The capsaicin 8% topical system is FDA-approved for the treatment of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy (PDPN) of the feet and post-herpetic neuralgia. The hypothesis that patients experience a progressive response with ongoing treatments was the purpose of this analysis. Eighteen patients who received at least 3 treatments were selected, some patients were not analyzed due to missing data. Efficacy was measured using a pain rating scale from 0-10. Initial pain level was taken before administering capsaicin 8%, with follow-up scores measured during an evaluation between treatments. Most patients had a 50% or greater reduction in pain, with fifteen responding on the first treatment, one on the second treatment, and two non-responders. Patients experienced an acute reduction in average pain intensity following each application, with an additive reduction in pre-treatment pain scores prior to the second and third applications (Figure 1). Capsaicin 8% induces analgesia by lysing aberrant nociceptive fibers. The regeneration of these nociceptors is associated with pain recurrence due to the continual consequence of diabetes. These data are consistent with previous studies and may signify a more normal nerve fiber regrowth in PDPN patients, suggesting the need for ongoing treatments to maintain this progressive response.
G. Graf: Consultant; Averitas Pharma, Inc. Speaker's Bureau; Averitas Pharma, Inc. S. Allen: Employee; Averitas Pharma, Inc., Lundbeck. A. Carnevale: Employee; Averitas Pharma, Inc.
