ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07834593EARUpdated Sep 25, 2026

Performance, Safety and Participant Satisfaction Regarding A-CERUMEN® Medical Devices Used for the Removal of Earwax.

An interventional study of Unidose cerumenolytic solution and Spray cerumenolytic solution in Cerumen Impaction, Earwax Impaction and Earwax Plug, sponsored by Laboratoires Gilbert. Not yet recruiting at 3 sites in France. Open to participants aged 3 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.

Sponsored by Laboratoires Gilbert · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
80
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
3 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The ear canal - or external auditory meatus - is lined with skin that contains ceruminous glands. Cerumen - or earwax - is a combination of epithelial cells, dust, foreign bodies, as well as the secretions of the sebaceous glands and apocrine glands. Cerumen is part of the external ear defense mechanisms against foreign bodies and infectious agents, lubricating and cleaning the ear canal. Cerumen production is a normal and protective process for the ear canal. Cerumen is naturally removed through the renewal of the skin in the external auditory meatus, and through the chewing movements of the jaw. Nonetheless, earwax plug - defined as an accumulation of cerumen - is a frequent occurrence across all age groups, with notably higher rates in vulnerable populations. Causes of earwax plug comprise attempts to remove wax, as well as ear canal deformity. It also has been suggested that ear cleaning with cotton buds, particularly when the external ear canal is wet, might be one of the important causes of cerumen impaction. Earwax plug leads to hearing loss that is easily treatable but can have significant cognitive and social consequences. They can also delay the diagnosis of certain ear conditions, such as ear infections, which can lead to medical complications and have economic implications. Effective treatment options for earwax plug include cerumenolytic agents (water-based agents, oil-based agents, surfactant-based agents), irrigation with or without cerumenolytic pre-treatment, and manual removal. Inappropriate treatment options include cotton-tipped swabs, ear candling, olive oil drops or sprays, and non-chewing diets. A-CERUMEN® devices correspond to cerumenolytic agents' products composed of surfactant-based agents. Although all the available data points towards a good performance and safety profile of the devices under evaluation, the clinical data surrounding the devices under evaluation is based on only one or two studies and there is currently no data available on A-CERUMEN® devices for the pediatric patient population, or on pregnant and breastfeeding women. To address this gap, LABORATOIRES GILBERT plans in the Clinical Evaluation Report (CER) a confirmatory clinical trial to collect further data in the adult population and data in the pediatric population, pregnant and breastfeeding women for the devices under evaluation. The Instructions for Use (IFU) should be updated in accordance with the findings of this study. In this context, LABORATOIRES GILBERT promotes a Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up (PMCF) study to assess independently performance, safety and patient satisfaction of A-CERUMEN® Spray and A-CERUMEN® Unidose devices. This PMCF study must include pediatric population and pregnant/breastfeeding women.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cerumen Impaction
  • Earwax Impaction
  • Earwax Plug

Keywords

  • earwax
  • earwax plug
  • cerumen
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Laboratoires Gilbert is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
3 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Adults (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) or children aged 3 years and older, in accordance with the IFU;
  2. Presence of earwax excess or an earwax plug in the external ear canal (only one ear included even if both are affected), confirmed by a score ≥2 according to the obstruction scale and without damage to the eardrum.
  3. Subject willing and able to comply with the study requirements throughout the study period (and the parent for the child), including returning for a follow-up visit at the study site between Day 5 and Day 7.
  4. Subject having daily access to internet to complete the online questionnaires.
  5. Subject able to understand verbal and written local language and in capacity to fill-in questionnaire by himself (or the parent for child).
  6. Subject who has been informed and has signed the form (or the parent for the child).
  7. Subject enrolled in a social security program (Art. L1121-8-1 of the CSP).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. specified in each device's instructions for use:

