A 16-Week Study of Pirenzepine or Placebo to Treat HIV-Associated Distal Sensory Polyneuropathy in Patients With HIV

Phase A: Is an open-labeled feasibility investigation of the safety, tolerability, and limited efficacy in 14 subjects with HIV-associated distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSP) after topical daily dosing of WST-057 (4% pirenzepine free base monohydrate). Subjects will be stratified based on their baseline scores for pain/discomfort using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Subjects will attend visits at screening; Day 0 (baseline); Weeks 4, 8, and 16; and follow-up (Week 18). Phase B: Is a randomized outpatient, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-site study of the safety, tolerability, and exploratory efficacy of topically administered WST-057 for 16 weeks in subjects with HIV-associated distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSP). Stratification of subjects based on baseline pain will be included based on the results of Part A. Subjects will attend visits at screening; Day 0 (baseline); Weeks 4, 8, and 16; and follow-up (Week 18). Approximately 60 subjects with HIV-DSP will be randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups in a 3:2 ratio: WST-057 (4 mL) (n = 36 subjects) versus placebo control 4 mL (n = 24 subjects); with the assumption that a total of 50 subjects will complete the study. This study is designed with 4 periods in both study phases: screening, baseline/day 0, outpatient treatment, and safety follow-up.