A Single Ascending Dose Study of Safety and Tolerability of STA363 Compared to Placebo in 15 Patients With Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent prior to any study-related procedures * Chronic discogenic low back pain present for more than 6 months prior to the screening visit * 20 to 60 years of age at the screening visit * Insufficient response to at least 6 months of non-operative treatment (analgesics and/or antiinflammatory medication, physiotherapy etc.) * A single lumbar disc appropriate for treatment at L3/4 to L5/S1, based on clinical evaluation by the investigator * Pfirrmann grade II-III * Ability to understand the written and verbal information about the study Exclusion Criteria: * Treatment with any investigational product within 3 months prior to the screening visit * More than one painful intervertebral disc * A painful intervertebral disc above L3/4 level * Current infection or prior history of spinal infection (e.g., discitis, septic arthritis, epidural abscess) or an active systemic infection * Previous lumbar spine surgery * Previous disc invasive treatment procedures at the affected level(s) (e.g., intradiscal electrothermal therapy, intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation) * Pfirrmann grade I, IV and V * Evidence of prior lumbar vertebral body fracture or trauma * Need for spinal decompression assessed by the investigator * Presence of disc extrusion or sequestration * Patients previously included in the study * Patients suffering from psychosomatic pain in the opinion of the investigator * Referred leg pain of compressive origin * Known alcoho…