Neuropathic PainPhase 2NCT03848143
Intraoral Administration of Botox in Patients With Dentoalveolar Neuropathic Pain
A Phase 2 study testing onabotulinum toxin A in people with Neuropathic Pain, run by Isabel Moreno Hay at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Onabotulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is a potent neurotoxin that has been reported to have an effect on afferent (sensory) neurons independent of its action on muscle tone and secretory glands at the periphery.In human studies, the use of BoNT-A has proven to reduce the severity and intensity of attacks in chronic… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neuropathic Pain
- What is being tested?
- onabotulinum toxin A
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 8 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Sep 2019to 30 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- History of continuous dentoalveolar pain with clinically evident positive (hyperalgesia, allodynia) and/or negative (hypoaesthesia, hypoalgesia) signs of trigeminal nerve dysfunction and where other possible pain sources have been ruled out.
- Intractable pain to conventional oral and/or topical pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain according to the recommendations published by NeuPSIG (Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group) including anticonvulsants, SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) and/or tricyclic antidepressants.
- Subject consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- hypersensitive to any onabotulinum toxin preparation or any component in the formulation.
- systemic nerve or muscle disorders
- bleeding disorders
- dysphagia
- breathing problems
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- previous treatment with botulinum toxin in the last 4 months.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Intraoral Administration of Onabotulinum Toxin A for Continuous Neuropathic Pain: a Single Subject Experimental Design
Onabotulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is a potent neurotoxin that has been reported to have an effect on afferent (sensory) neurons independent of its action on muscle tone and secretory glands at the periphery.In human studies, the use of BoNT-A has proven to reduce the severity and intensity of attacks in chronic tension type headaches and chronic neck pain. The PREEMPT study concluded that BoNT-A could be used as a preventive therapy in chronic migraine patients and FDA approval was obtained. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), BoNT-A is recommended for the management of peripheral neuropathic pain with subcutaneous administration of 50-200 units (50-200U) to onabotulinum toxin A to the painful neuropathic area every 3 months as a third line of treatment. To our knowledge, there are no clinical trials published investigating the effect of intraoral administration of BoNT-A in continuous dentoalveolar neuropathic pain. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of intraoral administration of BoNT-A in patients suffering from continuous neuropathic pain.
HYPOTHESIS:
Read more
There will be statistically significant differences in reported pain intensity after the intraoral administration of BOTOX® in patients suffering from chronic continuous dentoalveolar neuropathic pain.
A single subject experiment will be conducted with 10 patients where 50 U of BonT-A will be injected into the painful dentoalveolar area. Eligible subjects will complete a pain diary indicating their pain intensity by means of a visual analog scale during one month to establish a baseline. After the first injection, subjects will continue to monitor the VAS daily for 3 months and the infiltration will be repeated a second time following the same protocol. Patient's response will be monitored with the daily pain diary.
- Conditions
- Neuropathic Pain
- Being tested
- onabotulinum toxin A
- Medical subject headings
- Neuralgia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
onabotulinum toxin ADrug
Also called BOTOX
Each subject will receive 50 units (50 U) of BoNT-A constituted in 1 mL of saline solution injected intraorally to the painful area divided in at least 3 sites, 0.5 to 1.0 cm apart depending on the size of the painful area and following a checkerboard pattern.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| BOTOX | Experimental | Onabotulinum toxin A is distributed in 50 unit (50U) vacuum-dried powder bottles by Allergan (BOTOX (R)) for reconstitution only with sterile, preservative-free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection prior to injection.
1 mL of diluent will be drawn up to obtain a resulting dose of 10 U per 0.2 mL and injected into the vial. The BOTOX(R) will then be gently mixed with the saline by rotating the vial. The date and time of reconstitution will be recorded on the package on the label. BOTOX should be administered within 24 hours after reconstitution and stored in a refrigerator (2-8 °C).
