Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerability of Etoricoxib Monotherapy Versus Combination Oxycodone-etoricoxib in Moderate to Severe Pain From Chronic Low Back Pain

This randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study will investigate the efficacy and the tolerability of a combination treatment of etoricoxib (30 mg/day) plus controlled-release oxycodone (10 mg/day) compared with a titrated dose of etoricoxib up to 60mg/day as monotherapy , in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) who have not responded to the starting dose of Etoricoxib 30mg/day. A common clinical question is that is it better to increase the dose of the current monotherapy or to combine both treatments early on, in patients who do not respond to standard start doses of NSAIDs like etoricoxib.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female outpatients (at least 18 years of age).
* Patient with a confirmed diagnosis of moderate-to-severe CLBP present for more than 15 days per month and several hours per day for at least 6 months prior to screening.
* Achieve at least 3 consecutive days with an average daily pain score \> 4 during baseline week (between visit 1 and visit 2) via patient diary recordings.
* Patient is currently not receiving treatment for CLBP or was receiving treatment for CLBP, with a drug other than etoricoxib or oxycodone, and completed the required washout prior to Visit 2.
* Patient has never received treatment with etoricoxib or oxycodone and other strong opioids.
* No assumption of adjuvant drugs (antiepileptics, steroids, tricyclic antidepressants, SNRIs, muscle relaxants) in the last month (or two week).
* Patient has a level of understanding sufficient to provide written informed consent and to communicate with the investigator and site personnel.
* Patient is judged to be reliable, agrees to keep all appointments for clinic visits, and agrees to participate in recording responses to questionnaires and other instruments used in this study, as well as all other protocol procedures.
* All females of child-bearing potential must test negative for pregnancy at Visit 1, based on a serum pregnancy test. Females of child-bearing potential (not surgically sterilised and between menarche and 1 year post-menopause) must agree to use a medically acceptable and reliable means of birth control (as determined by the investigator) during the study and for 1 month following the last dose of study drug. Examples of reliable methods include use of oral contraceptives or Depo Provera Contraceptive Injection, abstinence, partner with vasectomy, diaphragm with contraceptive jelly, condom with contraceptive foam, and intrauterine devices.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Have a known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs or strong opioids or any of the inactive ingredients or have any contraindication for the use of etoricoxib or oxycodone:
* Patient with hypersensitivity to opioid analgesics;
* acute asthma or other obstructive airway disease and acute respiratory depression with hypoxia;
* elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood; cor pulmonale; acute alcoholism; delirium tremens;severe CNS depression; convulsive disorders; increased cerebrospinal or intracranial pressure;
* head injury; suspected surgical abdomen (paralytic ileus); concomitant MAO inhibitors (or within 14 days of such therapy).
* Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients of etoricoxib formulation.
* Active peptic ulceration or active gastro-intestinal (GI) bleeding.
* Patients who have experienced bronchospasm, acute rhinitis, nasal polyps, angioneurotic oedema, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking acetylsalicylic acid or NSAIDs including COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) inhibitors.
* Pregnancy and lactation
* Severe hepatic dysfunction (serum albumin \<25 g/l or Child-Pugh score ≥10).
* Estimated renal creatinine clearance \<30 ml/min.
* Inflammatory bowel disease.
* Congestive heart failure (NYHA II-IV).
* Patients with hypertension whose blood pressure is persistently elevated above 140/90mmHg and has not been adequately controlled.
* Established ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease.
* Have previously completed or withdrawn from this study or any other study investigating etoricoxib or oxycodone or have previously been treated with etoricoxib or oxycodone.
* Have a history of substance abuse or dependence within the past year, excluding nicotine and caffeine.
* Have a positive urine drug screen for substances of abuse. Women who are breast-feeding.
* Have a historical exposure to drugs known to cause neuropathy (for example, vincristine), or a history of a medical condition, including pernicious anaemia and hypothyroidism, that could have been responsible for neuropathy.
* Have pain that cannot be clearly differentiated from or conditions that interfere with the assessment of the CLBP. Examples of painful conditions that could be confused like peripheral vascular disease (ischemic pain); neurological disorders (for example, phantom limb pain from amputation); skin condition in the area of the neuropathy that could alter sensation (for example, plantar ulcer); other painful conditions (for example, arthritis, neoplasm, fibromyalgia, CRPS).
* Have a history of neurosurgical procedures for pain control, nerve/plexus blocs or ablation within 6 months prior to screening.
* Psychological conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise participation or be likely to require hospitalization during the course of the study.