TRPM8 Activators for Peripheral Neuropathy

May 12, 2026 updated by: SHIANG-SUO HUANG

The Effect of Innovative TRPM8 Activators Membrane-Based Delivery System on Peripheral Neuropathy

The goal of this pilot prospective cohort study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel hand and foot mask in alleviating symptoms of peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy or diabetes. The study aims to determine whether regular use of these masks can improve patient comfort and quality of life.

The primary questions this study aims to answer are:

Does the use of the hand and foot mask reduce the severity of symptoms associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) or diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)?

Does the application of the masks improve patient quality of life and treatment compliance for those undergoing chemotherapy?

Participants will:

Complete an initial assessment questionnaire on Day 1.

Apply hand and foot masks daily for 5 minutes, for 7 consecutive days.

Complete a follow-up questionnaire on Day 7 to assess the effects of one week of use.

Inclusion Criteria

Individuals are eligible for the study if they meet the following criteria:

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) group:

Age 20 or older.

Currently receiving or having previously received chemotherapy.

Demonstrating clinical signs and symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) group:

Age 20 or older.

Diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Demonstrating clinical signs and symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

General requirement:

Participants must be willing to participate and capable of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF).

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a condition characterized by damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, leading to sensory, motor, or autonomic impairments. Symptoms often include numbness, tingling, burning sensations, muscle weakness, and paresthesia. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are two of the most prevalent causes of PN. Current pharmacological treatments, such as analgesics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and opioids, often provide limited efficacy and are frequently associated with significant adverse effects.

Study Rationale and Mechanism of Action:

The "Speedell" hand and foot mask is a novel product formulated to act primarily as a TRPM8 activator. TRPM8 is a non-selective cation channel with six transmembrane domains, widely expressed in human nerve cells. Upon activation by temperatures between 8-28°C or by specific agonists, TRPM8 generates cold signals that are transmitted to the somatosensory cortex.

Scientific literature suggests that the activation of TRPM8-whether by agonists or moderate cooling-induces the release of glutamate at central synapses. This glutamate subsequently activates inhibitory group II/III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) located on injured nociceptive afferent neurons or postsynaptic receptors in the dorsal horn, thereby attenuating neuropathic hypersensitivity.

Furthermore, Speedell is designed to deliver natural cooling agents efficiently to the extremities, where they interact with TRPM8 receptors to provide immediate sensory relief. Evidence suggests that these components may contribute to the reduction of tissue damage caused by cellular inflammation. This pilot study aims to clinically validate the efficacy of the Speedell hand and foot mask in alleviating neuropathic discomfort and improving quality of life in patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced or diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Taichung
      • Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan, 402306
        • Chung Shan Medical University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients aged 20 years or older who are currently receiving or have previously received chemotherapy and have clinical features of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
  2. Diabetic patients aged 20 years or older who have clinical features of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
  3. Patients who meet criteria 1 or 2, are willing to participate, and are able to sign an informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c > 8%).
  2. Peripheral vascular disease.
  3. Chronic kidney disease (eGFR < 30 ml/min/m²).
  4. Depression, history of surgery on the hands, feet, or back.
  5. Skin conditions such as leprosy and connective tissue disorders, familial neuropathy.
  6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  7. Individuals with allergic symptoms.
  8. Individuals with a history of convulsions.
  9. Individuals with G6PD deficiency (favism).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: treatment
Daily topical application for 5 minutes over 7 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Norfolk Quality of Life Questionnaire-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QOL-DN) Score
Time Frame: From baseline (Day 1) to the end of the treatment (Day 7).
The Norfolk QOL-DN is a validated instrument to assess the quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Scores range from 0 to 4 for each item, where 0 indicates "not at all" and 4 indicates "very much." A change in the total score will be calculated to measure the impact of the intervention.
From baseline (Day 1) to the end of the treatment (Day 7).
Change in European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) Score
Time Frame: From baseline (Day 1) to the end of the treatment (Day 7).
The EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 is a specialized module for assessing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 3 for each item, where 0 indicates "not at all" and 3 indicates "very much." A change in the total score will be calculated to measure the impact of the intervention.
From baseline (Day 1) to the end of the treatment (Day 7).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Shiang-Suo Huang, PhD, Chung Shan Medical University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 3, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 7, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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