    • In case of history of a damaged or perforated eardrum1,
    • In case of otitis,
    • subject with tympanostomy tubes (also called grommets) at the time of inclusion,
    • In case of damaged skin of the ear canal.
  2. Known or allergy to any of the device's components.
  3. History of ear infection (suppurative otitis media, otitis interna, mastoiditis) within the 2 months prior to enrollment, or an otitis externa within the 2 weeks prior to enrollment.
  4. Severe inner ear disorders or non-infectious ear conditions that may compromise participant safety, at the investigator's discretion.
  5. For the ear assessed in the study: Use within 5 days prior to inclusion of an ear solution containing solvents that act on earwax and may have a prolonged effect.
  6. For the ear assessed in the study: Use of A-CERUMEN® device (whatever the form) within 5 days prior to inclusion.
  7. Participation in another clinical trial or currently in the exclusion period of another clinical trial.
  8. Previous participation in this study.
  9. Presence of a condition or abnormality (social or psychological disorders, anticipated poor compliance, or inability to communicate) or use of a medication by the subject that, in the investigator's opinion, would compromise the subject's safety or the quality of the data; or that would prevent compliance with follow-up requirements.
  10. Vulnerable subject, with the exception of minors over 3 years of age and pregnant and breastfeeding women listed in inclusion criterion No. 1, pursuant to Articles 64, 66 of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices and Articles L.1121-5, L.1121-6, L.1121-8 of the Public Health Code (France):

    • Parturient women,
    • Subject deprived of liberty, hospitalized without consent, or admitted to a health or social care facility for purposes other than research,
    • Adults under protective supervision (guardianship, curatorship).
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    A-CERUMEN® unidose

    External ear cleaning solution in unidose container. Physiodose® will be used as rinsing solution after A-CERUMEN unidose application.

    Device: Unidose cerumenolytic solution

  • Experimental
    A-CERUMEN® spray

    External ear cleaning solution, auricular spray. Physiodose® will be used as rinsing solution after A-CERUMEN spray application.

    Device: Spray cerumenolytic solution

Interventions

  • DeviceUnidose cerumenolytic solution

    A-CERUMEN® unidose with Physiodose® (as rinsing agent) for earwax excess removal during 4 days (8 applications)

    Also known as: A-CERUMEN® unidose

  • DeviceSpray cerumenolytic solution

    A-CERUMEN® spray with Physiodose® (as rinsing agent) for earwax excess removal during 4 days (8 applications)

    Also known as: A-CERUMEN® spray

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Extent of earwax clearance using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    The primary outcome is the change in ear canal obstruction score measured before and after treatment, assessed by a blinded investigator using photographs of the ear canal. Ear canal obstruction is evaluated using a 5-point ear canal obstruction scale ranging from 0 (no obstruction, 0-2% of eardrum obscured) to 4 (severe obstruction, 76-100% of eardrum obscured). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater obstruction).

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  2. Extent of earwax clearance using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    The primary outcome is the change in ear canal obstruction score measured before and after treatment, assessed by a blinded investigator using photographs of the ear canal. Ear canal obstruction is evaluated using a 5-point ear canal obstruction scale ranging from 0 (no obstruction, 0-2% of eardrum obscured) to 4 (severe obstruction, 76-100% of eardrum obscured). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater obstruction).

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage of participants with complete earwax clearance using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants (or ears) achieving complete clearance of earwax, defined as an ear canal obstruction score of 0 after treatment, assessed by a blinded investigator based on photographs of the ear canal.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

  2. Percentage of participants with at least one grade reduction in obstruction score using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants (or ears) with a reduction of at least one grade in the ear canal obstruction score, assessed by a blinded investigator based on photographs of the ear canal.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  3. Percentage of participants with complete earwax clearance using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants (or ears) achieving complete clearance of earwax, defined as an ear canal obstruction score of 0 after treatment, assessed by a blinded investigator based on photographs of the ear canal.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

  4. Percentage of participants with at least one grade reduction in obstruction score using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants (or ears) with a reduction of at least one grade in the ear canal obstruction score, assessed by a blinded investigator based on photographs of the ear canal.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  5. Number of adverse device events using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Total number of adverse device events (ADEs) reported during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

  6. Number of device deficiencies using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Total number of device deficiencies (DDs) reported during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  7. Percentage of participants with at least one adverse device event using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants who experienced at least one adverse device event (ADE) during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  8. Number of adverse device events using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Total number of adverse device events (ADEs) reported during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

  9. Number of device deficiencies using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Total number of device deficiencies (DDs) reported during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  10. Percentage of participants with at least one adverse device event using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants who experienced at least one adverse device event (ADE) during the study period.

