GRAIL Pulsed Field Ablation for Enlarged Prostate (BPH) safety and effectiveness
Official title: A Prospective Randomized Pivotal Trial of the ALPFA Medical Prostate Ablation System Compared With Cystoscopy in Men With Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Run by ALPFA Medical · NCT07592299 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether the ALPFA GRAIL Pulsed Field Ablation system can safely reduce BPH symptoms in men over 45 compared with a sham procedure.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 45 Years and up |
| Sex | Men only |
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | ALPFA Medical Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Germantown, Tennessee) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 2026 |
| Main results expected | October 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2032 |
| Registry record updated | October 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07592299 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are men aged 45 or older with symptomatic BPH, IPSS ≥13, adequate urine flow, manageable residual urine, and a prostate size between 25 and 150 g.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with conditions that exclude them from the study or those unlikely to benefit from this specific ablation approach may not experience improvement.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial will enroll up to 250 men with symptomatic BPH across up to 30 centers in the US, Canada, and the EU. Participants are randomly assigned to receive the ALPFA GRAIL PFA treatment or a sham procedure, with follow-up through 5 years to monitor safety and effectiveness. Blinding is maintained through the 3-month follow-up, after which group allocation is disclosed. Treatment schedules include serial visits at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and annually up to 5 years. Eligibility requires adequate symptom scores, urine flow, and prostate size within specified ranges, with washout periods for concomitant medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could meaningfully improve urinary symptoms and quality of life for men with BPH.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in this area has explored alternative ablation approaches; this study tests a novel pulsed field technology in a randomized, sham-controlled design.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Study subjects are required to meet all the following inclusion criteria to participate in this study as determined by the Investigator:
1. ≥ 45 years of age on the day of enrollment.
2. Symptomatic BPH meeting all of the following criteria determined within 30 days preceding enrollment and after fulfilling the concomitant medication washout period(s):
1. Symptom Score: Baseline IPSS score ≥13
2. Flow Rate: Uroflow test with a pre-void bladder volume ≥150 mL (confirmed by bladder scan),Single uroflow test with a minimum voided volume ≥ 125 mL and a Qmax ≥ 5 mL/sec and ≤ 15 mL/s
3. Residual: ultrasound-determined PVR of ≤ 250 mL
3. Prostate size 25-150 g, measured by transrectal ultrasound.
4. Willing and able to provide consent and comply with study requirements.
Exclusion Criteria:Subjects will be excluded from the study if they meet any one of the following exclusion criteria, as determined by the Investigator:
1. Medical conditions that would prevent participation in the study, interfere with assessment or therapy, significantly raise the risk of study participation, or confound data or its interpretation, including but not limited to:
1. Cardiovascular:
* History of clinically significant heart failure (NYHA III/IV)
* Uncontrolled arrhythmia.
* Stroke, TIA, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, percutaneous coronary intervention, or any cardiac surgery within 180 days of enrollment.
* Uncontrolled hypertension (\> 160 mmHg systolic or \> 95 mmHg diastolic on repeat measurements)
2. Renal: Serum creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL or any history of renal dialysis or renal transplant.
3. Metabolic: Clinically uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or a baseline HbA1c ≥ 8.0%, or clinically significant liver disease.
4. Non-urologic cancer: Active malignancy, or within 3 years of enrollment, a history of treated malignancy now in full remission, except basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
5. Respiratory: Severe lung disease or respiratory illness requiring hospitalization.
6. Immunosuppression: Known immunosuppression, including but not limited to AIDS, immunosuppressive medication, or current chemotherapy.
7. Transplant: Solid organ or hematologic transplant or currently being evaluated for an organ transplant.
8. Substance abuse: Active alcoholism or drug addiction.
9. Sleep apnea: Known moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea that is untreated or therapy non-compliant
2. Urologic conditions that would prevent participation in the study, interfere with assessment or therapy, significantly raise the risk of study participation, or confound data or its interpretation, including but not limited to:
1. Operative: Previous prostate surgery or interventional procedure, including but not limited to BPH surgery, radiation, laser, prostate arterial embolism, balloon dilatation, or hyperthermic treatment, or prostate biopsy within 40 days of the Index Procedure.
