Subcutaneous Calcitonin in Acute Herpes Zoster

What Was Tested

The trial (phase 3) is built around Calcitonin.

This prospective randomized controlled study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of adding calcitonin to the standard treatment protocol in patients with acute herpes zoster infection.

It had two arms (groups): Calcitonin group (experimental) and Control group (placebo comparator).

The registry classes the interventions as drug and other.

Who Took Part

168 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 50 years with no upper age limit.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: Patients aged ≥ 50 years, with acute herpes zoster infection (rash duration \< 7 days) and moderate to severe pain.

The full record lists 1 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: coagulation abnormalities; pre-existing other pain syndrome or psychological disorders; severe hepatic, cardiovascular, or renal disorders.

How the Study Was Run

The set-up was randomized, parallel-group and double-blind.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Calcitonin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

The Calcitonin group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received Calcitonin.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant and outcomes assessor.

It started in 2026-07-01 with completion listed for 2027-04-01.

It ran at 1 site in Egypt.

Its stated primary purpose is prevention.

What Was Measured

Primary outcome: Incidence of postherpetic neuralgia at 3 months after rash onset (time frame: 3 months after onset of acute herpes zoster rash).

It also tracked 4 secondary outcomes, for example Incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, Severity of acute herpes zoster pain, Number of medications used to treat pain and Side effects.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 3, randomized trial of Calcitonin in 168 people.

It is still recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Calcitonin compound page, all human trials.