Each patient will receive 50 U of onabotulinum toxin A. Receives: Drug: onabotulinum toxin A |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain Intensity (Round 1)
Patient will record the pain intensity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS, from 0-10 being 0 no pain and 10 the worst possible pain)
Measured: Baseline, 3 month follow up
Change in Pain Intensity (Round 2)
Patient will record the pain intensity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS, from 0-10 being 0 no pain and 10 the worst possible pain)
Measured: Baseline, 6 month follow up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Feb 2019
- Study start11 Sep 2019
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (13)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neuropathic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single subject experimental design
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Isabel Moreno Hay
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- AbbVie
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Isabel Moreno Hay, University of Kentucky
- Investigators
- Jeffrey P Okeson, DMD, Study director, Associate Professor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03848143
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 45231
- Other IDs
- IIT-10247
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Feb 2019
- Last updated
- 30 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Dolly JO, O'Connell MA. Neurotherapeutics to inhibit exocytosis from sensory neurons for the control of chronic pain. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;12(1):100-8. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2011.11.001. Epub 2011 Dec 19.
PubMed 22188874Cui M, Khanijou S, Rubino J, Aoki KR. Subcutaneous administration of botulinum toxin A reduces formalin-induced pain. Pain. 2004 Jan;107(1-2):125-33. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2003.10.008.
PubMed 14715398Luvisetto S, Marinelli S, Lucchetti F, Marchi F, Cobianchi S, Rossetto O, Montecucco C, Pavone F. Botulinum neurotoxins and formalin-induced pain: central vs. peripheral effects in mice. Brain Res. 2006 Apr 12;1082(1):124-31. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.01.117. Epub 2006 Mar 9.
PubMed 16524562Bach-Rojecky L, Lackovic Z. Antinociceptive effect of botulinum toxin type a in rat model of carrageenan and capsaicin induced pain. Croat Med J. 2005 Apr;46(2):201-8.
PubMed 15849840Marinelli S, Luvisetto S, Cobianchi S, Makuch W, Obara I, Mezzaroma E, Caruso M, Straface E, Przewlocka B, Pavone F. Botulinum neurotoxin type A counteracts neuropathic pain and facilitates functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury in animal models. Neuroscience. 2010 Nov 24;171(1):316-28. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.08.067. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
PubMed 20826198Bach-Rojecky L, Relja M, Lackovic Z. Botulinum toxin type A in experimental neuropathic pain. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2005 Feb;112(2):215-9. doi: 10.1007/s00702-004-0265-1.
PubMed 15657640Park HJ, Lee Y, Lee J, Park C, Moon DE. The effects of botulinum toxin A on mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Can J Anaesth. 2006 May;53(5):470-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03022619.
PubMed 16636031Bach-Rojecky L, Salkovic-Petrisic M, Lackovic Z. Botulinum toxin type A reduces pain supersensitivity in experimental diabetic neuropathy: bilateral effect after unilateral injection. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 May 10;633(1-3):10-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.01.020. Epub 2010 Feb 1.
PubMed 20123097Filipovic B, Bach-Rojecky L, Lackovic Z. Lasting reduction of postsurgical hyperalgesia after single injection of botulinum toxin type A in rat. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2010 Feb;24(1):43-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-8206.2009.00767.x. Epub 2009 Aug 14.
PubMed 19682079Relja M, Telarovic S. Botulinum toxin in tension-type headache. J Neurol. 2004 Feb;251 Suppl 1:I12-4. doi: 10.1007/s00415-004-1104-x.
PubMed 14991337Miller D, Richardson D, Eisa M, Bajwa RJ, Jabbari B. Botulinum neurotoxin-A for treatment of refractory neck pain: a randomized, double-blind study. Pain Med. 2009 Sep;10(6):1012-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00658.x. Epub 2009 Jul 6.
PubMed 19594841Dodick DW, Turkel CC, DeGryse RE, Aurora SK, Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Diener HC, Brin MF; PREEMPT Chronic Migraine Study Group. OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: pooled results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phases of the PREEMPT clinical program. Headache. 2010 Jun;50(6):921-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2010.01678.x. Epub 2010 May 7.
