Safety and efficacy study of a diclofenac hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) 75 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) formulation as compared to the reference marketed Voltaren® 75 mg i.m. in the treatment of acute moderate to severe pain following minor orthopaedic surgery

ISRCTN ISRCTN78851459
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78851459
EudraCT/CTIS number 2008-000846-30
Secondary identifying numbers 08I-Dcsc04
Submission date
13/03/2013
Registration date
22/03/2013
Last edited
19/05/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Parenteral diclofenac, i.e. diclofenac injection is frequently used to deliver pain relief following minor orthopaedic surgery.
Marketed injectable formulations usually contain 75mg diclofenac sodium in a 3-ml volume and can be administered only intramuscularly (injected directly into a muscle) or intravenously (injected directly into a vein).
IBSA Institut Biochimique has developed a new 1ml volume formulation containing Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD), a solubility enhancer to allow subcutaneous (injection in which a needle is inserted just under the skin) administration in addition to intramuscular (i.m.) administration. This study was aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety of Diclofenac HPßCD 75mg administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly, as compared to the reference product Voltaren® 75mg for i.m. administration.

Who can participate?
The study recruited a total of 325 in-patients, male and female, aged ≥ 18 to ≤ 65 years, with acute moderate to severe pain within 6 hours after a minor orthopaedic surgery (i.e. arthroscopic meniscectomy, arthroscopic removal of bone fragments, surgical correction of hallux valgus).

What does the study involve?
Study patients randomly received a single (s.c. or i.m.) injection of Diclofenac HPßCD 75 mg/1 ml or a single i.m. injection of Voltaren® 75 mg/3 ml administered in the upper part of the gluteus. In case pain was still present, the same treatment was repeated 18-24 hours after the first injection. The overall study duration (for one patient) was 7 ± 2 days.
Local tolerability at injection site was assessed by the investigator up to 18 hours after the first injection, postsurgical pain was evaluated by the patients by means of a 0-100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during the 6 hours post-surgery. Blood was taken for evaluation of the general safety of the treatments before the injection and 1 week after surgery/treatment.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefits deriving from the participation in the trial, regardless of the treatment received by the patient, were the decrease in pain caused by the orthopaedic surgery.
As diclofenac sodium is a well-known substance in the medical world and treatment lasted for a limited period of one injection (or if needed, for a second injection the following day), the patient participation in the study didn't bring to any particular risk.
The possible side effects were related to active principle, diclofenac sodium.
The most common ones are the side effects affecting the gastro-intestinal apparatus: cramps or abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, nausea. More serious cases of bleeding or ulceration (perforation) intestinal walls have less frequently been observed. An increase in the values of the emphatic enzymes may occur, it is usually reversible and rarely leads to a liver disease. Other possible reactions due to administration of diclofenac burden the central nervous system, or cause skin rash and allergic reaction, water retention and swelling, and seldom kidney dysfunction.
The administration of the treatment intramuscularly or subcutaneously might cause local reactions. In previous studies with the same formulation, severe local reactions have rarely been observed, and anyway solved spontaneously within some hours. β-cyclodextrins have no biological activity and if administrated together with diclofenac sodium do not influence its activity. We can thus state that they do not cause any risk to the patient’s health.

Where is the study run from?
The study was conducted in 25 investigational sites in Italy.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
First patient in: September 29, 2008
Last patient out: September 30, 2009.

Who is funding the study?
IBSA Institut Biochimique SA, Via del Piano, CH-6915, Pambio.Noranco (Switzerland)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Sandro Giannini
Direttore della U.O. VI Divisione di Chirurgia Ortopedico - Traumatologica
IRCCS Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli’
Via Pupilli 1, 40127 Bologna
Italy

Contact information

Prof Sandro Giannini
Scientific

IRCCS Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli’
Via Pupilli 1
Bologna
40127
Italy

