Efficacy and Safety of Vascana® in Subjects With Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon

A Double-blinded Crossover Study of Topical Formulation of Nitroglycerine, Vascana®, Versus Matching Vehicle in the Subjective and Physiologic Responses to Controlled Cold Challenge in Subjects With Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) Secondary to Connective Tissue Disease

The purpose of this study is to determine the ability of Vascana (0.9% nitroglycerin topical cream) to treat and prevent the symptoms experienced by subject's with Raynaud's Phenomenon. The symptoms of this disease include pain, tingling, and numbness in the fingers of the affected hand or hands.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provide written consent prior to any study-specific evaluation
2. Males and females aged 18 years to 75 years, inclusive
3. A clinical diagnosis of secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon (defined as Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) significant enough to cause a patient to modify daily behavior) as determined by a history of cold sensitivity with pain, numbness, and/or tingling along with pallor or cyanosis of the fingers, or by such an event observed by the study physician and a diagnosis of a disease state known to be associated with RP. Secondary RP may be due to scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, or other connective tissue diseases
4. Agree to apply the study drug to their fingers as specified in the protocol
5. Agree to the controlled cold exposures as described in the protocol
6. Willing to discontinue current vasodilator therapies used specifically for the treatment of Raynaud's
7. Agree not to use any other investigational medications or approved or unapproved therapies to treat RP and its symptoms while participating in this study. Such medications include, but are not limited to: other dosages forms of nitroglycerin, eg, isosorbide dinitrate, fenoldopam mesylate, milrinone lactate, nifedipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, fluoxetine, pregabalin, and verapamil. Use of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (eg, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) is excluded unless being used intermittently for male erectile dysfunction and not taken within 48 hours of scheduled study drug dosing
8. Negative urine pregnancy test for women of child-bearing potential prior to the first study treatment and who agree to use effective contraception throughout the study
9. Able to comply with all study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Past history of RP attacks of sufficient severity as to require inpatient hospitalization
2. Presence of an active digital ulcer defined as a painful ulcer with visible depth and loss of epithelialization. Ulcers covered with eschar wherein depth and epithelialization cannot be judged are said to be "indeterminant" and are not exclusionary.
3. Raynaud's Phenomenon secondary to non-connective tissue disorders including thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), hemorheologic disorders, major arterial occlusive disease, past exposure to vasopathic agents (including vinblastine, cis platinum, and bleomycin), ongoing therapy with vasoconstrictive agents (eg, beta-blockers), and past frostbite injury amongst others. Subjects with hepatitis C should also be excluded.
4. Patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension requiring specific therapy.
5. Concurrently using any nitrate medication or medications known to interact with nitroglycerin such as sildenafil, and other treatments for erectile dysfunction beyond screening. Subjects may participate in the study once these drugs have been discontinued for at least 5 half-lives
6. Concurrently using any medication or device which might interfere with the study medication (including RP therapies, drugs used for hypertension, arrhythmia, depression, and pain), specifically calcium channel blockers and the compounds listed in prohibited concomitant medications beyond screening, unless such medication is required for a condition other than Raynaud's. Subjects may participate in the study once these drugs have been discontinued for at least 5 half-lives.
7. Known allergy to nitroglycerin or common topical cream ingredients
8. History of migraine, cluster, or vascular headaches, or chronic pain (defined as pain of 3-hour duration or longer on a daily basis) with greater intensity than the pain associated with RP or other chronic pain condition in their fingers
9. Any unstable medical problem or any current medical condition that, in the judgment of the investigator, would contraindicate the administration of the study medication, interfere with the study evaluations, or interfere with the subject's ability to comply with the study protocol
10. Cognitive or language difficulties that would impair completion of the symptom assessment instruments
11. Within the past 3 months, have had a myocardial infarction, uncontrolled congestive heart failure, unstable angina, uncontrolled hypotension, or uncontrolled hypertension (defined as subjects not being treated medically to control these conditions)
12. Participated in a study of any investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to visit 1
13. Screening laboratory values are 20% or more from the upper or lower limit of normal and that are considered to be clinically significant to the investigator
14. Had major abdominal, thoracic, or vascular surgery within 6 months of visit 1
15. Pregnant or nursing women
16. Women of childbearing potential who are unable or unwilling to comply with the contraceptive requirements during the study period
17. History of relevant drug and/or food allergies that resulted in a systemic reaction that required medical treatment
18. History of alcohol abuse or drug addiction which in the estimation of the principal investigator would affect the subjects ability to participate in the study
19. Consumption of alcohol on day before a visit and day of the visit.
20. Consumption of two or more alcoholic beverages on a daily basis.
21. Use of tobacco products of any type and at any level in the preceding 6 months and for the duration of the study.