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Phase 4, Controlled Study in Adult Subjects Undergoing Primary, 1-2 Level, Open Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of EXPAREL for Postsurgical Pain Management in Subjects Undergoing Open Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03015961
Enrollment
38
Registered
2017-01-10
Start date
2017-02-21
Completion date
2017-10-30
Last updated
2021-10-13

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

Conditions

Postoperative Pain Management

Brief summary

Primary Objective: The primary objective of this study is to compare postsurgical pain control following local infiltration analgesia (LIA) with EXPAREL admixed with bupivacaine HCl versus LIA with bupivacaine HCl in adult subjects undergoing open lumbar posterior spinal fusion surgery. Secondary Objectives: The secondary objectives of this study are to compare additional efficacy, safety, and health economic outcomes following LIA with EXPAREL admixed with bupivacaine HCl versus LIA with bupivacaine HCl in adult subjects undergoing open lumbar posterior spinal fusion surgery.

Detailed description

This is a Phase 4, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study in 38 adult subjects undergoing primary, 1-2 level, open lumbar spinal fusion surgery under general anesthesia. Subjects will be screened within 30 days prior to study drug administration and at least one day prior to surgery. During the screening visit, subjects will be assessed for past or present neurologic, cardiac, and general medical conditions that in the opinion of the Investigator would preclude them from study participation. After the informed consent form (ICF) is signed, a medical history, surgical history, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), vital sign measurements, select clinical laboratory evaluations, urine drug screen, alcohol breath test, and urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential will be conducted. Study drug, approximately 1-2 mL every 1.0-1.5 cm, will be administered using 20- or 22-gauge needles prior to wound closure. Administration Instructions/Procedures Study drug should be injected in the prescribed locations based on the areas of highest nerve density. Study drug will be administered using syringes with 20- or 22-gauge needles prior to wound closure. The Investigator must document the size of the incision. Each infiltration site should be spaced 1.0-1.5 cm apart and should deliver approximately 1-2 mL into both deep and superficial areas (para-spinous fascia, muscle, and subcutaneous layers). Total volume administered will be depended on the number of levels of dissection, as described below. Following infiltration, the tissue should visibly expand with minimal leakage. Total Volume of Expansion The Investigator must document the total volume used for each surgery. 1. Level Procedures Group 1: EXPAREL 266 mg in 20 mL + bupivacaine HCl 0.5% in 20 mL + 20 mL normal saline = total volume of 60 mL Group 2: Bupivacaine HCl 0.5% in 20 mL + 40 mL normal saline = total volume of 60 mL 2. Level Procedures Group 1: EXPAREL 266 mg in 20 mL + bupivacaine HCl 0.5% in 20 mL + 50 mL normal saline = total volume of 90 mL Group 2: Bupivacaine HCl 0.5% in 20 mL + 70 mL normal saline = total volume of 90 mL Drains may be used at the surgeon's discretion. In addition to LIA, all study participants will receive a standardized approach for managing postsurgical pain that includes a scheduled multimodal pain regimen including adjunctive analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Rescue analgesics will be available as needed. Postsurgical clinical assessments will include pain intensity scores using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) (see Appendix 1); overall benefit of analgesia score (OBAS) questionnaire (see Appendix 2); total postsurgical opioid consumption; predefined opioid-related AEs; and nurse's satisfaction with overall analgesia (see Appendix 3). Adverse events will be recorded from the time the ICF is signed through Day 30. If a cardiac AE (e.g., chest pain \[angina, myocardial infarction\], abnormal/irregular heart rate \[bradycardia, tachycardia, extrasystoles\], or shortness of breath), neurological AE (e.g., altered mental status/altered sensorium, dizziness, dysarthria, hyperesthesia, metallic taste, peroral numbness, seizure, tinnitus, tremors, visual disturbance, muscular twitching or rigidity beyond 72 hours postdose, or tingling/paresthesia beyond 72 hours postdose), or serious AE (SAE) occurs during the study a 12-lead ECG, vital signs, and any appropriate clinical laboratory tests should be conducted. Postsurgical health economic outcome assessments will include hospital length of stay (LOS), use of skilled nursing facility, hospital readmissions, and use of other health services following discharge (phone calls related to postsurgical pain, unscheduled visits related to postsurgical pain, and visits to emergency department) through Day 30. A follow-up visit will be scheduled for all subjects on postsurgical Day 14. A follow-up phone call will be made on Day 30 to all subjects who received study drug to assess for adverse events (AEs). Number of Subjects (Planned): Approximately 194 subjects are planned for enrollment in this study in order to have at least 184 evaluable subjects.

