Pediatric Surgical PatientPhase 4NCT02044497
Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics of Oral Oxycodone in Pediatric Surgical Patients
A Phase 4 study testing oral oxycodone in people with Pediatric Surgical Patient, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Oxycodone is an oral opioid analgesic that is most commonly prescribed for the management of pain in post-operative patients at Boston Children's Hospital. Oxycodone has been widely used in adults and children to relieve post-operative pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 6 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pediatric Surgical Patient
- What is being tested?
- oral oxycodone
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- May 2014to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 6 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- A total of 68 generally healthy, opioid-naive children, aged 0-6 years, scheduled as in-patient surgery for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement/revision or Craniotomy (Neurosurgery service), Cleft lip/palate repair (plastic surgery service) and hypospadias repair or ureteral urethral reimplantation (genitourinary surgery service) will be enrolled in the study.
Who cannot join
- Children will be excluded if they are currently taking any medications which are CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors/inducers or have a history of allergy or hypersensitivity to oxycodone, have any condition that might interfere with GI absorption, distribution, hepatic metabolism or renal excretion of r oxycodone, or a diagnosis of sleep apnea or impaired respiratory reserve.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Boston Children Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115
About this study
Oxycodone is an oral opioid analgesic that is most commonly prescribed for the management of pain in post-operative patients at Boston Children's Hospital. Oxycodone has been widely used in adults and children to relieve post-operative pain. However, its pharmacokinetics (what it does in the body) and pharmacodynamics (how it works) have not been well established in children. Some children, because of their specific genetic make-up, may metabolize the drug more quickly and therefore may be at risk for more side effects in the commonly prescribed dose. We would like to find out more about how this drug is absorbed, metabolized and excreted in children. In order to study these aspects, we would like to give oxycodone to surgical patients at Boston Children's Hospital then measure its metabolic activity and also perform a genetic analysis. The genetic testing is specifically to analyze the following genotypes only: cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which represent the differences in cytochrome P450 metabolism of oxycodone.
Read the detailed description
Oxycodone is the most commonly used analgesic for the management of moderate and severe postoperative pain. The efficacy of Oxycodone as a potent opioid has been confirmed in children.
The principal metabolic pathway of oxycodone in humans is N-demethylation via enzyme CYP3A4 to generate inactive noroxycodone. [6] A smaller amount (approximately 11%) is O-demethylated by cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2D6 to become oxymorphone, the active and potent metabolite which exhibits about 40 times the affinity and 8 times the potency on μ-opioid receptors compared to the mother substance. Approximate frequencies of cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2D6 phenotypes for the Caucasian population are: poor metabolizers 5 - 10%, extensive/intermediate metabolizers 65-90%, and ultra-rapid metabolizers 5 - 10%. Kirchheiner and colleagues noticed more codeine-related sedative side-effects in ultra-rapid metabolizers. In studies investigating extensive and poor metabolizers, codeine side-effects do not seem to be related to CYP2D6 genotype. However, clinical investigations of CYP2D6 genotype in the postoperative pain setting have shown conflicting results, and well-designed prospective studies are lacking. Taken together, these results demonstrate the need for careful pharmacokinetic studies in children who received a pharmacologic agent, such as oxycodone, which is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2D6.
The population PK of oxycodone and its metabolites has not been fully established for oral oxycodone in pediatric patients. In addition, there is a group of ultra-rapid metabolizers (approximately 4.5% of the population, but as high as 20% in some particular ethnic groups; East African and Saudi Arabian populations) which may be at risk for serious side effects in the commonly prescribed dose (which is extrapolated from adult recommendations). Given that BCH has switched (from codeine) to oxycodone as the most common opioid prescribed for all postoperative patients and the recent concerns of serious side effects from codeine. It is important to further investigate oral oxycodone to optimize dosing recommendations.
- Conditions
- Pediatric Surgical Patient
- Being tested
- oral oxycodone
- Keywords
- pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics, oral oxycodone, pediatric surgical patients
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
oral oxycodoneDrug
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| oral oxycodone | Experimental | An orogastric tube will be placed in the stomach (placement verified by routine accepted clinical guidelines) under anesthesia as is part of standard routine clinical care to remove gastric contents. The same orogastric tube will be used for intragastric liquid oxycodone administration in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg before the surgical incision. This weight-adjusted dose of 0.1 mg/kg is administered as per standard clinical dosing guidelines at Boston Children's Hospital. Receives: Drug: oral oxycodone |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, noroxymorphone and noroxycodone serum levels
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, noroxymorphone and noroxycodone levels, at 10 time points, will be used to determine the single-dose Pharmacokinetics (PK) metric.
