Migraine drug shows promise for rare facial nerve pain
NCT ID NCT04158752
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a drug that blocks a pain-signaling protein (CGRP) in 26 adults with trigeminal or glossopharyngeal nerve pain caused by small fiber neuropathy or fibromyalgia. The goal was to see if it reduces pain and the need for other pain medications, while checking for side effects. The drug is already approved for migraines, so researchers wanted to see if it could help these other painful conditions.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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26 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2020
- Finished
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Jan 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-80 years old. * The patient must have an assigned diagnosis of non-neuralgic trigeminal nerve pain G50.1, with all its permutations listed in the ICD10 explicitly allowed. Co-morbid trigeminal neuralgia G50.0 and G43. … related headache codes are allowed. As an alternative to trigeminal nerve pain G50.1, glossopharyngeal nerve pain will be another inclusion criterion, with a G52.1 diagnosis and explicit mentioning of pain mediated by or in the innervation territory of the glossopharyngeal nerve. In addition, patients have to be diagnosed with a painful small fiber neuropathy. This diagnosis is based on a skin biopsy or biopsy of an innervated surface epithelium with nerve fiber density count. The required ICD10 diagnostic codes are G63.3, G60.8, G62.8. Co-morbidity with a fibromyalgia-related disorder will be allowed, typically summarized under a diagnosis code of M79.7. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients that have a history of allergy or allergy-like incompatibility with a biologic that contains a human or humanized monoclonal antibody will be excluded. * Female patients of child-bearing age who are or want to become pregnant will be excluded. In case such a patient intends to participate, then she has to commit to a pregnancy prevention regimen that is based on hormonal contraceptive or intra-uterine device.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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