Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Mediated Fusion (PEG Fusion)

Recruiting now · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Peripheral Nerve Injuries

In brief

The overall objective of this study is to determine the safety of PEG fusion when used with primary repair or reconstruction in patients with an acute upper extremity peripheral nerve injury. PEG is safe and effective for extending the half-life of circulating pharmaceutical products, when used in conjunction with a topical hemostatic agent in surgical wounds, and when used as a colon cleanser for endoscopic surgical procedures. However, PEG fusion has not been rigorously tested as a safe reagent to promote nerve regeneration in humans. Therefore, the goal of this Phase 2a clinical trial is to establish safety data and to examine the effect of PEG fusion on clinical outcomes including recovery of sensory and motor function. Results will be externally validated using data collected in the DoD funded prospective NERVE study and will provide preliminary evidence to power a larger phase II efficacy trial.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04789044

Run by

Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium

People needed

40

Starts

2023-06-01

Expected to finish

2028-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Ages 18-80
• Sustained a complete peripheral nerve injury resulting from upper extremity trauma presenting within 48 hours of injury
• Involves injury or dysfunction to motor and/or sensory function of the axillary, radial, median, ulnar, or musculocutaneous nerve with injury localized between the proximal humerus and the distal flexion crease of the wrist
• Involves a "mixed" nerve segment (i.e., involves a location of any of the above specified nerves that can be expected to have both sensory and motor axons present).

You may not qualify if…

• Patients beginning surgery within hours after injury.
• Injury to the brachial plexus nerves
• Injury to the nerves distal to the distal flexion crease of the wrist
• Injury that involves a distal extension of the parent nerve that is considered sensory only (superficial radial nerve, lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, etc.) or the posterior interosseus or anterior interosseus nerve distal to the midpoint of the forearm (i.e., distal to what can be considered the main motor branches of the PIN and AIN).
• Previous peripheral nerve injury resulting from trauma, stroke, muscular, neurologic, or neuromuscular disorder
• Documented psychiatric disorder that is expected to result in high probability of self-harm or interfere with study follow-up.
• Severe problems with maintaining follow up (e.g., patients who are prisoners or homeless at time of injury or who are intellectually challenged without adequate family support).
• Not expected to survive the next 30 days due to their injuries/health condition.
• The subject has a known allergy to polyethylene glycol (PEG).
• If any of the assessments cannot be done on the contralateral side (CL) or the MRCC sensory 2PD value is > 10 mm on the CL side during baseline period, the subject is a screen failure.
• The subject is pregnant and/or is breastfeeding.
• The subject has a significant medical comorbidity precluding immediate repair.
• The subject is not able to strictly adhere to the rules of the current clinical protocol.

Where it is running

• University of Maryland Medical Center Shock Trauma Center — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (enrolling)
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (enrolling)
• Cooper Health — Camden, New Jersey, United States (enrolling)
• OrthoCarolina — Charlotte, North Carolina, United States (enrolling)
• Wellspan Health — York, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)
• San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) — San Antonio, Texas, United States (enrolling)
• Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center — Richmond, Virginia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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