FGF-1 for the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication.

FGF-1 administered by intramuscular injection for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication. Eligible patients are allocated to one of three treatment arms. Patients within each dosing group will be randomized between study drug and vehicle control. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and cardiovascular improvement will be evaluated at day 1 and weeks 1, 4 and 12 post dosing.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Subjects considered eligible to enter the study must sign an informed consent form prior to the initiation of any study procedures. In the event that the subject must be withdrawn and is re-screened for study participation at a later date, a new informed consent form must be signed. Subjects must be competent to give written informed consent.
2. Age must be ≥50 and ≤75 years of age with a life expectancy of > 1 year and leg survival > 6 months. Patients >75 and ≤80 years of age will be considered if they show no signs of cognitive or muscle function decline and are fully able to comply with the protocol.
3. Patients must have experienced intermittent claudication for at least 6 months and have been stable for the past 3 months.
4. Patients must have peripheral arterial disease, as confirmed by a resting ABI ≥0.40 and <0.90 based on at least one leg as measured using both the dorsal pedis and posterior tibial arteries.
5. Stenosis of >70% up to total occlusion must be present in the popliteal artery and/or in the tibial peroneal trunk or at least 2 tibial arteries above the ankle without inflow limitation of the popliteal artery. Adequate popliteal inflow is defined as continuous flow from the abdominal aorta, iliac, common femoral and superficial femoral with any stenosis < 50% as determined either by intra-arterial DSA, CTA or Gd CE-MRA.
6. The screening Gardner treadmill test peak walking times (PWT) must be >1 minute and < 12 minutes and limited by pain in one or both calves.
7. Preexisting medication regime must be stable for 6 weeks preceding dosing.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Evidence of critical leg ischemia, i.e. ischemic rest pain or ischemic ulceration
2. Treadmill walking limited by conditions other than intermittent claudication including arthritis, angina and dyspnea
3. Lower limb amputation of, or in, either leg including toes
4. Evidence of limb ischemia from immunologic or inflammatory disorders
5. Leg surgery or revascularization within past 6 months or peripheral angioplasty within past 3 months or anticipated during study
6. Participation in any investigational device or drug trial within the past 6 months
7. Myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke or ischemic attack within past 6 months
8. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, III or IV heart failure, restrictive or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or severe valvular disease
9. QTc elongation greater than 450 ms in males or 460 ms in females
10. PT (INR), PTT, urinalysis, thyroid function (T3, T4, TSH) outside normal limits
11. Hemorrhage or thrombotic events (e.g. deep vein thrombosis) within past 6 months
12. Thrombocytopenia (<100,000/µl), history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
13. Major surgery with the past 6 months
14. Positive proliferative retinopathy exam
15. Present of any type of cancer or history of cancer except past (but not present) basal cell dermal carcinoma not on either leg
16. Inflammatory or progressive fibrotic or myelofibrotic disorders
17. Patients experiencing bacterial or viral infection (e.g. hepatitis or HIV) or who may otherwise be febrile
18. Hemoglobin A1c(HgbA1c) of >8%
19. Type I diabetes
20. Total fasting cholesterol >200
21. Uncontrolled hypertension (≥160 systolic or ≥100 diastolic pressure) or hypotension (<90 systolic or <60 diastolic pressure)
22. Disease or drug (e.g. systemic corticosteroid) immuno-compromised
23. Hepatic dysfunction as defined either by AST or ALT > 2.0 times the upper limit of normal
24. Serum creatinine of ≥ 2.5 mg/dl
25. Proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio > 3)
26. Antiproliferative drugs (e.g. thalidomide, hydroxyurea)
27. Radiation therapy
28. Implanted devices not compatible with strong magnetic fields
29. Life expectance of less than 1 year
30. Females who are premenopausal and not sterilized or using adequate birth control or are either pregnant, intend to become pregnant or are nursing