A Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of 400mg/Day Lacosamide in Subjects With Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

A Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of 400mg/Day Lacosamide in Subjects With Painful Distal Diabetic Neuropathy Using Two Different Titration Schemes

The purpose of this trial is to assess whether 400mg/day of lacosamide is effective in reducing pain caused by distal diabetic neuropathy. Two dose-escalation schemes for lacosamide will be used to further determine the efficacy of the "standard" scheme and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a more rapid titration scheme. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Subjects in two of the groups will receive lacosamide at a dose of 400mg/day, but different dose-escalation schemes will be used to reach this final dose. The third group of subjects will receive a placebo. Subjects will have a 2 in 3 (66 %) chance of getting lacosamide.

The maximum lacosamide dose in this trial will be 400mg/day. The maximum treatment duration will be 18 weeks, including a two-week Pre-Treatment Phase and a 12 weeks period on a stable dose of lacosamide or placebo.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject has had symptoms of painful diabetic neuropathy for at least 6 months and has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (Type I or Type II).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject has previously participated in this trial or subject has previously been assigned to treatment in a trial of the drug under investigation in this trial