The Convey Study with Biogen
SPCR are currently enrolling participants onto a new study for Small Fibre Neuropathy (SFN), called CONVEY. Small Fibre Neuropathy is often related to diabetes, but it can also be idiopathic where the underlying cause cannot be established. CONVEY is a clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of the investigational study medication, BIIB074, in reducing the pain associated with small fibre neuropathy.
BIIB074 is a state-dependent voltage-gated sodium channel blocker with selectivity for the Nav1.7 subtype, which was recently validated as a key pain target by human genetic linkage. This novel medicine is being evaluated for treatment of multiple types of neuropathic pain conditions, including idiopathic SFN and SFN associated with diabetes mellitus.
Small Fibre Neuropathy
People with Small Fibre Neuropathy experience chronic, often treatment-resistant, pain usually in the hands or feet, as a result of damage to small, myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C nerve fibres of the peripheral nervous system.
The pain can be worse at night, and is sometimes described as stabbing, burning or ‘electrical’ or tingling. Individuals with this type of neuropathy can have an increased sensitivity to pain in general.
Neuropathic pain can persist for many years, and currently there are no approved therapies specifically indicated for the treatment of pain associated with SFN. Management of SFN focuses on treating the pain, or the underlying cause of the disease. Pain medications such as opioids and other types of painkiller are limited in efficacy and come with problematic side effects, which is why SFN has such a high unmet medical need, and why there needs to be more research into this chronic, painful condition.
Participating in the Convey Study: Are you eligible?
Individuals over the age of 18 who have at least possible SFN or have been diagnosed with SFN for six months or more prior to screening, are eligible to participate. If you are on pain medication for SFN, you must be stable on your dose for a minimum of 30 days prior to screening.
At St Pancras Clinical Research, we have a team of industry experts specialising in pain and diabetes, committed to the development of new medicines that aims to reduce the painful symptoms of neuropathy.
Some other criteria must also be met, such as having no history of liver disease or clinical depression in the last 6 six months, or any history of poorly controlled hypertension. Our Patient Engagement Team will go over the exclusion criteria with you over the phone once you have completed our online form. St Pancras Clinical Research assists with travel arrangements and reasonable travel expenses and refreshments will be reimbursed.
Taking part in a clinical research study is a big decision for both the person who is participating and also their family and friends.
We work together with you and your family to ensure you are aware of the commitments and all aspects of the study before committing. if someone gets in touch with us about taking part in research, one of our experienced team will have a confidential phone chat to discuss the study and that person’s suitability based on medical history, diagnosis and current medications. If suitable and the person would like to go ahead, we would then invite them in for a Patient Information Visit to meet the clinic team, discuss the study in more detail and get the opportunity to ask any questions and raise any concerns they might have. For more information on this process, you can read our Patient Journey article, our FAQ’s, and our article on clinical research.
What are the benefits of participating in research?
- You will have access to potential new medications before they are made available to the general population
- You will have regular medical support including assessments and check-ups by leading healthcare professionals
- You will be contributing to the development and understanding of new medications for conditions that currently do not have effective treatment options
- We liaise directly with your GP about any medical concerns for the duration of the study