Inhaled fentanyl for pain relief in Chinese cancer patients

A Phase I Clinical Study Evaluating the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Inhaled Fentanyl Aerosol (25µg/Dose) in Chinese Patients With Malignant Tumors

This test compares a single 25 µg inhaled fentanyl dose with a 25 µg IV fentanyl bolus to see how the drug is absorbed and how safe it is in Chinese adults with malignant tumors.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 55 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Lee's Pharmaceutical Limited (Industry-sponsored)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 2 sites (Zhengzhou, Henan and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06953453 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a single-dose, open-label, two-period crossover Phase 1 trial comparing pharmacokinetics and safety of inhaled fentanyl aerosol delivered via the Staccato system versus an intravenous fentanyl bolus. Eligible consenting adults with histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant tumors are randomized 1:1 to receive 25 µg IV fentanyl in one period and 25 µg inhaled fentanyl in the other, with a two-week washout between periods. The trial enrolls patients aged 18–55 with BMI between >21 and <30 and adequate hematopoietic and organ function. Conduct and sample collection occur at participating hospital sites in China for PK and safety monitoring.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–55 years old with histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant tumors, BMI >21 and <30 kg/m2, and adequate blood counts and organ function who agree to crossover dosing are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients outside the 18–55 age range, with BMI ≤21 or ≥30, with significant organ dysfunction or recent interfering treatments are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a noninvasive, fast-acting alternative to IV fentanyl for rapid pain control in cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical work with rapid-delivery inhaled fentanyl and Staccato-like devices has shown rapid absorption and promising PK profiles, but clinical use remains limited and context-specific.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Volunteer to participate, understand and sign the informed consent form before conducting the evaluation project;
2. Male or female subjects, aged between 18 and 55, including 18 and 55 years old;
3. Patients with malignant tumors diagnosed by histology or cytology;
4. Body Mass Index (BMI) is \>21 kg/m2, but \<30 kg/m2;
5. Have sufficient hematopoietic function and organ function within the last 14 days at random.

   1. The absolute neutrophil count is ≥1.5×109/L (has not received colony stimulating factor treatment within 14 days before the examination);
   2. Platelet count ≥80×109/L (without transfusion of platelets or other platelet-increasing drugs within 14 days before the examination);
   3. Hemoglobin ≥90g/L (without transfusion or treatment with other hemoglobin-increasing drugs within 7 days before the examination);
   4. Creatinine clearance rate (Ccr)≥30 ml/min, Cr≤2 times the upper limit of normal value;
   5. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) should be ≤2.5×ULN, and for subjects with liver metastasis, it should be ≤5×ULN; total bilirubin should be ≤2 times the upper limit of normal value;
   6. Coagulation function INR≤1.5 ULN;
   7. In a non-oxygen-absorbing state, the oxygen saturation (from a pulse oximeter) is SaO2\>95%; pulmonary function shows FEV1/FVC\>70% and FEV1 as a percentage of the predicted value is\>80%;
6. All patients must agree to take effective contraceptive measures during the study and within one month after stopping treatment. Female patients of childbearing age must have a negative blood pregnancy test before administration;
7. The ECOG performance status score is 0\~1 points;

Exclusion Criteria:

1. known or suspected allergy to opioids;
2. used opioids within 14 days before the first administration, including but not limited to: codeine, dihydrocodeine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, methadone, morphine, fentanyl and pethidine (pethidine);
3. plan to receive radiotherapy and / or systemic chemotherapy within 14 days before the first administration or during the study period (except for patients who receive immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted drug maintenance therapy that is not a CYP3A4 inhibitor / inducer and whose condition is stable);
4. within 14 days before the first administration, the patient had received any monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (such as phenelzine, isocarbazine, chlorogiline, toloxadone, moclobemide, selegiline, rasagiline, etc.); Or have used CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, clarithromycin, itraconazole, nefazodone, ketoconazole, telithromycin, arepitan, erythromycin, fluconazole, grapefruit, verapamil, diltiazem, cimetidine, etc.) or CYP3A4 inducers (such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, efavirenz, glucocorticoids, modafinil, nevirapine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, pioglitazone, rifabutin, rifampicin);
5. have participated in other clinical studies or received surgical treatment within 30 days before the screening period, or have surgery plans during the study period;
6. subjects who smoked more than 10 cigarettes / day within 3 months before the screening period;
7. subjects with a history of drug or alcohol dependence or abuse within 2 years before the screening period;
8. subjects often eat food rich in xanthine (such as drinking more than 5 cups of coffee or food containing the same amount of xanthine every day);
9. subjects with hypotension (systolic blood pressure \<90 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure \<60 mmHg) or uncontrollable hypertension (refers to systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg, and / or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg after standard treatment);
10. After antiviral treatment, HBV DNA\>500 IU/mL or\>2500 copies/mL; HCV-RNA positive; Positive for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies; Or positive for syphilis antibodies;
11. subjects with positive alcohol test or urine test at any visit of the study;
12. subjects with an expected survival time of \<1 year;
13. subjects with clinically significant ECG abnormalities during screening;
14. subjects with a history of lung diseases (asthma, bronchitis, bronchospasm, emphysema, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, etc., excluding lung malignancies);
15. subjects with history of unstable angina pectoris, syncope, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or major neurological diseases;
16. presence of meningeal metastasis or CNS metastasis requiring clinical intervention or malignancy related epilepsy;
17. women of childbearing age or lactating women with positive blood and urine pregnancy tests;
18. the investigator believes that any other situation that may affect the subject's provision of informed consent or compliance with the trial protocol, or the subject's participation in the trial may affect the trial results or their own safety.

Where this trial is running

Zhengzhou, Henan and 1 other locations

• Henan Tumor Hospital — Zhengzhou, Henan, China (Recruiting)
• Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Haiyan Hu, doctor — Shanghai 6th People's Hospital
• Study coordinator: Haiyan Hu, doctor

Conditions Cancer