Expertise: Analgesia 7 results
Neuroscience
Andreas Schreiner, M.D.
Placebo response is one of the most significant challenges faced by drug developers who are investigating new pain medications. According to a review of published chronic neuropathic pain trials, placebo responses have increased in magnitude over time, making it even more difficult to definitively demonstrate treatment advantage.1 Research has also shown that up to 60 percent…
The placebo effect can be problematic in analgesia clinical trials with a symptom-based approach, as placebo-related analgesic responses may occur and persist for some time in up to 60 percent of study participants.1 In chronic pain studies, it is generally assumed that the placebo effect accounts for approximately 30 percent of the analgesic response.2 The…
The use of placebo control in clinical trials has long been a topic of spirited debate. Proponents maintain that placebo control is necessary for proving the safety and efficacy of investigational products. Critics argue that use of placebo sacrifices patient welfare and is unethical if a proven therapy is available. In analgesia studies, the question…
We were conducting a trial for a painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) drug and were investigating why one site had an especially high placebo response rate. Then one of our representatives, waiting in the site’s lobby to meet with the principal investigator, pinpointed the likely reason when a patient walked in the door. “Mrs. Jones,” the…
Between 7 and 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some type of neuropathic pain, and a significant share of those affected require chronic pain treatment.1 This high rate of occurrence makes our limited understanding of these afflictions, and the long search for effective treatments, all the more frustrating. Treating neuropathic pain starts with…