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Evaluation of EXPAREL for Prolonged Postsurgical Analgesia in Subjects Undergoing Third Molar Extraction

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetics of Local Administration of EXPAREL for Prolonged Postsurgical Analgesia in Subjects Undergoing Third Molar Extraction

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02517905
Enrollment
166
Registered
2015-08-07
Start date
2015-08-31
Completion date
2016-01-31
Last updated
2020-12-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dental Pain

Brief summary

This is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in subjects scheduled to undergo elective bilateral third molar extraction under local anesthesia. At least one lower mandibular third molar must involve full or partial bony impaction confirmed by visual or radiographic evidence.

Detailed description

Subjects will be screened within 30 days prior to surgery. Randomized subjects will receive a dental nerve block with lidocaine 2% with epinephrine 1:100,000 before undergoing bilateral third molar extraction under local anesthesia. In addition to the lidocaine nerve block, the Investigator may choose to add topical benzocaine or intraoperative nitrous oxide. At the end of surgery, and at least 20 minutes after the lidocaine administration, blinded study drug will be infiltrated to provide postsurgical analgesia. Subjects will be required to remain in the research facility for 96 hours after study drug administration. Postsurgical efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic (PK) assessments will be conducted. All subjects will return for a follow-up visits on Days 7 and 10. A phone call will be made to each subject on Day 30 for an adverse event (AE) assessment and to inquire as to whether the subject made any unscheduled phone calls or office visits related to pain.

Interventions

Local administration

DRUGPlacebo

Local administration

Sponsors

Lotus Clinical Research, LLC
CollaboratorOTHER
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female, ≥18 years of age at screening. 2. Scheduled to undergo bilateral third molar extractions (i.e., extraction of all four third molars) under local anesthesia. At least one lower mandibular third molar must involve full or partial bony impaction confirmed by visual or radiological evidence. 3. American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status 1, 2, or 3. 4. Female subjects must be either surgically sterile, using a medically acceptable method of birth control, or at least 2 years postmenopausal, and must have a documented negative pregnancy test result during screening and on Day 1 prior to surgery. 5. Able to provide informed consent, adhere to the study visit schedule, and complete all study assessments.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to amide-type local anesthetics or opioids. 2. Contraindication to lidocaine, epinephrine, bupivacaine, or oxycodone. 3. History of significant drug allergy (e.g., anaphylaxis or hepatotoxicity). 4. Positive test result from the urine drug screen at screening or prior to the surgical procedure. 5. Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the study or within 1 month after study drug administration. 6. History or active psychiatric illness (including major depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety); Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes; severe renal or hepatic impairment; significant cardiovascular disease (including cardiac rhythm disturbance); migraine headaches, frequent headaches, other pain conditions, or other medical condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may increase the risk of surgery or interfere with the evaluation of the study drug. 7. History of infection requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotics within 45 days or oral (PO) antibiotics within 30 days prior to study drug administration for reasons other than dental prophylaxis. Subjects must be afebrile, without signs or symptoms indicative of active infection. 8. Use of any of the following medications within the times specified before surgery: long-acting opioid medication, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin (except for low-dose aspirin used for cardioprotection), or acetaminophen within 3 days, or any opioid medication within 24 hours. 9. Initiation of treatment with any of the following medications within 1 month of EXPAREL infiltration or if the medication(s) are being given to control pain: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), gabapentin, pregabalin (Lyrica®), or duloxetine (Cymbalta®). If a subject is taking one of these medications for a reason other than pain control, he or she must be on a stable dose for at least 1 month prior to EXPAREL administration. 10. Current use of systemic glucocorticosteroids within 1 month of enrollment in this study. 11. Use of any concurrent therapy that could interfere with the evaluation of efficacy or safety, such as any drugs which in the Investigator's opinion may exert significant analgesic properties or act synergistically with the investigational product. 12. Administration of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 elimination half-lives of such investigational drug, whichever is longer, prior to study drug administration, or planned administration of another investigational product or procedure during the subject's participation in this study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 48 Hours0-48 hoursAUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 48 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 24 Hours0-24 hoursAUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 24 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain) 0-24 hours
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours0-72 hoursAUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 72 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)
Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 24 Hours.0-24 hoursPercentage of opioid-free subjects through 24 hours.
Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 48 Hours.0-48 hoursPercentage of opioid-free subjects through 48 hours.
Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 72 Hours.0-72 hoursPercentage of opioid-free subjects through 72 hours.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
EXPAREL 133 mg
10 mL EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) injected into the maxilla (4 mL; 2 mL per side) and mandible (6 mL; 3 mL per side) at the end of surgery and ≥20 min after lidocaine administration Bupivacaine liposome: Local administration
105
Placebo
10 mL normal saline injected into the maxilla (4 mL; 2 mL per side) and mandible (6 mL; 3 mL per side) at the end of surgery and ≥20 min after lidocaine administration Placebo: Local administration
57
Total162

