I read this article today:
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedi ... 406/page1/
I did a bit more research on tanezumab.A new class of pain relievers that targets musculoskeletal pain receptors, instead of more general pain pathways, could alleviate osteoarthritis pain better than any drug now on the market, but hurdles remain before it's approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Research on the new therapy was published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Pfizer is recruiting for a new clinical study for tanezumab in IC: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/stud ... how_locs=Y
They just finished a clinical study for tanezumab in CPPS: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/stud ... how_locs=Y
Very interesting; I'll be keeping my eye on this medication, and would consider enrolling in a trial.
Here's the abstract that Webslave posted back in May:
Tanezumab Reduces Pain And Urgency In Interstitial Cystitis: Results Of A Phase 2 Trial
Robert Evans*,a, Robert Moldwinb, Nandini Cossonsc, Amanda Darekarc, David Scholfieldc, Ian Millsc
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Tanezumab, a humanized antibody specific for nerve growth factor, reduces pain in conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee and low back pain. A phase 2 trial was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tanezumab 200 ug/kg for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC).
METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with moderate to severe IC (O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index [ICSI] score of >=7 and Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency [PUF] symptom score of >=13). After recording daily pain scores over 7 days and completing a daily urinary symptom diary for 3 of those days, patients with a mean pain intensity score of >=4 on an 11-point (0-10) Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and a mean micturition frequency of >=8 per 24 hours, were randomized to receive a single dose of either tanezumab 200 ug/kg or placebo IV. During the 16 weeks post-treatment, patients attended 5 study visits (weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 16). Patients were asked to record daily pain scores (using the 11-point NRS) for the 7 days prior to attending each study visit, and also to complete a daily urinary symptom diary for 3 of those days. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in average daily pain score at Week 6 as measured by the 11-point NRS. Secondary endpoints included changes in urgency episode frequency per 24 hours, micturition frequency per 24 hours, and mean voided volume (MVV) per micturition derived from the 3-day urinary symptom diary. Adverse events (AE) were monitored throughout the study.
RESULTS
Of the 65 patients enrolled in the study, 34 (91% female; mean age of 43.5 years) received tanezumab 200 ug/kg, 30 (87% female; mean age of 45.2 years) received placebo, and 1 patient did not receive treatment. At Week 6, tanezumab produced clinically significant improvements in average daily pain score and urgency episode frequency per 24 hours versus placebo, but had no clinically significant effect on micturition frequency per 24 hours or MVV per micturition versus placebo (Table 1). Overall, 47% of tanezumab patients and 40% of placebo patients had a treatment-related AE, the most common of which were paraesthesia (tanezumab: 15%; placebo 3%) and headache (12%; 7%).
CONCLUSIONS
Tanezumab 200 ug/kg can effectively reduce both pain and urgency episode frequency in patients with IC and appears safe and well tolerated.
Source of Funding: Pfizer, Inc.