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 type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Peking University People's Hospital Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | methotrexate, prednisone |
| Locations | 1 site (Beijing) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 10, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | July 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07045896 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
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Peking University People's Hospital
Beijing, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Fanlei Hu — Peking University People's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Liling Xu
- Email: xuliling1079@163.com
- Phone: 0086-18811797572
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.