Cancer pain relief without the sickness: new hope from an old drug
NCT ID NCT07038551
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether naldemedine, a drug already used for opioid-induced constipation, can also prevent nausea and vomiting when cancer patients start strong painkillers. 120 adults with cancer who were beginning opioid therapy took either naldemedine or a placebo for up to 7 days. The main goal was to see if more patients in the naldemedine group had no vomiting and didn't need extra anti-nausea medication by day 5.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- naldemedine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by opioid painkillers in cancer patients, making pain management easier.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 4 trial with 120 participants, so results are available but may not apply to all patients. Naldemedine is already used for constipation, so its effect on nausea is still being confirmed.
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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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120 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- 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 years and older
- 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: 1. Patients who can be expected to initiate regular administration of opioid analgesics (tramadol, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone) for cancer pain and continue for 7 days or more. 2. Patients who are 18 years of age or older at the time of obtaining consent 3. Patients who can take oral medications, food, and beverages 4. Patients who are considered capable of self-recording in the patient's diary (proxy recording in the patient's diary is acceptable if the patients are capable of self-assessment). 5. Patients who are not expected to have a rapid change in their condition during the study period. 6. Patients who can obtain written consent to participate in the study of their own will Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have used opioid analgesics within 28 days prior to the date of consent 2. Patients who have taken or are currently taking naldemedine 3. Patients who have nausea and vomiting of CTCAE grade 2 or higher at the time of obtaining consent 4. Patients who have taken the following antiemetic drugs within 7 days prior to the date of consent Metoclopramide, domperidone, H1 histamine receptor antagonists, phenothiazine antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, prochlorperazine), haloperidol, atypical antipsychotics (perospirone, risperidone, olanzapine), serotonin 5HT3 receptor antagonists (ondansetron, granisetron, ramosetron, palonosetron), corticosteroids (dexamethasone), scopolamine hydrobromide, NK1 receptor antagonists (aprepitant, fosaprepitant, fosnetupitant) 5. Patients who have received cancer chemotherapy that is certain to affect nausea and vomiting within 14 days prior to the date of consent or who are scheduled to receive such therapy within the study period. Cancer chemotherapy that is certain to affect nausea and vomiting will be defined as follows: ① Initial administration of a therapeutic regimen containing irinotecan (CPT-11) ② Other cancer chemotherapy that is considered certain to affect nausea and vomiting. However, the following cases may be considered as not affecting defecation * Chemotherapy with the same regimen as the previous course or chemotherapy with the same drug and dose, and there was no moderate or greater nausea and vomiting (CTCAE v5.0 Grade 2 or higher) during the previous course or previous chemotherapy. * Patients who have received oral anticancer agents (e.g. TS-1) daily and have not had moderate or severe nausea and vomiting (CTCAE v5.0 Grade 2 or higher) for at least 1 week from the start of oral chemotherapy to the date of consent. 6. Pregnant or lactating patients 7. Patients with suspected hypersensitivity to opioid receptor antagonists such as naldemedine, naltrexone, methylnaltrexone, and naloxone 8. Patients with contraindications listed in the package inserts for naldemedine and opioid analgesics (tramadol, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone) 9. Patients participating or scheduled to participate in clinical trials or other interventional studies 10. Patients with gastrointestinal obstruction or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, or patients with a history of gastrointestinal obstruction and a high risk of recurrence 11. Patients who have undergone surgery or treatment (e.g., nerve block) that affects gastrointestinal function, or radiation therapy to the head, intestinal tract, or pelvis within 14 days prior to the date of consent acquisition, or patients who are scheduled to undergo such treatment during the observation period 12. Patients with medically significant cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, or renal dysfunction based on history, clinical laboratory values, electrocardiogram, or physical examination, who are judged inappropriate to participate in the study 13. Patients with symptomatic intracranial conditions (such as brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease) 14. Patients with suspected dysfunction or impairment of the blood-brain barrier 15. Patients for whom it is difficult to explain the contents of the study or obtain consent due to cognitive impairment or psychiatric illness 16. Patients who are judged by the principal investigator or sub-investigator to be inappropriate to participate in this study based on other concomitant therapies or medical findings
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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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Beppu Medical Center
Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Japan
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Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Fo undation for Cancer Research
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital
Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
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Hyogo Prefectural Nishinomiya Hospital
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan
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IUHW Narita Hospital
Narita, Chiba, Japan
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Iizuka Hospital
Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan
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Kanagawa Dental University Yokohama Clinic
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Kansai Rosai Hospital
Amagasaki, Hyōgo, Japan
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Kindai University Nara Hospital
Ikoma, Nara, Japan
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Kyoto University Hospital
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
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National Cancer Center Hospital
Chuo Ku, Tokyo, Japan
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National Hospital Organization HIMEJI M edical Center
Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan
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Niigata Cancer Center Hospital
Niigata, Niigata, Japan
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Osaka Red Cross Hospital
Osaka, Osaka, Japan
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Osaki Citizen Hospital
Ōsaki, Miyagi, Japan
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Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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St. Marianna University School of Medicine
Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
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Toyama University Hospital
Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Toyohashi municipal hospital
Toyohashi, Aichi-ken, Japan
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University of Tsukuba Hospital
Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
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