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  11. Daily change in earwax-related symptom intensity using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Daily change in the intensity of earwax-related symptoms (irritation, clogged sensation, ringing/tinnitus, hearing loss, itching, pain, tingling, swelling) in participants who were symptomatic at inclusion. Evaluated using an 11-point numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (absence of symptom) to 10 (very intense symptom). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater symptom intensity).

    Time frame: Daily from enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7days

  12. Percentage of participants with earwax symptom relief after using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants reporting relief of earwax-related symptoms at the end of treatment.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (5-7 days)

  13. Percentage of participants requiring further intervention for earwax removal after using A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants requiring an additional medical or mechanical intervention to remove earwax after treatment with A-CERUMEN®.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (5-7 days)

  14. Daily change in earwax-related symptom intensity using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Daily change in the intensity of earwax-related symptoms (irritation, clogged sensation, ringing/tinnitus, hearing loss, itching, pain, tingling, swelling) in participants who were symptomatic at inclusion. Evaluated using an 11-point numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (absence of symptom) to 10 (very intense symptom). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater symptom intensity).

    Time frame: Daily from enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  15. Percentage of participants with earwax symptom relief after using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants reporting relief of earwax-related symptoms at the end of treatment.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (5-7 days)

  16. Percentage of participants requiring further intervention for earwax removal after using A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants requiring an additional medical or mechanical intervention to remove earwax after treatment with A-CERUMEN®.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (5-7 days)

  17. Overall participant satisfaction with A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Overall participant (or parent) satisfaction regarding the treatment, assessed via the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire. Evaluated using an 11-point numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (totally satisfied). Higher scores indicate a better outcome (greater satisfaction).

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  18. Ease of use and handling of A-CERUMEN® Spray and flushing method

    Participant (or parent) reported ease of handling, flushing effectiveness, and flushing practicality, assessed via the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire. Evaluated using 5-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (very difficult/poor) to 5 (very easy/good). Higher scores indicate a better outcome (greater ease/effectiveness/convenience).

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  19. Percentage of participants willing to reuse A-CERUMEN® Spray

    Percentage of participants (or parents) reporting they would reuse the product in case of earwax plugs, assessed via a binary question (yes/no) in the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  20. Overall participant satisfaction with A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Overall participant (or parent) satisfaction regarding the treatment, assessed via the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire. Evaluated using an 11-point numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (totally satisfied). Higher scores indicate a better outcome (greater satisfaction).

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  21. Ease of use and handling of A-CERUMEN® Unidose and flushing method

    Participant (or parent) reported ease of handling, flushing effectiveness, and flushing practicality, assessed via the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire. Evaluated using 5-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (very difficult/poor) to 5 (very easy/good). Higher scores indicate a better outcome (greater ease/effectiveness/convenience).

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  22. Percentage of participants willing to reuse A-CERUMEN® Unidose

    Percentage of participants (or parents) reporting they would reuse the product in case of earwax plugs, assessed via a binary question (yes/no) in the ePRO satisfaction questionnaire.

    Time frame: At the end of treatment or no later than Visit 2 (up to 7 days)

  23. Adherence to A-CERUMEN® Spray treatment

    Number of A-CERUMEN® Spray applications administered during the treatment period (recommended usage: 2 applications per day for 4 days; target total: 8 applications).

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

  24. Adherence to A-CERUMEN® Unidose treatment

    Number of A-CERUMEN® Single-dose applications administered during the treatment period (recommended usage: 2 applications per day for 4 days; target total: 8 applications).

    Time frame: From the enrollment to the end of treatment at 5-7 days

07

Study locations

3 sites
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — No individual participant data sharing is planned.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Minor edits
Nothing that changes what the study is or who can join. Edited: conditions
1 update, last Sep 25, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Sep 25, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: conditions

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07834593
Lead sponsor
Laboratoires Gilbert
Collaborators
Slb Pharma
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 22, 2026
Start date
Oct 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
May 22, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 22, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 25, 2026

Study contacts

Ophélie FLAGEUL
Contact
o.flageul@slbpharma.com
+33(0)223061113
Vinciane DUMAY
Contact
v.dumay@slbpharma.com
+33(0)223061113
Marc Henocq, Dr
principal investigator

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

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