Gene therapy shot may ease diabetic nerve pain
NCT ID NCT01002235
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tested a gene therapy called Engensis (VM202) in 12 people with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Participants received injections into their calf muscles to see if it was safe and could reduce pain. The study focused on safety and pain scores over 12 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Engensis (VM202), a gene therapy given as injections into the calf muscle
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to ease nerve pain in people with diabetes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 12 people, so results may not apply widely. The main goal is safety, not proof of effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
-
Feb 2010
- Finished
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Apr 2012
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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 years to 75 years * Documented history of Type I or II diabetes with current treatment control (glycosylated hemoglobin A1c of ≤ 10.0%) * Diagnosis of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities * The physical examination component of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Score (MNSI) is ≥ 3 at Screening * Visual analog scale (VAS) score of ≥ 4 cm at Screening (0 cm = no pain - 10 cm worst imaginable pain) * Stable treatment of diabetes for at least 3 months with no anticipated changes in medication regimen, and no new symptoms associated with diabetes * Lower extremity pain for at least 6 months * If female of childbearing potential, negative pregnancy test at screening and using acceptable method of birth control during the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Peripheral neuropathy caused by condition other than diabetes; * Other pain more severe than neuropathic pain; * Progressive or degenerative neurological disorder; * Myopathy; * Inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels (inflammatory angiopathy, such as Buerger's disease); * Active infection; * Chronic inflammatory disease (e.g. Crohn's, Rheumatoid Arthritis) * Positive HIV or HTLV at Screening * Positive Hepatitis B or C as determined by Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAB), antibody to Hepatitis B antigen (IgG and IgM; HbsAB), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C antibodies (Anti-HCV), at Screening or known immunosuppression or on chronic treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy or radiation therapy * Stroke or myocardial infarction within last 6 months; * Ophthalmologic conditions pertinent to proliferative retinopathy or conditions that preclude standard ophthalmologic examination: * Cataract surgery within 6 months of trial; * Vascular lesions of the anterior segment of the eye (infection or ulceration of the cornea, rubeotic glaucoma, etc); * Vascular lesions of the posterior segment of the eye or proliferative retinopathy, macular edema, s/p photocoagulation for macular edema or proliferative retinopathy; sickle cell retinopathy, ischemic retinopathy due to retinal venous stasis or carotid artery disease; * Choroidal angiogenesis; and * Large elevated choroidal nevi, choroidal vascular tumors (choroidal hemangioma), or melanomas. * Specific laboratory values at Screening including: Hemoglobin \< 9.0 g/dL, WBC \< 3,000 cells per microliter, platelet count \<75,000/mm3, Creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL; GFR \< 50, AST and/or ALT \> 2 times the upper limit of normal or any other clinically significant lab abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator should be exclusionary; * Use of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), alpha lipoic acid or any other high dose dietary antioxidant supplement for symptomatic relief of DPN; * Uncontrolled hypertension as defined as sustained systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 200 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) \> 110 mmHg at baseline/screening evaluation; * Patients with history of or new screening finding of malignant neoplasm except basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (if excised and no evidence of recurrence); * Malignant tumors or abnormal screening test suspicious for cancer, or patients in whom screening exams indicate possible occult malignancy unless malignancy has been ruled out. Patients with family history of colon cancer in any first degree relative unless they have undergone a colonoscopy in the last 12 months with negative findings; * Elevated PSA unless prostate cancer has been excluded; * Subjects requiring \> 81 mg daily of acetylsalicylic acid; If \> 81 mg are taken at screening, subjects may be enrolled if willing/able to switch to another medication; * Major psychiatric disorder in past 6 months; * History of drug or alcohol abuse / dependence in the past 2 years; * History of recent tobacco abuse (within past 5 years); * BMI \> 38 kg/m2; * Use of an investigational drug or treatment in past 12 months; and * Unable or unwilling to give informed consent.
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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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Diablo Clinical Research Hospital
Walnut Creek, California, 94598, United States
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Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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