AlgoRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Corgentech Inc. attained positive results from the first of two ongoing phase 3 trials of ALGRX 3268 - a fast-acting local anaesthetic administered into the skin by powder injection and aimed at reducing pain associated with venipuncture procedures (blood draws and intravenous line placements).

The primary endpoint of the 574-paediatric patient trial was achieved showing that treatment with ALGRX 3268 demonstrated statistically significantly less pain compared with the placebo group. ALGRX 3268 was well tolerated and demonstrated no significant safety issues, maintains a company release.

This study was conducted at six centers in the United States in patients 3 to 18 years of age. A total of 574 patients were administered a placebo (285 patients) or the local anaesthetic, ALGRX 3268 (289 patients) one to three minutes before having their procedures which required either venipuncture or intravenous cannulation.

“Subjects who received ALGRX 3268 experienced less pain and onset was rapid, within one to three minutes compared to up to 60 minutes it takes for the most commonly used topical local anaesthetics to offer analgesia," stated Ronald M. Burch, chief executive officer of AlgoRx.

ALGRX 3268 is for local analgesia and is aimed at reducing the pain associated with venipunctures and intravenous line placements. It is based on a needleless injection system called Powderject, which accelerates lidocaine particles, in powder form, into the epidermis in order to anaesthetise nerves.