PubMed 20487038Finnerup NB, Attal N, Haroutounian S, McNicol E, Baron R, Dworkin RH, Gilron I, Haanpaa M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Kamerman PR, Lund K, Moore A, Raja SN, Rice AS, Rowbotham M, Sena E, Siddall P, Smith BH, Wallace M. Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol. 2015 Feb;14(2):162-73. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70251-0. Epub 2015 Jan 7.
PubMed 25575710
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Intraoral Administration of Onabotulinum Toxin A for Continuous Neuropathic Pain: a Single Subject Experimental Design
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03848143
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 45231
- Conditions
- Neuropathic Pain
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Isabel Moreno HayUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- AbbVie
- Study start
- 11 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Feb 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 30 Jul 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Onabotulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is a potent neurotoxin that has been reported to have an effect on afferent (sensory) neurons independent of its action on muscle tone and secretory glands at the periphery.In human studies, the use of BoNT-A has proven to reduce the severity and intensity of attacks in chronic tension type headaches and chronic neck pain. The PREEMPT study concluded that BoNT-A could be used as a preventive therapy in chronic migraine patients and FDA approval was obtained. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), BoNT-A is recommended for the management of peripheral neuropathic pain with subcutaneous administration of 50-200 units (50-200U) to onabotulinum toxin A to the painful neuropathic area every 3 months as a third line of treatment. To our knowledge, there are no clinical trials published investigating the effect of intraoral administration of BoNT-A in continuous dentoalveolar neuropathic pain. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of intraoral administration of BoNT-A in patients suffering from continuous neuropathic pain.
HYPOTHESIS:
There will be statistically significant differences in reported pain intensity after the intraoral administration of BOTOX® in patients suffering from chronic continuous dentoalveolar neuropathic pain.
A single subject experiment will be conducted with 10 patients where 50 U of BonT-A will be injected into the painful dentoalveolar area. Eligible subjects will complete a pain diary indicating their pain intensity by means of a visual analog scale during one month to establish a baseline. After the first injection, subjects will continue to monitor the VAS daily for 3 months and the infiltration will be repeated a second time following the same protocol. Patient's response will be monitored with the daily pain diary.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single subject experimental design
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| BOTOX | Experimental | Drug: onabotulinum toxin AOnabotulinum toxin A is distributed in 50 unit (50U) vacuum-dried powder bottles by Allergan (BOTOX (R)) for reconstitution only with sterile, preservative-free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection prior to injection. 1 mL of diluent will be drawn up to obtain a resulting dose of 10 U per 0.2 mL and injected into the vial. The BOTOX(R) will then be gently mixed with the saline by rotating the vial. The date and time of reconstitution will be recorded on the package on the label. BOTOX should be administered within 24 hours after reconstitution and stored in a refrigerator (2-8 °C). Each patient will receive 50 U of onabotulinum toxin A. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- History of continuous dentoalveolar pain with clinically evident positive (hyperalgesia, allodynia) and/or negative (hypoaesthesia, hypoalgesia) signs of trigeminal nerve dysfunction and where other possible pain sources have been ruled out.
- Intractable pain to conventional oral and/or topical pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain according to the recommendations published by NeuPSIG (Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group) including anticonvulsants, SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) and/or tricyclic antidepressants.
- Subject consent to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- hypersensitive to any onabotulinum toxin preparation or any component in the formulation.
- systemic nerve or muscle disorders
- bleeding disorders
- dysphagia
- breathing problems
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| onabotulinum toxin AAlso: BOTOXEach subject will receive 50 units (50 U) of BoNT-A constituted in 1 mL of saline solution injected intraorally to the painful area divided in at least 3 sites, 0.5 to 1.0 cm apart depending on the size of the painful area and following a checkerboard pattern. | Drug | BOTOX |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain Intensity (Round 1)
Time frame: Baseline, 3 month follow up
Patient will record the pain intensity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS, from 0-10 being 0 no pain and 10 the worst possible pain)
Change in Pain Intensity (Round 2)
Time frame: Baseline, 6 month follow up
Patient will record the pain intensity by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS, from 0-10 being 0 no pain and 10 the worst possible pain)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Jul 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 22188874Dolly JO, O'Connell MA. Neurotherapeutics to inhibit exocytosis from sensory neurons for the control of chronic pain. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;12(1):100-8. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2011.11.001. Epub 2011 Dec 19.