Interventions

DRUGEXPAREL and bupivacaine HCl

Drug: EXPAREL EXPAREL and bupivacaine HCl Other Name: bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension Drug: Bupivacaine Single dose of bupivacaine HCl 0.5% Other Name: bupivacaine HCl

DRUGBupivacaine HCl

Drug: Bupivacaine Single dose of bupivacaine HCl 0.5% Other Name: bupivacaine HCl

Sponsors

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, at least 18 years of age at screening. 2. Primary surgical indication is lumbar pain, radiculopathy, disc degeneration, disc herniation, foraminal stenosis, or 1-2 level spondylolisthesis or deformity. 3. Scheduled to undergo primary, 1-2 level, open lumbar spinal fusion surgery under general anesthesia. 4. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1, 2, or 3. 5. Female subjects must be surgically sterile; or at least 2 years postmenopausal; or have a monogamous partner who is surgically sterile; or practicing double-barrier contraception; or practicing abstinence (must agree to use double-barrier contraception in the event of sexual activity); or using an insertable, injectable, or transdermal, contraceptive approved by the FDA for greater than 2 months prior to screening. All women of childbearing potential (ie, premenopausal without permanent sterilization) must commit to the use of an acceptable form of birth control for the duration of the study and for 30 days after completion of the study. 6. Able to provide informed consent, adhere to the study visit schedule, and complete all study assessments.

Exclusion criteria

1. Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the study or within 1 month after study drug administration. 2. Serious spinal conditions (to include cauda equina syndrome, infection, tumor, fracture, or severe osteoporosis \[ie, if taking Bisphosphonate or TNF-α blockers\]). 3. Planned anterior or lateral incisions 4. Previous spinal surgery at the same level other than microdiscectomy or hemilaminectomy (eg, bi-lateral laminectomy, fusion). 5. Planned concurrent surgical procedure. 6. Identification of a dural tear during surgery will be an intra-operative exclusion unless it is well repaired (no evidence of cerebrospinal fluid \[CSF\] leak with Valsalva and no plan to restrict activity post-operatively). Any injury to the nerve root occurring during surgery will also be considered an intra-operative exclusion. 7. Concurrent painful physical condition that may require analgesic treatment (such as an NSAID or opioid) in the postsurgical period for pain that is not strictly related to the spinal surgery and which may confound the postsurgical assessments. 8. Comorbidity impacting current physical function or Investigator opinion that it may impact postsurgical rehabilitation. 9. Allergy, hypersensitivity, or contraindication to any of the study medications (ie, bupivacaine, oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, gabapentin, acetaminophen, or cyclobenzaprine) for which an alternative medication is not provided in the protocol. 10. Use of any of the following medications within the times specified before surgery: long-acting opioid medication (eg, morphine including MS Contin®, hydromorphone \[Dilaudid®\], oxycodone \[Oxycontin®\], methadone) daily for more than 3 months duration or within 3 days of surgery. Patients receiving short-acting opioids or NSAIDs should be at a steady or plateau dose. Such patients should require or receive no more than 40 mg morphine (oral) equivalents (eg, approximately 5 mg oxycodone) within 24 hours of surgery. 11. Initiation of treatment with any of the following medications within 1 month of study drug administration or if the medication(s) are being given to control pain: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), 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 study drug administration. 12. Current use of systemic glucocorticosteroids within 1 month of enrollment in this study. 13. Use of dexmedetomidine HCl (Precedex®) within 3 days of study drug administration. 14. History of coronary or vascular stent placed within the past 3 months (may be extended to 1 year if medically indicated per physician discretion). 15. Have been treated for a deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke within the past 6 months (may be extended to 1 year if medically indicated per physician discretion). 16. Severely impaired renal (eg, serum creatinine clearance ≤ 30) or hepatic function (eg, serum aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\] level \>3 times the upper limit of normal \[ULN\] or serum alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\] level \>3 x ULN). 17. Any neurologic or psychiatric disorder that might impact postsurgical pain or interfere with study assessments. 18. Malignancy in the last 2 years, per physician discretion. 19. History of misuse, abuse, or dependence on opioid analgesics, other prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol as defined in DSM-IV. Dependence or chronic opioid use will be defined as use of more than 30 morphine equivalents per day during the prior 90 days. 20. Failure to pass the alcohol breath test or urine drug screen positive for illicit drugs. 21. Body weight \<50 kg (110 pounds) or a body mass index \>44 kg/m2. 22. Subjects receiving Worker's compensation for a disability or who are involved in litigation. 23. Previous participation in an EXPAREL study. 24. 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 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 0 to 72 Hours0-72 hoursAUC of VAS pain intensity scores from 0 to 72 hours postsurgery. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a pain scale. The VAS was presented as a straight 10 cm line, where 0 cm is no pain and 10 cm is the worst pain possible. Patients were asked, How much pain are you experiencing right now? Please place a vertical mark on the line below to indicate the level of pain you are experiencing right now. AUC curve is derived using the trapezoidal rule (see formula below) on the pain scores. AUC start with the first pain assessment obtained after surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 72 hours post-surgery. (Where pi is the VAS pain score at time i and ti is the time, in hours, from end of surgery. Note t1 is pain score collected after surgery.)

