- Male or female, at least 18 years of age
- Patients must have pain present for more than 3 months after healing of the Herpes
zoster skin rash. There is no upper limit on the duration of PHN.
- Patients at screening visit (V1) must have a score ≥40 mm on the Pain Visual Analog
Score (VAS).
- Patients having other severe pain, which may impair the self-assessment of the pain
due to post-herpetic neuralgia
- History within the previous year of: myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia (e.g.
atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular
tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia), left ventricular failure, New York Heart
Association (NYHA) Class III-IV congestive heart failure requiring treatment, unstable
angina, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or
cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks).
- Tuberculosis without treatment and/or positive tuberculin reaction to PPD (Purified
Protein Derivative) without known (documented) vaccination with the bacilli
Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG).
- A positive approved immunoassay/ELISA blood test for TB (e.g. TB T-SPOT?,
QuantiFERON-Gold
- Any clinically significant skin lesions as described in Common Terminology Criteria
for Adverse Events for Dermatology (CTCAE) Version 3.0
- ECG abnormalities at screening or randomization
- Evidence of organ dysfunction or hematopoietic disorder