Botulinum Toxin Type A Blockade of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion in Treatment-refractory Chronic Cluster Headache

Study Purpose

Cluster headache is a primary headache condition characterized by clusters of one-sided, high-intensity pain attacks. The headache may be episodic or chronic. Treatment options are limited and their effects unsatisfactory. An important nerve pathway involved in the pain attacks has a switching station at the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) located in the depth of the facial bones. SPG is a known therapy target for cluster headache. The area can be identified on CT images, but is difficult to access due to its location. Thus, the Multiguide navigation system has been developed to enable precise delivery of the drugs that target SPG activity. In Trondheim, two phase 1 / Phase 2 study have been carried out using botulinum toxin A (Botox®) against SPG in patient with chronic cluster headache and chronic migraine. The results indicate that such a treatment strategy is safe and beneficial. The current study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded study to investigate whether precise single-injection of botulinum toxin A reduces the frequency of attacks in chronic cluster headache .

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years - 85 Years
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Informed and written consent. 2. Male or female, 18-85 years of age. 3. Headache attacks fulfilling the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) III criteria for chronic cluster headache (CCH) 3.1.2. 4. Dominant headache laterality with ≥ 80% of cluster headache attacks on one side. 5. Subject reports an average of ≥ 4 cluster attacks/week on the side of their dominant headache laterality in the 3 months prior to inclusion and in the baseline period. 6. The condition is pharmacologically refractory defined as suboptimal effect or intolerable side effects or contraindication for verapamil or lithium or suboccipital steroid injection. 7. Subject agrees to maintain current preventive headache medication regimens (no change in type, frequency, or dose) during the whole study period. 8. Subject is able to differentiate concomitant headaches from cluster headache. 9. In case of women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) they have to be using highly effective contraception in a period of 4 weeks after injection. 10. Ability to understand study procedures and to comply with them for the entire length of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject has had a change in type, dosage or dose frequency of preventive headache medications ≥ two weeks prior to baseline/screening or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer. 2. Subject currently treated with occipital nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation or other implantable device, that have changed parameters in the last month, or are unable to keep parameters stable throughout the study. 3. Current or previous treatment with implanted medical devices targeting the SPG. 4. Subject has had a change in type, dosage or dose frequency of preventive headache medications during the baseline period, eg. prior to IMP administration. 5. Non-responder to both oxygen and triptan. 6. Participation in a clinical study of a new chemical entity or a prescription medicine within 2 months before study drug administration or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer. 7. Subject is currently participating or has participated in the last 3 months in another clinical study in which the subject has, is, or will be exposed to an investigational or non-investigational drug or device. 8. Allergy or hypersensitivity reactions to marcaine, lidocaine, xylocaine, adrenaline, any botulinum toxin or similar substances. 9. Abuse of drugs or alcohol. 10. Use of opioids for ≥10 days per month. 11. Treatment with pharmacological substances that may interact with BTA (aminoglycosids, spectinomycin, neuromuscular blockers, both depolarizing agents (such as succinylcholine) or non-depolarizing (tubocurarine derivates), lincosamides, polymyxins, quinidine, magnesium sulfate or anticholinestases.). 12. WOCBP that do not adhere to the requirements for HEC, as noted in inclusion criteria 9 and outlined in section 3.3. 13. Pregnancy or breastfeeding in the study period. 14. Subject has undergone facial surgery in the area of the pterygopalatine fossa or zygomaticomaxillary buttress ipsilateral to the planned injection site that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may lead to an inability to properly conduct the procedure. 15. Facial anomaly or trauma which renders the procedure difficult.2. 16. Subject currently has an active oral or dental abscess or a local infection at the site of injection based on present symptoms. 17. Subject has been diagnosed with any major infectious processes such as osteomyelitis, or primary or secondary malignancies involving the face that have been active or required treatment in the past 6 months. 18. Patients exhibiting a high degree of comorbidity and/or frailty associated with reduced life expectancy or high likelihood of hospitalization, at the discretion of the investigator. 19. Patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders with psychotic or other symptoms making compliance with the study protocol difficult, at the discretion of the investigator. 20. Patient with active infectious disease or infections that warrants special infection control measures, such as human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis, or chronic hepatitis B or C infection. 21. Patient with disorders that are known contraindication for Botox® treatment, especially neuromuscular disorders such as motorneuron disorders and myasthenic syndromes. 22. Subject has had previous radiofrequency ablation, balloon compression, gamma knife, or chemical denervation (e.g. glycerol treatments) of the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion or any branch of the trigeminal nerve. 23. Subject has had previous radiofrequency ablation (including non-lesional pulsed radiofrequency), balloon compression, gamma knife, or chemical denervation (e.g. glycerol treatments) of the ipsilateral SPG. 24. Subject has had blocks of short-acting anaesthetics of the ipsilateral SPG in the last 3 months. 25. Subject has undergone onabotulinumtoxinA injections of the head and/or neck in the last 3 months. 26. Subject is anticipated to require any excluded medication, device, or procedure during the study. 27. Subject has a history of bleeding disorders and in the opinion of the Investigator, may lead to an inability to properly conduct the procedure. 28. Subject has a history of coagulopathy. 29. Subject is unable to stop antithrombotic medication, eg. anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet therapy, before procedure. 30. The subject has been diagnosed with another trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia or trigeminal neuralgia. 31. The patient cannot participate or successfully complete the study, in the opinion of their healthcare provider or the investigator, for any of the following reasons:
  • - mentally or legally incapacitated or unable to give consent for any reason.
  • - in custody due to an administrative or a legal decision, under tutelage, or being admitted to a sanatorium or social institution.
32. The patient is a study centre employee who is directly involved in the study or the relative of such an employee.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT03944876
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 3
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Geir Bråthen, md phd
Principal Investigator Affiliation St. Olavs Hospital
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Cluster Headache
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Botox injections towards SPG

Botulinum Toxin type A injections

Placebo Comparator: Controls

placebo injections

Interventions

Drug: - Botulinum toxin type A

Botulinum toxin 25 Allergan units in 0.5 ml Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 0.9 % Braun. One injection in the headache side of the face, targeted at the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG)

Drug: - placebo

0.5 ml Sodium Chloride (NaCl) 0.9% Braun. One injection in the headache side of the face, targeted at the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG)

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

International Sites

Praxisklinik Ulmenhof, Hamburg, Germany

Status

Recruiting

Address

Praxisklinik Ulmenhof

Hamburg, ,

Site Contact

Alexandre Thomas Assaf, dr

[email protected]

+47 728 21 335

Milano, Italy

Status

Recruiting

Address

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (CBNI)

Milano, ,

Site Contact

Massimo Leone, md prof

[email protected]

+39 02.23941

St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

Status

Recruiting

Address

St Olavs Hospital

Trondheim, ,

Site Contact

Erling Tronvik, md phd

[email protected]

+47 40458528

Valencia, Spain

Status

Recruiting

Address

Department of Neurology, University Clinic Hospital. Catholic University of Valencia

Valencia, ,

Site Contact

Miguel Lainez, md prof

[email protected]

+34 963868863

London, United Kingdom

Status

Recruiting

Address

National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College of London

London, ,

Site Contact

Manjit Matharu, MD phd

[email protected]

+44 7976264746

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