- Background: PubMed 14715398Cui M, Khanijou S, Rubino J, Aoki KR. Subcutaneous administration of botulinum toxin A reduces formalin-induced pain. Pain. 2004 Jan;107(1-2):125-33. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2003.10.008.
- Background: PubMed 16524562Luvisetto S, Marinelli S, Lucchetti F, Marchi F, Cobianchi S, Rossetto O, Montecucco C, Pavone F. Botulinum neurotoxins and formalin-induced pain: central vs. peripheral effects in mice. Brain Res. 2006 Apr 12;1082(1):124-31. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.01.117. Epub 2006 Mar 9.
- Background: PubMed 15849840Bach-Rojecky L, Lackovic Z. Antinociceptive effect of botulinum toxin type a in rat model of carrageenan and capsaicin induced pain. Croat Med J. 2005 Apr;46(2):201-8.
- Background: PubMed 20826198Marinelli S, Luvisetto S, Cobianchi S, Makuch W, Obara I, Mezzaroma E, Caruso M, Straface E, Przewlocka B, Pavone F. Botulinum neurotoxin type A counteracts neuropathic pain and facilitates functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury in animal models. Neuroscience. 2010 Nov 24;171(1):316-28. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.08.067. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
- Background: PubMed 15657640Bach-Rojecky L, Relja M, Lackovic Z. Botulinum toxin type A in experimental neuropathic pain. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2005 Feb;112(2):215-9. doi: 10.1007/s00702-004-0265-1.
- Background: PubMed 16636031Park HJ, Lee Y, Lee J, Park C, Moon DE. The effects of botulinum toxin A on mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Can J Anaesth. 2006 May;53(5):470-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03022619.
- Background: PubMed 20123097Bach-Rojecky L, Salkovic-Petrisic M, Lackovic Z. Botulinum toxin type A reduces pain supersensitivity in experimental diabetic neuropathy: bilateral effect after unilateral injection. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 May 10;633(1-3):10-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.01.020. Epub 2010 Feb 1.
- Background: PubMed 19682079Filipovic B, Bach-Rojecky L, Lackovic Z. Lasting reduction of postsurgical hyperalgesia after single injection of botulinum toxin type A in rat. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2010 Feb;24(1):43-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-8206.2009.00767.x. Epub 2009 Aug 14.
- Background: PubMed 14991337Relja M, Telarovic S. Botulinum toxin in tension-type headache. J Neurol. 2004 Feb;251 Suppl 1:I12-4. doi: 10.1007/s00415-004-1104-x.
- Background: PubMed 19594841Miller D, Richardson D, Eisa M, Bajwa RJ, Jabbari B. Botulinum neurotoxin-A for treatment of refractory neck pain: a randomized, double-blind study. Pain Med. 2009 Sep;10(6):1012-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00658.x. Epub 2009 Jul 6.
- Background: PubMed 20487038Dodick DW, Turkel CC, DeGryse RE, Aurora SK, Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Diener HC, Brin MF; PREEMPT Chronic Migraine Study Group. OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: pooled results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phases of the PREEMPT clinical program. Headache. 2010 Jun;50(6):921-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2010.01678.x. Epub 2010 May 7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jeffrey P Okeson, DMD study director
Associate Professor
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing onabotulinum toxin A in people with Neuropathic Pain, run by Isabel Moreno Hay at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 30 Jul 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Pain Intensity (Round 1) (time frame: Baseline, 3 month follow up). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03848143, which also lists 13 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jul 2026.