The purpose of this study is to determine whether pl-vegf165 (Neovasculgen) is effective in the treatment of digital ulcers related to secondary Raynaud's phenomenon associated with systemic scleroderma
This is a randomized, open, comparing clinical trial assessing the therapeutic efficacy of pl-vegf165 (Neovasculgen) in treating scleroderma-associated Raynaud's syndrome. Each patient of clinical group will undergo several intramuscular injections with a treatment dose of pl-vegf165 (Neovasculgen) in hand where digital ulcers locate. In the control group patients will receive only standard of care without gene therapy drug. Study participants at the first study visit will complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive capillaroscopy. After this initial assessment, the patients of clinical group will undergo intramuscular injections of pl-vegf165 (Neovasculgen) in a hand altered with digital ulcers. Patient will report the severity of their Raynaud's symptoms weekly over the six month study period. At three month post-injection, the patient will complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive capillaroscopy. At six months post-injection, the patient will again complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive capillaroscopy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Neovasculgen is an original gene construction that contains supercoiled plasmid DNA (1.2 mg) that encodes pCMV-vegf165 as the active substance. The drug will be supplied to the study centre as a sterile lyophilisate that will be then dissolved in 2 ml of water for injections immediately prior to administration. The drug will be administered intramuscularly (interosseous muscles of hand) at 4-5 injection sites in the dorsal surface of the hand.
Human Stem Cell Institute
Moscow, Russia
Frequency of new digital ulcers
To determine the ability of pl-vegf165 to prevent development of new digital ulcers the frequency of new digital ulcers will be measured in both groups and then compared
Time frame: 180 days
Frequency of adverse events
Time frame: 180 days
Time of complete healing of digital ulcers
The ability of pl-vegf165 to accelerate the healing of the digital ulcer will be measured by estimating the area of the defect in progress
Time frame: 180 days
Pain scores on the visual analog scale
Visual analog scale is a diagnostic tool providing an assessment of the severity and quality of pain experienced by patients.
Time frame: 180 days
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