A Repeated-Dose Evaluation of Use of a Pain Relieving Drug and Safety of OROS Hydromorphone HCI in Patients With Chronic Cancer Pain

Overview

The purpose of this repeated dose study is to develop recommended dosing information for initiation of therapy with OROS Hydromorphone HCI (slow release) in patients with chronic cancer pain converting from other strong oral or transdermal opioids. It will also assist in the development of a recommended starting dose by which patients can be titrated to an appropriate maintenance dose of OROS hydromorphone HCI (slow release). The safety profile for OROS Hydromorphone HCI (slow release) will also be evaluated.

This randomized (patients assigned to treatment by chance), single-blind (with respect to dose), open-label (patients know what study treatment, not dose, they are receiving) repeated dose study evaluating patients with chronic cancer pain was conducted in tandem (together) with a similar protocol in patients with chronic non-malignant pain. A total of 463 patients were enrolled and evaluated in these studies. Patients receiving chronic opioid therapy were converted to once daily OROS hydromorphone (slow release) using oral morphine equivalents. Supplementary immediate-release (IR) hydromorphone was provided for breakthrough pain. The dose of OROS hydromorphone (slow release) was escalated after every 2 days of therapy until no more than 3 doses of immediate-release (IR) hydromorphone were required in a 24-hour period. Once a patient could be maintained on a stable dose of OROS hydromorphone (slow release) for 3 consecutive days, the patient entered a 2-week maintenance phase. Patients who completed the study were eligible for participation in an OROS hydromorphone (slow release) long-term extension study, Study DO-109. The hypothesis is the 24-hour controlled-release form of oral hydromorphone may provide consistent pain relief, convenient dosing, and enhanced compliance while possibly decreasing the incidence of side effects associated with peak (high) and trough (low) fluctuations in plasma drug concentrations typically seen with immediate-release dosage formulations. Patients received OROS Hydromorphone HCI (slow release) at Visit 2,3, and 4 (either 8,16,32, and/or 64mg tablets) taken orally. OROS Hydromorphone HCI (slow release) doses were titrated after every two days of therapy as necessary until dose stabilization occured, followed by a two week Maintenance Therapy Phase.