% with supplemental oxygen.
3. Patient is not able to answer questions and follow commands.
4. Patient has vomiting that is not responsive to standard treatment.
5. The surgical procedure from incision to closure was longer than 4 hours.
6. There have been any deviations from the surgical or anesthetic protocols as specified in Section 6.1.2.1.

approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).