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up40
Overall StudyScreen failure22
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject40

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicEXPAREL 133 mgTotalPlacebo
Age, Continuous20.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.81
20.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.15
20.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.76
Body Mass Index25.8 kg/m2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.87
25.3 kg/m2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.21
24.5 kg/m2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.72
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
16 Participants23 Participants7 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
89 Participants139 Participants50 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Impaction Scores
1 fully bony impacted tooth
2 Participants4 Participants2 Participants
Impaction Scores
1 fully bony impacted tooth, 1 partially impacted
8 Participants13 Participants5 Participants
Impaction Scores
1 fully bony impacted tooth, 2 partially impacted
7 Participants10 Participants3 Participants
Impaction Scores
1 fully bony impacted tooth, 3 partially impacted
4 Participants5 Participants1 Participants
Impaction Scores
1 partially impacted tooth
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Impaction Scores
2 fully bony impacted teeth
3 Participants9 Participants6 Participants
Impaction Scores
2 fully bony impacted teeth, 1 partially impacted
9 Participants11 Participants2 Participants
Impaction Scores
2 fully bony impacted teeth, 2 partially impacted
10 Participants17 Participants7 Participants
Impaction Scores
2 partially impacted teeth
16 Participants17 Participants1 Participants
Impaction Scores
3 fully bony impacted teeth
1 Participants4 Participants3 Participants
Impaction Scores
3 fully bony impacted teeth, 1 partially impacted
14 Participants21 Participants7 Participants
Impaction Scores
3 partially impacted teeth
4 Participants4 Participants0 Participants
Impaction Scores
4 fully bony impacted teeth
23 Participants42 Participants19 Participants
Impaction Scores
4 partially impacted teeth
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants
Impaction Scores
No impactions
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
9 Participants10 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
94 Participants147 Participants53 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
105 participants162 participants57 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
53 Participants86 Participants33 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
52 Participants76 Participants24 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 1050 / 57
other
Total, other adverse events
105 / 10557 / 57
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 1050 / 57

Outcome results

Primary

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 48 Hours

AUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 48 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)

Time frame: 0-48 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
EXPAREL 133 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 48 Hours178.9 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 10.3
PlaceboArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 48 Hours181.6 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 13.63
p-value: 0.866195% CI: [-33.5, 28.2]ANOVA
Secondary

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 24 Hours

AUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 24 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain) 0-24 hours

Time frame: 0-24 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
EXPAREL 133 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 24 Hours102.4 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 4.73
PlaceboArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 24 Hours106.4 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 6.26
p-value: 0.57895% CI: [-18.2, 10.2]ANOVA
Secondary

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours

AUC of NRS pain intensity scores through 72 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on a 10-point scale (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)

Time frame: 0-72 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (GEOMETRIC_LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
EXPAREL 133 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours241.5 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 15.4
PlaceboArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours235.6 units on NRS scale*hrStandard Error 20.38
p-value: 0.80195% CI: [-40.2, 52.1]ANOVA
Secondary

Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 24 Hours.

Percentage of opioid-free subjects through 24 hours.

Time frame: 0-24 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
EXPAREL 133 mgPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 24 Hours.19 Participants
PlaceboPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 24 Hours.12 Participants
Secondary

Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 48 Hours.

Percentage of opioid-free subjects through 48 hours.

Time frame: 0-48 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
EXPAREL 133 mgPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 48 Hours.19 Participants
PlaceboPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 48 Hours.12 Participants
Secondary

Percentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 72 Hours.

Percentage of opioid-free subjects through 72 hours.

Time frame: 0-72 hours

Population: Primary efficacy population: all participants who received study drug, underwent the surgery, and were enrolled under protocol amendment 2, according to which pain intensity scores were collected before each use of rescue medication. Analysis was based on randomized treatment.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
EXPAREL 133 mgPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 72 Hours.18 Participants
PlaceboPercentage of Opioid-free Subjects Through 72 Hours.12 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026