Trial Outcomes & Findings for Non-invasive Neurostimulation of the Vagus Nerve for the Treatment of Cluster Headache (NCT NCT01792817)

NCT ID: NCT01792817

Last Updated: 2019-12-17

Results Overview

The primary outcome measurement for effectiveness is the rate of responders for the active treatment group, compared to the sham control group. A responder is defined as a subject who has recorded an intensity of 0 or 1 on the 5-point headache pain scale (no pain, mild, moderate, severe, very severe) at 15 minutes post-initiation of treatment of the first treated cluster headache attack of Phase 1.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

150 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

15 minutes post stimulation

Results posted on

2019-12-17

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
GammaCore Open Label
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Phase 1 Double Blind Period
STARTED
77
73
0
Phase 1 Double Blind Period
COMPLETED
58
42
0
Phase 1 Double Blind Period
NOT COMPLETED
19
31
0
Phase 2 Open Label
STARTED
0
0
100
Phase 2 Open Label
COMPLETED
0
0
74
Phase 2 Open Label
NOT COMPLETED
0
0
26

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Non-invasive Neurostimulation of the Vagus Nerve for the Treatment of Cluster Headache

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
n=77 Participants
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
n=73 Participants
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Total
n=150 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
77 Participants
n=5 Participants
73 Participants
n=7 Participants
150 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
24 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
67 Participants
n=5 Participants
59 Participants
n=7 Participants
126 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Caucasian
68 Participants
n=5 Participants
63 Participants
n=7 Participants
131 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Height
69.8 inches
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.84 • n=5 Participants
69.4 inches
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.62 • n=7 Participants
69.6 inches
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.73 • n=5 Participants
Weight
193 pounds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 37.79 • n=5 Participants
189.5 pounds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 40.79 • n=7 Participants
191.3 pounds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 39.19 • n=5 Participants
CH Type
Episodic
51 Participants
n=5 Participants
50 Participants
n=7 Participants
101 Participants
n=5 Participants
CH Type
Chronic
26 Participants
n=5 Participants
23 Participants
n=7 Participants
49 Participants
n=5 Participants
Taking CH Prevention Medicaiton
60 Participants
n=5 Participants
42 Participants
n=7 Participants
102 Participants
n=5 Participants
Full Time Employment
47 Participants
n=5 Participants
45 Participants
n=7 Participants
92 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 15 minutes post stimulation

Population: Intent to treat study population

The primary outcome measurement for effectiveness is the rate of responders for the active treatment group, compared to the sham control group. A responder is defined as a subject who has recorded an intensity of 0 or 1 on the 5-point headache pain scale (no pain, mild, moderate, severe, very severe) at 15 minutes post-initiation of treatment of the first treated cluster headache attack of Phase 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
n=77 Participants
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
n=73 Participants
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Number of Participants With Repsonse to Treatment
Responder
14 Participants
16 Participants
Number of Participants With Repsonse to Treatment
Non-responder
57 Participants
44 Participants
Number of Participants With Repsonse to Treatment
Missing
6 Participants
13 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: For 1 hour post stimulation

Sustained treatment success at 1 hour post-treatment was defined as having recorded an intensity of 0 or 1 on the 5-point headache pain scale at 15 minutes and 1 hour post-initiation of treatment of the first treated cluster headache attack of Phase 1, and having refrained from use of rescue medications during the full 60 minute period

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
n=77 Participants
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
n=73 Participants
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Sustained Treatment Success at 1 Hour Post-Treatment
Yes
9 Participants
16 Participants
Sustained Treatment Success at 1 Hour Post-Treatment
No
63 Participants
44 Participants
Sustained Treatment Success at 1 Hour Post-Treatment
Missing
5 Participants
13 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 15 minutes post-stimulation

Population: There were 4 subjects with no data in the Sham GammaCore group and 13 subject in the GammaCore group.

Cluster headache attack intensity was reported on a 5-point scale: no pain, mild, moderate, severe, very severe, whereas no pain =1 is the best outcome and very severe=5 is the worst outcome . The average of all subjects' mean attack intensities experienced at 15 minutes post-initiation of treatment during Phase 1 for the active treatment group, compared to the sham control group. The mean 15-minute scores were calculated for the first five attacks suffered by each subject during Phase 1. For subjects with fewer than five treated attacks, the scores for those available were averaged.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
n=73 Participants
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
n=60 Participants
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Average Mean Attack Intensities Experienced Per Subject
2.0 Score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.9
2.1 Score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.93

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks, Phase 1

The primary safety measure for this study is the incidence and occurrence of serious adverse events related to active or sham study treatment and / or to cluster headache events during Phase 1 of the study.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device
n=77 Participants
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device
n=73 Participants
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Incidence and Occurrence of Serious Adverse Events Related to Active or Sham Study Treatment and / or to Cluster Headache Events.
0 Serious Adverse Events
0 Serious Adverse Events

Adverse Events

Sham GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 21 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 8 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

GammaCore Device (Open Label Period)

Serious events: 5 serious events
Other events: 20 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)
n=77 participants at risk
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)
n=73 participants at risk
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
GammaCore Device (Open Label Period)
n=100 participants at risk
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Gastrointestinal disorders
Mesenteric ischemia
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Herniated disc
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Nervous system disorders
Hospitalization for cluster headache pain
0.00%
0/77
1.4%
1/73 • Number of events 2
2.0%
2/100 • Number of events 2
Cardiac disorders
Multiple left upper extremity DVT
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Cardiac disorders
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Infections and infestations
Healthcare acquired pneumonia
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Anasarca
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Acute respiratory failure
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Urethral trauma
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
General disorders
Left ureteral calculus
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Sham GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)
n=77 participants at risk
The Sham GammaCore device looks and operates like the Active GammaCore device, but does not deliver a therapeutic stimulation treatment. Sham GammaCore device: Treatment with sham stimulator
GammaCore Device (Randomized Period)
n=73 participants at risk
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
GammaCore Device (Open Label Period)
n=100 participants at risk
Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator GammaCore: Treatment with active gammacore vagus nerve stimulator
Product Issues
Burning Sensation during treatment
6.5%
5/77 • Number of events 5
0.00%
0/73
1.0%
1/100 • Number of events 1
Infections and infestations
Cold/Flu
0.00%
0/77
0.00%
0/73
6.0%
6/100 • Number of events 7
Product Issues
Dysguesia
9.1%
7/77 • Number of events 7
0.00%
0/73
2.0%
2/100 • Number of events 2
Product Issues
Erythema
11.7%
9/77 • Number of events 9
0.00%
0/73
2.0%
2/100 • Number of events 2
Product Issues
Myokymia
0.00%
0/77
11.0%
8/73 • Number of events 8
9.0%
9/100 • Number of events 9

Additional Information

Clinical Affairs

electroCore, LLC

Phone: +1 973-355-6683

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place

Restriction type: GT60