Head and neck cancer patients using MuGard experience a statistically significant reduction in mouth and throat soreness and a delay in onset of oral mucositis, according to findings of an ongoing clinical trial.
Access Pharmaceuticals, makers of MuGard, presented results from its phase IV clinical trial at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Conference in New York City.
MuGard is a ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse and coating for the management of oral mucositis.
The trial researchers looked at 70 head and neck cancer patients whose treatment plan calls for receiving up to a maximum cumulative radiation dose of 72 Gray (Gy) were randomized into the MuGard arm or a control rinse arm. They collected and reported data for two populations: The efficacy analysis population were patients that stayed on study treatment throughout chemoradiation treatment (approximately seven weeks), and the full analysis set were all subjects enrolled and randomized and have at least one postradiotherapy assessment.
Patients using MuGard experienced a statistically significant reduction in mouth and throat soreness, a statistically significant delay to onset of oral mucositis as measured in days or cumulative radiation, and statistically significant reductions in weight loss during therapy and in the use of opioid pain medication, the company reported.
