Phase 3 Gene Therapy for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Last updated: February 24, 2025
Sponsor: Helixmith Co., Ltd.
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

3

Condition

Pain

Neurologic Disorders

Treatment

Engensis (VM202)

placebo

Clinical Study ID

NCT02427464
VMDN-003
  • Ages 18-75
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of bilateral intramuscular injections of VM202 versus placebo in the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

A total of 507 of 477 planned participants were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to one of two treatment groups. Note that 500 participants received Investigational product treatment, whereas 7 participants did not receive Investigational product treatment.

Treatments - Engensis (VM202) - 336 Engensis of 318 planned participants

Control - Placebo (VM202 vehicle) - 164 Placebo of 159 planned participants

Randomization were stratified by current use of gabapentin and/or pregabalin.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥ 18 years to ≤ 75 years

  2. Documented history of type I or II diabetes with current treatment control (HbA1c of ≤ 10.0% at Screening) and currently on medication for diabetes (oral, injectable,and/or insulin)

  3. No significant changes anticipated in diabetes medication regimen

  4. No new symptoms associated with diabetes within the last 3 months prior to studyentry

  5. Diagnosis of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities

  6. Lower extremity pain for at least 6 months

  7. Visual analog scale score of ≥ 40 mm at Initial Screening (0 mm = no pain - 100 mmvery severe pain)

  8. Symptoms from the Brief Pain Neuropathy Screening is ≤ 5 point difference betweenlegs at Initial Screening

  9. The average daily pain intensity score of the Daily Pain and Sleep InterferenceDiary completed after medication wash-out is ≥ 4 with a standard deviation ≤ 2

  10. The physical examination component of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening InstrumentScore is ≥ 3 at Screening

  11. Subjects on gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta) forpainful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy at study entry must be on stable regimen ofthese treatments for at least 3 months prior to study entry

  12. If female of childbearing potential, negative urine pregnancy test at screening andusing acceptable method of birth control during the study

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Peripheral neuropathy caused by condition other than diabetes

  2. Other pain more severe than neuropathic pain that would prevent assessment ofDiabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

  3. Progressive or degenerative neurological disorder

  4. Myopathy

  5. Inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels (inflammatory angiopathy, such asBuerger's disease)

  6. Active infection

  7. Chronic inflammatory disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis)

  8. Positive HIV or HTLV at Screening

  9. Active Hepatitis B or C as determined by Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), antibodyto Hepatitis B surface antigen (IgG and IgM; HBsAb), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and Hepatitis C antibodies (Anti HCV) at Screening

  10. Subjects with known immunosuppression or currently receiving immunosuppressivedrugs, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

  11. Stroke or myocardial infarction within last 3 months

  12. Specific laboratory values at Screening including: Hemoglobin < 8.0 g/dL, WBC < 3,000 cells per microliter, platelet count <75,000/mm3, Creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL; ASTand/or ALT > 3 times the upper limit of normal or any other clinically significantlab abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator should be exclusionary

  13. Ophthalmologic conditions pertinent to proliferative retinopathy or conditions thatpreclude standard ophthalmologic examination

  14. Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained systolic blood pressure > 200 mmHg ordiastolic BP > 110 mmHg at Screening

  15. Subjects with a recent history (< 5 years) of or new screening finding of malignantneoplasm except basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (ifexcised and no evidence of recurrence for one year); subjects with family history ofcolon cancer in any first degree relative are excluded unless they have undergone acolonoscopy in the last 12 months with negative findings

  16. Use of the following drugs / therapeutics is prohibited. Subjects may participate inthe study if they are willing to discontinue use of these drugs / therapeutics 7days prior to starting the 7 Day Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary. Subjectsmust refrain from taking these drugs or undergoing these therapies for the durationof the study

  • skeletal muscle relaxants, opioids, benzodiazepines (except for stable bedtimedose),

  • capsaicin, local anesthetic creams (except for lidocaine cream prior tointramuscular injection) and patches, isosorbide dinitrate spray,

  • transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture

  1. If not using gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica), subjects must agree notto start these drugs for the first 180 days of the study. Subjects on thesemedications at study entry must maintain a stable dose until Day 180 of the study;

  2. If not using duloxetine (Cymbalta), any antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline andvenlafaxine), any other antiepileptics (e.g., valproic acid, carbamazepine,vigabatrin), subjects must agree not to start these drugs for the first 6 months ofthe study. Subjects on these medications at study entry must maintain a stable dose until Day 180 of the study

  3. Subjects requiring > 81 mg daily of acetylsalicylic acid; subjects may be enrolledif willing/able to switch to ≤ 81 mg daily of acetylsalicylic acid or to anothermedication

  4. Subjects requiring regular COX-2 inhibitor drug(s) or non-specific COX-1/COX-2inhibiting drugs, or high dose steroids (except inhaled steroids or ocular steroids)subjects may be enrolled if willing/able to undergo medication wash-out prior to thefirst dosing and to refrain from taking these drugs until Day 180 of the study

  5. Major psychiatric disorder within the last 180 days that would interfere with studyparticipation

  6. Body mass index > 45 kg/m2 at Screening

  7. Any lower extremity amputation due to diabetic complications

  8. Use of an investigational drug or treatment in past 6 months, or prior participationin any study of Engensis (VM202)

  9. Unable or unwilling to give informed consent

Study Design

Total Participants: 507
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Engensis (VM202)
Phase: 3
Study Start date:
April 01, 2016
Estimated Completion Date:
April 30, 2019

Study Description

Peripheral neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes. This form of neuropathy carries a high risk of pain, trophic changes, and autonomic dysfunction. Current treatments of diabetic peripheral neuropathy are based on either pathogenetic mechanisms or symptomatic relief. A number of clinical trials have established symptomatic treatment but for pathogenetic mechanisms, the only proven treatment strategy is strict glycemic control. Clearly, it would be desirable to prevent, impede, or reverse the disrupting and often life-threatening manifestations of peripheral neuropathy by stimulating growth or regeneration of peripheral nerve axons.

Connect with a study center

  • Arizona Research Center

    Phoenix, Arizona 85023
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Clinical Trials, Inc.

    Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Richard S. Cherlin, MD

    Los Gatos, California 95032
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Northern California Research

    Sacramento, California 95821
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Center for Clinical Research

    San Francisco, California 94115
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Neurological Research Institute

    Santa Monica, California 90404
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Diablo Clinical Research, Inc.

    Walnut Creek, California 94598
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut, PC

    Fairfield, Connecticut 06824
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Innovative Research of West Florida

    Clearwater, Florida 33756
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute

    Gainesville, Florida 32611
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • UF Health College of Med, Jacksonville

    Jacksonville, Florida 32207
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Compass Research, LLC

    Orlando, Florida 32806
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Clinical Research of West Florida

    Tampa, Florida 33603
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois 60611
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute

    Kansas City, Kansas 66160
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • The Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts 02115
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Columbia University Medical Center Department of Neurology

    New York, New York 10032
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Raleigh Neurology Associates, P.A.

    Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Martin Foot and Ankle

    York, Pennsylvania 17402
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Nerve and Muscle Center of Texas

    Houston, Texas 77030
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • University of Utah -Neurology

    Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • EVMS (Eastern Virginia Medical School)

    Norfolk, Virginia 23510
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Western Washington Medical Group

    Everett, Washington 98208
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Rainier Clinical Research Center, Inc.

    Renton, Washington 98057
    United States

    Site Not Available

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.