Study information

Study designOpen-label multicentre randomised parallel group active-controlled design
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information
Scientific titleOpen-label, randomised, controlled, parallel group study for the evaluation of safety and efficacy of DIclofenac HPßCD 75 mg ampoules s.c. in compaRison with DiclofEnaC HPßCD 75 mg ampoules i.m. and Voltaren® 75 mg ampoules i.m. in the treatment of acute moderate to severe pain following minor orThopaedic surgery
Study acronymDIRECT
Study objectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of Diclofenac HPßCD 75mg administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly, as compared to the reference product Voltaren® 75mg for i.m. administration.
Ethics approval(s)The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) of each of the sites involved in the study. The coordinating IEC (IRCCS Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli di Bologna) approved the protocol on 3 June 2008.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMinor orthopaedic surgery (i.e. arthroscopic meniscectomy, arthroscopic removal of bone fragments, and surgical correction of hallux valgus)
InterventionPatients enrolled in the study were randomised to receive one of the three following Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs):

Group 1: Diclofenac HPßCD 1.0 ml ampoule, s.c. administered
Group 2: Diclofenac HPßCD 1.0 ml ampoule, i.m. administered
Group 3: Voltaren® 3.0 ml ampoule, i.m. administered

All the IMPs were given in single doses. If required by a persisting pain, the IMP administration was repeated on Day 2 (approximately 18-24 hours after the first administration).
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Voltaren® (diclofenac)
Primary outcome measureLocal tolerability (at the injection site), as assessed by the investigators at 10, 30, 60, 90 minutes and at 3, 6 and 12-18 hours after the first IMP administration by scoring any presence of redness, swelling and hardening, by means of 4-point severity scale (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). The mean overall score carried out at any time point represented the primary variable. The overall score range between 0 and 9.
Secondary outcome measuresAdditional safety variables assessed during the study were:
1. Pain at injection site as assessed by patients after the injection at 10, 30, 60, 90 minutes and at 3, 6 and 12-18 hours by means of a VAS (0-100 mm)
2. Overall opinion on local tolerability, as expressed by both patient and investigator
3. Laboratory parameters (haematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis) measured pre-operatively or at Visit 1 and Visit 3
4. Vital signs measured at Visit 1, Visit 2 and Visit 3
5. The analgesic efficacy of IMPs in postoperative pain was evaluated according to the pain due to the surgical intervention, which was assessed as follows:
5.1. Post-surgery pain as measured by the patient on a VAS (0-100 mm) before treatment, and 15, 30, 60, 90 minutes and 3 and 6 hours after the first injection on Day 1
5.2. Number and percentage of patients requiring a second injection on Day 2
5.3. Overall opinion on efficacy, as expressed by both patient and investigator
Overall study start date29/09/2008
Completion date30/09/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsA total of 325 patients were recruited in the study
Key inclusion criteria1. Adult males and females in-patients aged ≥ 18 to ≤ 65 years
2. Subjects undergoing one of the following minor orthopaedic surgeries:
2.1. Arthroscopic meniscectomy
2.2. Arthroscopic removal of bone fragments
2.3. Surgical correction of hallux valgus
2.4. Presence of moderate to severe post-operative pain, scored as ≥ 40 mm on a 0-100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
2.5. Pain starting not more than 6 hours since surgery
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients with evidence of systemic infection or infection at the site of operation
2. Complications occurring after surgical procedure
3. Patients with clinical signs or a diagnosis of known gastroduodenal ulcer
4. Patients with clinical signs or history of coagulation disorders, or with a history of recurrence ulceration or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
5. Patients under chronic treatment with topical or systemic analgesics / Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
6. Intake of any systemic NSAID or analgesic in the last 12 hours before surgery
7. Opioids in the 7 days before surgery, or corticosteroids (by any administration route) in the 60 days before surgery
Date of first enrolment29/09/2008
Date of final enrolment30/09/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centre

IRCCS Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli’
Bologna
40127
Italy

Sponsor information

Institut Biochimique SA (IBSA) (Italy)
Industry

Via del Piano
P.O. Box 266
Pambio-Noranco
CH-6915
Italy

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02cf8gj49

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Institut Biochimique SA (IBSA) (Italy)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Basic results 20/04/2022 19/05/2022 No No