Measured: The 10 samples will be drawn at the following time points: 8 blood samples will be taken at 30 minutes, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours post-dose in every patient along other 2 samples at approximately either 8 and 12 or 10 and 24 hours post-dose.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jan 2014 (estimated)
- Study startMay 2014
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pediatric Surgical PatientStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Boston Children's HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Children's Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Patcharee Sriswasdi, Boston Children's Hospital
- Investigators
- Patcharee Sriswasdi, MD, Principal investigator, Boston Children Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02044497
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-P00006691
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jan 2014
- Last updated
- 11 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Still formulating.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics of Oral Oxycodone in Pediatric Surgical Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02044497
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-P00006691
- Conditions
- Pediatric Surgical Patient
- Keywords
- pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics, oral oxycodone, pediatric surgical patients
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Children's HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- May 2014
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jan 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Oxycodone is an oral opioid analgesic that is most commonly prescribed for the management of pain in post-operative patients at Boston Children's Hospital. Oxycodone has been widely used in adults and children to relieve post-operative pain. However, its pharmacokinetics (what it does in the body) and pharmacodynamics (how it works) have not been well established in children. Some children, because of their specific genetic make-up, may metabolize the drug more quickly and therefore may be at risk for more side effects in the commonly prescribed dose. We would like to find out more about how this drug is absorbed, metabolized and excreted in children. In order to study these aspects, we would like to give oxycodone to surgical patients at Boston Children's Hospital then measure its metabolic activity and also perform a genetic analysis. The genetic testing is specifically to analyze the following genotypes only: cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which represent the differences in cytochrome P450 metabolism of oxycodone.
Detailed description
Oxycodone is the most commonly used analgesic for the management of moderate and severe postoperative pain. The efficacy of Oxycodone as a potent opioid has been confirmed in children.
The principal metabolic pathway of oxycodone in humans is N-demethylation via enzyme CYP3A4 to generate inactive noroxycodone. [6] A smaller amount (approximately 11%) is O-demethylated by cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2D6 to become oxymorphone, the active and potent metabolite which exhibits about 40 times the affinity and 8 times the potency on μ-opioid receptors compared to the mother substance. Approximate frequencies of cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2D6 phenotypes for the Caucasian population are: poor metabolizers 5 - 10%, extensive/intermediate metabolizers 65-90%, and ultra-rapid metabolizers 5 - 10%. Kirchheiner and colleagues noticed more codeine-related sedative side-effects in ultra-rapid metabolizers. In studies investigating extensive and poor metabolizers, codeine side-effects do not seem to be related to CYP2D6 genotype. However, clinical investigations of CYP2D6 genotype in the postoperative pain setting have shown conflicting results, and well-designed prospective studies are lacking. Taken together, these results demonstrate the need for careful pharmacokinetic studies in children who received a pharmacologic agent, such as oxycodone, which is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2D6.
The population PK of oxycodone and its metabolites has not been fully established for oral oxycodone in pediatric patients. In addition, there is a group of ultra-rapid metabolizers (approximately 4.5% of the population, but as high as 20% in some particular ethnic groups; East African and Saudi Arabian populations) which may be at risk for serious side effects in the commonly prescribed dose (which is extrapolated from adult recommendations). Given that BCH has switched (from codeine) to oxycodone as the most common opioid prescribed for all postoperative patients and the recent concerns of serious side effects from codeine. It is important to further investigate oral oxycodone to optimize dosing recommendations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| oral oxycodone | Experimental | Drug: oral oxycodoneAn orogastric tube will be placed in the stomach (placement verified by routine accepted clinical guidelines) under anesthesia as is part of standard routine clinical care to remove gastric contents. The same orogastric tube will be used for intragastric liquid oxycodone administration in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg before the surgical incision. This weight-adjusted dose of 0.1 mg/kg is administered as per standard clinical dosing guidelines at Boston Children's Hospital. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 6 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- A total of 68 generally healthy, opioid-naive children, aged 0-6 years, scheduled as in-patient surgery for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement/revision or Craniotomy (Neurosurgery service), Cleft lip/palate repair (plastic surgery service) and hypospadias repair or ureteral urethral reimplantation (genitourinary surgery service) will be enrolled in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Children will be excluded if they are currently taking any medications which are CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors/inducers or have a history of allergy or hypersensitivity to oxycodone, have any condition that might interfere with GI absorption, distribution, hepatic metabolism or renal excretion of r oxycodone, or a diagnosis of sleep apnea or impaired respiratory reserve.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| oral oxycodone | Drug | oral oxycodone |
Primary outcome
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, noroxymorphone and noroxycodone serum levels
Time frame: The 10 samples will be drawn at the following time points: 8 blood samples will be taken at 30 minutes, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours post-dose in every patient along other 2 samples at approximately either 8 and 12 or 10 and 24 hours post-dose.
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, noroxymorphone and noroxycodone levels, at 10 time points, will be used to determine the single-dose Pharmacokinetics (PK) metric.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Still formulating.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Patcharee Sriswasdi, MD principal investigator
Boston Children Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing oral oxycodone in people with Pediatric Surgical Patient, run by Boston Children's Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Oxycodone, oxymorphone, noroxymorphone and noroxycodone serum levels (time frame: The 10 samples will be drawn at the following time points: 8 blood samples will be taken at 30 minutes, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours post-dose in every patient along other 2 samples at approximately either 8 and 12 or 10 and 24 hours post-dose.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 May 2026.