Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of LiRIS 400 mg in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome with or without Hunner lesions

Aims Two phase 2 studies were conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of lidocaine‐releasing intravesical system (LiRIS) in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) with (Study 001; NCT02395042) or without, (Study 002; NCT02411110) Hunner lesions (HL). Methods Both were multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, and enrolled women aged ≥18 years. In Study 001, patients were randomized 2:1:1 to LiRIS 400 mg/LiRIS 400 mg, placebo/LiRIS 400 mg, or placebo/placebo for a continuous 28 (2 × 14)‐day period. In Study 002, patients were randomized 1:1 to LiRIS 400 mg or placebo for a continuous (single treatment) 14‐day period. Results In total, 59 and 131 patients received treatment in Studies 001 and 002, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the primary endpoint, the change from baseline to Week 4 of follow‐up post‐removal in mean daily average bladder numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score in either study (Study 001: placebo/placebo, −1.6; LiRIS/LiRIS, −2.7, p = 0.142; placebo/LiRIS, −2.5, p = 0.319; Study 002: LiRIS −1.2; placebo, −1.5, p = 0.505). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in daily worst NRS pain score, number of micturitions/day or urgency episodes/day. There was no clear trend for reduction in number of HL for LiRIS vs placebo. The frequency of treatment‐emergent adverse events was similar between treatment groups in both studies; most were mild or moderate intensity. Conclusion These studies did not demonstrate a treatment effect of LiRIS 400 mg compared with placebo, either in patients with IC/BPS with HL, or in those without HL.