Gene therapy shot aims to ease diabetic foot pain
NCT ID NCT01475786
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a gene therapy called Engensis (VM202) to see if it safely reduces pain in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. 104 adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes and leg pain for at least 6 months received either low-dose, high-dose, or placebo injections into their calves. The main goal was to measure changes in average daily pain over 6 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) gene therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to reduce chronic pain in people with diabetic nerve damage.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early phase 2 trial with only 104 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment involves injections into the calves and may not work better than placebo.
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
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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104 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Aug 2012
- Finished
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Jun 2014
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 75 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 years to ≤ 75 years * Documented history of Type I or II diabetes with current treatment control (glycosylated hemoglobin A1c of ≤ 10.0% at Screening) and currently on oral medication and/or insulin * Diagnosis of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities * Lower extremity pain for at least 6 months * Visual analog scale (VAS) score of ≥ 40 mm at Initial Screening (0 mm = no pain - 100 mm very severe pain) * Symptoms from the Brief Pain Neuropathy Screening (BPNS) is ≤ 5 point difference between legs at Initial Screening * The average daily pain intensity score of the Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary completed after medication wash-out is ≥ 4 with a standard deviation ≤ 2 * The physical examination component of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Score (MNSI) is ≥ 3 at Screening * Stable treatment of diabetes for at least 3 months with no anticipated changes in medication regimen, and no new symptoms associated with diabetes * If female of childbearing potential, negative urine 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 disease, rheumatoid arthritis) * Positive HIV or HTLV at Screening * Active 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 * Subjects with known immunosuppression or currently receiving immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy or radiation therapy * Stroke or myocardial infarction within last 3 months * Ophthalmologic conditions pertinent to proliferative retinopathy or conditions that preclude standard ophthalmologic examination * Specific laboratory values at Screening including: Hemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dL, WBC \< 3,000 cells per microliter, platelet count \<75,000/mm3, Creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL; AST and/or ALT \> 3 times the upper limit of normal or any other clinically significant lab abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator should be exclusionary * Uncontrolled hypertension as defined as sustained systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 200 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) \> 110 mmHg at Screening * Patients with a recent history (\< 5 years) 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); patients with family history of colon cancer in any first degree relative are excluded unless they have undergone a colonoscopy in the last 12 months with negative findings * 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 * Use of any opioids; subjects may be enrolled if willing and able to discontinue use of these drugs 14 days prior to starting the 7 Day Daily Pain and Sleep Interference Diary and refrain from taking these drugs for the duration of the study * Subjects requiring regular COX-2 inhibitor drug(s) or non-specific COX-1/COX-2 inhibiting drugs, or high dose steroids (excepting inhaled steroids).Subjects may be enrolled if willing/able to undergo medication wash-out prior to the first dosing and to refrain from taking these drugs for the duration of the study; * Major psychiatric disorder in within last 6 months * Body mass index (BMI) \> 45 kg/m2 at Screening * Any lower extremity amputation * Use of an investigational drug or treatment in past 6 months * 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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Beth Israel Deaconess
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Compass Research
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
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Diablo Clinical Research
Walnut Creek, California, 94598, United States
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East Virginia Medical School Strelitz Diabetes Center
Norfolk, Virginia, 23510, United States
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Houston Neurocare
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Mount Sinai Medical Center
New York, New York, 10029, United States
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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Palm Beach Neurological Center
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, 33418, United States
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Rainier Clinical Research
Seattle, Washington, 98057, United States
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Sejong General Hospital
Bucheon-si, Sosa-gu, 422-711, South Korea
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Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Seongnam, Bundang-gu, 463-707, South Korea
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The Catholic University of Korea Youido St. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, Yeongdeungpo-gu, 150-713, South Korea
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The Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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The Neurosciences Institute Albany Medical College
Albany, New York, 12208, United States
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University of Oklahoma Harold Hamm Diabetes Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, United States
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Yonsei University College of Medicine Severance Hospital
Seoul, Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, South Korea