Trial Information

Phase 2 Study of Tapentadol Prolonged Release in Cancer Pain

Tapentadol is an analgesic as effective as conventional mu-opioid analgesics and the safety
profiles are expected to be more favorable for the gastrointestinal system as represented by
nausea/vomiting and constipation. This is a multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled, optional
dose-titration study. tapentadol PR will be administered orally twice daily (every 12 hours)
before meal. For patients previously using opioids, the initial dose of tapentadol PR will
be selected depending on the daily dose of opioid at the completion of screening period. For
opioid-naive patients, the initial dose of tapentadol PR will be 25 mg b.i.d. Patients
receive the same dose tapentadol PR for the first 2 days of the dose-adjustment phase and
from Day 3, the dose can be titrated under the investigator's or subinvestigator's
discretion up to the maximum of Day 14. Patients are then applied fixed dose regimen for 5
days as same as that used at the end of the dose-adjustment phase. This study consists of 3
to 7 days of screening period, 3 to 14 days of dose adjustment period, 5 days of fixed dose
period and 7 days of follow-up period. The efficacy endpoints are 24-hour Numeric Rating
Scale score, 100-mm visual analogue scale, achievement of dose adjustment, rescue dose,
status of treatment discontinuation due to any adverse event or lack of efficacy, sleep
questionnaire and Patient's global impression of change. The safety endpoints are adverse
events, vital signs, laboratory examinations and electrocardiogram examination.
Pharmacokinetic endpoints is to measure the serum tapentadol and tapentadol-O-glucuronide
concentrations. Tapentadol PR will be administered orally twice daily. The initial dose will
be determined by previously used opioid or 25 mg b.i.d (opioid-naive patients). Patients
receive the same dose for the first 2 days of the dose-adjustment phase and from Day 3, the
dose can be titrated under the investigator's or sub-investigator's discretion up to the
maximum of Day 14. Patients are then applied fixed dose regimen for 5 days the same as that
used at the end of the dose-adjustment phase.