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-24, 0-48, 0-72 hoursPercentage of opioid-free patients through 24, 48 and 72 hours post-surgery
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery24-48 hours, 48-72 hoursAUC of the VAS pain intensity scores from 24-48 and 48-72 hours postsurgery. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a pain scale. The VAS was presented as a straight 10 cm line, where 0 cm is no pain and 10 cm is the worst pain possible. Patients were asked, How much pain are you experiencing right now? Please place a vertical mark on the line below to indicate the level of pain you are experiencing right now. AUC from 24-48 hours start with the pain assessment obtained at 24 hours post-surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 48 hours post-surgery. AUC from 48-72 hours start with the pain assessment obtained at 48 hours post-surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 72 hours post-surgery. (Where pi is the VAS pain score at time i and ti is the time, in hours, from end of surgery.)
Total Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery0-48 hoursTotal Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were recruited between February 21, 2017 and October 30, 2017 at 15 sites in the United States. The study was terminated due to low enrollment.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HCl
Local infiltration analgesia with EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) 266 mg/20 mL admixed with bupivacaine HCl 0.5% 20 mL and expanded with 20 mL (1-level procedures) or 50 mL (2-level procedures) normal saline
18
Bupivacaine HCl
Local infiltration analgesia with bupivacaine HCl 0.5% 20 mL expanded with 40 mL (1-level procedures) or 70 mL (2-level procedures) normal saline
20
Total38

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicBupivacaine HClTotalEXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HCl
Age, Continuous61.6 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.33
59.5 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.81
57.3 year
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.13
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
19 Participants36 Participants17 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
19 Participants37 Participants18 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
11 Participants22 Participants11 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants16 Participants7 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 180 / 20
other
Total, other adverse events
11 / 1814 / 20
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 180 / 20

Outcome results

Primary

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 0 to 72 Hours

AUC of VAS pain intensity scores from 0 to 72 hours postsurgery. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a pain scale. The VAS was presented as a straight 10 cm line, where 0 cm is no pain and 10 cm is the worst pain possible. Patients were asked, How much pain are you experiencing right now? Please place a vertical mark on the line below to indicate the level of pain you are experiencing right now. AUC curve is derived using the trapezoidal rule (see formula below) on the pain scores. AUC start with the first pain assessment obtained after surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 72 hours post-surgery. (Where pi is the VAS pain score at time i and ti is the time, in hours, from end of surgery. Note t1 is pain score collected after surgery.)

Time frame: 0-72 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 0 to 72 Hours342.8 score on a scale*hours
Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 0 to 72 Hours369.0 score on a scale*hours
Other Pre-specified

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery

AUC of the VAS pain intensity scores from 24-48 and 48-72 hours postsurgery. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a pain scale. The VAS was presented as a straight 10 cm line, where 0 cm is no pain and 10 cm is the worst pain possible. Patients were asked, How much pain are you experiencing right now? Please place a vertical mark on the line below to indicate the level of pain you are experiencing right now. AUC from 24-48 hours start with the pain assessment obtained at 24 hours post-surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 48 hours post-surgery. AUC from 48-72 hours start with the pain assessment obtained at 48 hours post-surgery and use all subsequent pain assessments up to 72 hours post-surgery. (Where pi is the VAS pain score at time i and ti is the time, in hours, from end of surgery.)

Time frame: 24-48 hours, 48-72 hours

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery24-48 hours97.3 score on a scale*hours
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery48-72 hours86.8 score on a scale*hours
Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery24-48 hours98.1 score on a scale*hours
Bupivacaine HClArea Under the Curve (AUC) of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain Intensity Scores From 24-48 and 48-72 Hours Postsurgery48-72 hours90.6 score on a scale*hours
Other Pre-specified

Percentage of Opioid-Free Patients

Percentage of opioid-free patients through 24, 48 and 72 hours post-surgery

Time frame: 0-24, 0-48, 0-72 hours

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-24 hours11.11 percentage of opioid-free patients
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-48 hours11.11 percentage of opioid-free patients
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-72 hours11.11 percentage of opioid-free patients
Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-24 hours11.11 percentage of opioid-free patients
Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-48 hours5.56 percentage of opioid-free patients
Bupivacaine HClPercentage of Opioid-Free Patients0-72 hours5.56 percentage of opioid-free patients
Other Pre-specified

Total Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery

Total Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery

Time frame: 0-48 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
EXPAREL Admixed With Bupivacaine HClTotal Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery103.6 MED, mgStandard Deviation 101.55
Bupivacaine HClTotal Opioid Consumption Through 48 Hours Postsurgery90.8 MED, mgStandard Deviation 100.58

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