Title

Phase 3 Gene Therapy for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy
A Phase III, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of VM202 in Participants With Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Phase

    Phase 3
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Intervention/Treatment

    vm202 ...
  • Study Participants

    507
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 IP treatment, whereas 7 participants did not receive IP 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.
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 (DPN) 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.
Study Started
Apr 30
2016
Primary Completion
Apr 30
2019
Study Completion
Apr 30
2019
Results Posted
Aug 22
2022
Last Update
Aug 22
2022

Biological Engensis (VM202)

gene therapy

Other placebo

Engensis (VM202) Experimental

Subjects randomized to the Engensis (VM202) treatment arm received the following intramuscular injections in each calf: Day 0 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 / calf Day 14 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 / calf Day 90 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 / calf Day 104 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 / calf

Placebo Placebo Comparator

Subjects in the placebo control group received the following intramuscular injections in each calf: Day 0 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 vehicle / calf Day 14 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 vehicle / calf Day 90 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 vehicle / calf Day 104 - 16 injections of 0.5mL of VM202 vehicle / calf

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age ≥ 18 years to ≤ 75 years
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)
No significant changes anticipated in diabetes medication regimen
No new symptoms associated with diabetes within the last 3 months prior to study entry
Diagnosis of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities
Lower extremity pain for at least 6 months
Visual analog scale (VAS) score of ≥ 40 mm at Initial Screening (0 mm = no pain - 100 mm very severe pain)
Symptoms from the Brief Pain Neuropathy Screening (BPNS) is ≤ 5 point difference between legs at Initial Screening
The average daily pain intensity score of the Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary completed after medication wash-out is ≥ 4 with a standard deviation ≤ 2
The physical examination component of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Score (MNSI) is ≥ 3 at Screening
Subjects on gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta) for painful DPN at study entry must be on stable regimen of these treatments for at least 3 months prior to study entry
If female of childbearing potential, negative urine pregnancy test at screening and using acceptable method of birth control during the study

Exclusion Criteria:

Peripheral neuropathy caused by condition other than diabetes
Other pain more severe than neuropathic pain that would prevent assessment of DPN
Progressive or degenerative neurological disorder
Myopathy
Inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels (inflammatory angiopathy, such as Buerger's disease)
Active infection
Chronic inflammatory disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis)
Positive HIV or HTLV at Screening
Active Hepatitis B or C as determined by Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), antibody to Hepatitis B surface antigen (IgG and IgM; HBsAb), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and Hepatitis C antibodies (Anti HCV) at Screening
Subjects with known immunosuppression or currently receiving immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy
Stroke or myocardial infarction within last 3 months
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; AST and/or ALT > 3 times the upper limit of normal or any other clinically significant lab abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator should be exclusionary
Ophthalmologic conditions pertinent to proliferative retinopathy or conditions that preclude standard ophthalmologic examination
Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 200 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) > 110 mmHg at Screening
Subjects with a recent history (< 5 years) of or new screening finding of malignant neoplasm except basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (if excised and no evidence of recurrence for one year); subjects with family history of colon cancer in any first degree relative are excluded unless they have undergone a colonoscopy in the last 12 months with negative findings

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

skeletal muscle relaxants, opioids, benzodiazepines (except for stable bedtime dose),
capsaicin, local anesthetic creams (except for lidocaine cream prior to IM injection) and patches, isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) spray,
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), acupuncture
If not using gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica), subjects must agree not to start these drugs for the first 180 days of the study. Subjects on these medications at study entry must maintain a stable dose until Day 180 of the study;

If not using duloxetine (Cymbalta), any antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline and venlafaxine), any other antiepileptics (e.g., valproic acid, carbamazepine, vigabatrin), subjects must agree not to start these drugs for the first 6 months of the study.

Subjects on these medications at study entry must maintain a stable dose until Day 180 of the study

Subjects requiring > 81 mg daily of acetylsalicylic acid; subjects may be enrolled if willing/able to switch to ≤ 81 mg daily of acetylsalicylic acid or to another medication
Subjects requiring regular COX-2 inhibitor drug(s) or non-specific COX-1/COX-2 inhibiting 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 the first dosing and to refrain from taking these drugs until Day 180 of the study
Major psychiatric disorder within the last 180 days that would interfere with study participation
Body mass index (BMI) > 45 kg/m2 at Screening
Any lower extremity amputation due to diabetic complications
Use of an investigational drug or treatment in past 6 months, or prior participation in any study of Engensis (VM202)
Unable or unwilling to give informed consent

Summary

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term Engensis (VM202) Placebo

Change in the Average 24 Hour Pain Score From Baseline to Day 90

Participants rated their 24-hour average daily pain intensity score using an 11-point numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) in a Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary

Engensis (VM202)

-1.8
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.05

Placebo

-1.57
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.07

Participants With at Least at 50 Percent Reduction in Average 24-hour Pain Score From Baseline to Day 90

Number of participants with at least a 50 percent reduction in average 24-hour pain score, using an 11-point numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) in the Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo

Number of Participants With Treatment-emergent Adverse Events.

Number of Participants with at least one treatment-emergent adverse events.

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo

Change in the Average 24-hour Pain Score From Baseline to Day 180

Participants rated their 24-hour average daily pain intensity score using an 11-point numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) in the Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary

Engensis (VM202)

-2.59
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.38

Placebo

-2.14
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 2.36

Participants With at Least a 50 Percent Reduction in Average 24-hour Pain Score From Baseline to Day 180

The number of participants with at least a 50% reduction in average 24-hour pain score using an 11-point numerical rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) in the Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo

Total

500
Participants

Age, Continuous

61.0
years (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 9.09

Race/Ethnicity, Customized

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo

Drop/Withdrawal Reasons

Engensis (VM202)

Placebo