Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 65

Fucoidan for active rheumatoid arthritis

Official title: Fucoidan Therapy in Adults With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inadequate Response to Conventional DMARDs: a Multicenter, Single-arm, Open-label, Phase 2 Trial

Run by Peking University People's Hospital · NCT07045896 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial will test whether fucoidan, a seaweed-derived SR-A inhibitor, can reduce disease activity in adults (18–65) with active rheumatoid arthritis who have moderate-to-high disease activity despite current treatment.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment40 (estimated)
SponsorPeking University People's Hospital
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsmethotrexate, prednisone
Locations1 site (Beijing)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 10, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 2026
Study endsJuly 2027
Registry record updatedApril 17, 2026
Trial IDNCT07045896 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–65 years meeting the 2010 ACR criteria for RA with moderate-to-high disease activity (DAS28-ESR >3.2), body weight ≥35 kg, and on stable doses of permitted background medications are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients with only mild disease activity, unstable or recently changed RA medications, or major comorbid conditions are less likely to benefit from this small, early open-label trial.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a single-arm, open-label clinical trial enrolling 40 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis to receive fucoidan and be followed for 12 weeks. Participants must meet the 2010 ACR classification criteria and have DAS28-ESR >3.2 despite stable background therapy. Clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory markers, and standardized disease-activity scores will be measured at baseline and during follow-up to track changes over time. The trial is intended to provide initial clinical data on the safety and potential efficacy of targeting SR-A with fucoidan.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, fucoidan could reduce RA disease activity and improve symptoms for patients who do not fully respond to current therapies.

How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies showed that fucoidan suppresses collagen-induced arthritis in mice and SR-A knockout protected mice from disease, but human clinical data are currently very limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged 18-65 years (inclusive) at screening, regardless of gender, with a minimum weight of 35 kg.
* Patients meeting the 2010 ACR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis.
* Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis showing moderate-to-high disease activity (DAS28-ESR \>3.2) despite current treatment.
* If receiving conventional NSAIDs or other pain medications, the dose must have been stable for at least 2 weeks prior to the first study drug administration and remain unchanged during the study period.
* If taking oral corticosteroids, patients must have been on treatment for at least 4 weeks, with the dose stabilized at an average of ≤1.0 mg/kg/day prednisone equivalent for at least 4 weeks prior to the first study drug administration, and remain unchanged during the study period.
* If receiving DMARDs (methotrexate ≤25 mg/week with folic acid supplementation \[recommended ≥5 mg/week\] or leflunomide ≤40 mg/day), patients must have been on treatment for ≥8 weeks, with the dose stable for at least 4 weeks prior to the first study drug administration, and remain unchanged during the study period.
* Female patients of childbearing potential must have negative serum and urine pregnancy test results at screening.
* From the time of signing the informed consent form throughout the study and for 3 months after the last dose, female patients of childbearing potential and male patients who have not undergone vasectomy must use effective contraception.
* Patients must be willing and able to comply with the study restrictions.
* Patients must sign the informed consent form, understand the purpose and procedures of the study, and be willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients currently receiving biologic therapy.
* Patients with other inflammatory joint diseases or connective tissue diseases.
* Patients with significant bone marrow impairment or significant anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia secondary to inactive rheumatoid arthritis.
* Patients with persistent or severe infections within 3 months prior to enrollment.
* Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, unstable ischemic heart disease, active inflammatory bowel disease, active peptic ulcers, terminal illnesses, or other conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, would pose a risk to the patient's participation in the study.
* Patients with clinically relevant cardiovascular, hepatic, neurological, endocrine, or other major systemic diseases that would complicate the implementation of the protocol or interpretation of study results.
* Patients with severe hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin \<30 g/L), such as due to severe liver disease or nephrotic syndrome.
* Patients with moderate or severe renal impairment, defined as serum creatinine \>133 μmol/L (or 1.5 mg/dL).
* Patients with a recent or clinically significant history of drug or alcohol abuse.
* Patients with impaired liver function or persistent alanine aminotransferase levels \>2 times the upper limit of normal.
* Pregnant patients.
* Breastfeeding patients.
* Patients with congenital or acquired severe immunodeficiency, a history of cancer or lymphoproliferative disorders, or those who have undergone total lymphoid irradiation.
* Patients with known HIV-positive status.
* Patients with known positive serology for hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
* Patients enrolled in any other clinical trial involving off-label use of investigational drugs or devices, or enrolled in any other type of medical research.
* Patients with any active infection (including chronic or localized infections) requiring antimicrobial therapy within 28 days prior to the first study drug dose.
* Patients with a body mass index (BMI) \<18.5 kg/m² or \>30 kg/m².

Where it's running

  • Peking University People's Hospital
    Beijing, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.