Evaluation of the Antihyperalgesic Effect of Tapentadol in Two Human Experimental Models

MOR-NRI like Tapentadol are expected to reduce signs and symptoms of central sensitisation besides effectively reducing pain intensity in pain. Human pain surrogate models can serve in this proof-of-concept study to further elucidate this assumption.

To evaluate exploratory the antihyperalgesic effect of a single dose of Palexia® IR (Tapentadol) in two human experimental models of 1) cold and mechanical (pinprick) hyperalgesia after topical application of menthol at high-concentration \[40%\] and 2) of heat and mechanical (pinprick) hyperalgesia by topical applied capsaicin \[0.6%\] in comparison to placebo. Therefore, cold, heat and mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia will be determined by parameters of the Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). These parameters are cold and heat pain thresholds, mechanical pain threshold and sensitivity as well as dynamic mechanical allodynia. Further, the areas of dynamic mechanical allodynia and pinprick-hyperalgesia will be determined at each timepoint of QST-assessement.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provided written informed consent to participating in the trial.
2. Caucasian, female or male, and aged 18 years to 55 years, inclusive.
3. Body mass index between 18.5 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, inclusive, with a lower body weight limit of 50 kg.
4. In good health as determined by medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, vital signs (pulse rate, respiratory rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure), oxygen saturation, and laboratory monitoring (hematology, clinical chemistry, clotting, and urinalysis).
5. Subjects must be able to feel thermal and mechanical sensation (cold, warm, sharp, unpleasant sensation) on normal skin (at the forearm intended for menthol / capsaicin administration) confirmed by routine neurological bed-side testing.
6. Female subjects must be postmenopausal (with at least 2 years since last menstruation), surgically sterile (e.g., after hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy), or practicing an effective method of birth control (e.g., oral contraceptives, contraceptive injections, intrauterine device, double-barrier method, contraceptive patch, male partner sterilization) at the Enrollment Visit and during the trial.
7. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum hCG test at the Enrollment Visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The subject has received any of the IMPs or used an investigational medical device within 30 days or within a period less than 10 times the half life of an investigational drug, whichever is longer, before the first dose of IMP is scheduled.
2. History or presence of opioid abuse, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse or presence of an acute intoxication with alcohol, hypnotics, centrally acting analgesics, or psychotropic drugs.
3. Positive or missing drugs of abuse screening (alcohol breath test, urine screening test for drugs of abuse).
4. Diseases or conditions known to interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs.
5. History or presence of severe respiratory depression with hypoxia and/or hypocapnia, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cor pulmonale, severe bronchial asthma, paralytic ileus.
6. History or presence of hypersensitivity to Tapentadol, menthol, capsaicin/chili peppers or any of the other excipients of the Palexia® IR (Tapentadol), menthol, or capsaicin formulations or to opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone).
7. Subjects who have used any prescribed and non-prescribed systemic or topical medication, except contraceptives, on a daily base within 14 days before the Enrolment Visit, or anticipated use from the Enrolment Visit until the first administration of the IMP.
8. History or presence of seizure disorder and/or epilepsy or any condition associated with a significant risk for seizure disorder or epilepsy.
9. History of orthostatic hypotension.
10. Blood donation or acute loss of blood (more than 100 mL) during the 1 month before the enrollment visit, or intention to donate blood or blood products during the trial or within 1 month following the completion of the trial.
11. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
12. Known or suspected of not being able to comply with procedures described in the trial protocol.
13. Not able to communicate meaningfully with the investigator and staff.
14. Preplanned surgery or procedures that would interfere with the conduct of the trial.
15. Acute skin disease, lesions, acute sunburn, extensive tattoos or scars at the forearm where the menthol / capsaicin application is planned.
16. Employee of the Investigator or trial site, with direct involvement in the proposed trial or other trials under the direction of that Investigator or trial site, as well as family members of the employees or the Investigator
17. Administration of a monoaminoxidase-inhibitor (MAO-Inhibitor) within 14 days prior to recruitment visit.