2. Infection: Urinary tract infection (UTI) (105 CFU/mL) within 90 days of enrollment or \>3 UTIs within the year prior to enrollment.
3. Incontinence: History of urinary incontinence.
4. Retention: Requires indwelling catheter or intermittent catheterization to void or had an episode of spontaneous urinary retention within 30 days of enrollment.
5. Prostatitis: History of prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) within 2 years of enrollment.
6. Cystolithiasis: Active bladder stones
7. Neurogenic bladder: Neurogenic or atonic bladder or sphincter, including etiologies of uncontrolled diabetes, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular accident, or polyneuropathy.
8. Anatomic abnormality: Prior or current urethral stricture, meatal stenosis, bladder neck contracture, or other urologic anatomic abnormalities that would interfere with planned treatment or confound subsequent assessment.
9. Implants: Any urinary tract implants including stents, sutures, penile implants, or artificial sphincters.
10. Hematuria: Hematuria without a known contributing factor within 90 days of the Index Procedure.
3. Bladder cancer: Actively being treated or suspected cancer of the bladder.
4. Prostate cancer:
1. Confirmed or history of prostate cancer
2. Baseline PSA \> 15 ng/mL within 30 days of enrollment
3. If PSA is between 4.0 ng/mL and 15 ng/mL, prostate cancer must be ruled out with a negative biopsy or an MRI (≤PIRADS-3) within 12 months prior to enrollment.
5. Prior pelvic or rectal interventions:
1. Previous pelvic irradiation or radical pelvic surgery
2. Previous rectal surgery (other than hemorrhoidectomy) or a history of rectal disease that may be impacted by Index Procedure.
6. Peri-procedural anticoagulation: Unable to stop anti-platelet or anticoagulation treatment for the Index Procedure per site standard of care.
7. Subjects who cannot or will not comply with the following washout medication requirements within the time period specified prior to enrollment:
1. 24-Hours:
* i. Taking phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine within 24 hours of the Baseline evaluation and Index Procedure.
2. 1 Week:
* i. Antihistamine, anticonvulsant, or antispasmodics medications within 1 week of enrollment unless documented on a stable (unchanged) dose for 180 days prior to enrollment.
3. 2 Weeks:
* i. Use of alpha blockers or daily dosage of PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil \[Cialis\]) for BPH within 2 weeks prior to enrollment.
* ii. Use of anticholinergics or beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonists (e.g., mirabegron, vibegron) within 2 weeks prior to enrollment, unless documented on a stable dose for 30 days prior to enrollment.
4. 3 Months:
* i. Taking estrogen, drugs producing androgen suppression, or androgens within 90 days prior to enrollment, unless documented on a stable dosage for at least 180 days prior to enrollment.
* ii. Use of Type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor medication (e.g., finasteride \[Proscar, Propecia\]) within 90 days of enrollment OR anticipated use within the first 12 months of follow-up.
5. 6 Months:
* i. Use of any Type I 5-alpha reductase inhibitor medication (e.g., dutasteride \[Avodart\]) within 180 days prior to enrollment OR anticipate use within the first 12 months of follow-up.
* ii. Taking tricyclic antidepressants that are not on a stable dose for the 180 days prior to enrollment OR anticipate stopping or changing treatment in the first 12 months of follow-up.
8. Subjects who wish to maintain their fertility.
9. Current or anticipated enrollment in any other randomized or interventional clinical study (registry or retrospective studies permitted).
10. Vulnerable populations, including individuals who are incarcerated or institutionalized.Any physical, psychological, or developmental impairment (e.g., developmental delay) that, in the investigator's opinion, would compromise the subject's ability to provide informed consent, comply with study procedures, or complete patient-reported outcome measures.
Where it's running
-
The Conrad Pearson Clinic
Germantown, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dr. Bilal Chughtai — The Smith Institute of Urology/Northwell Health
- Study coordinator: Elizabeth Dravis
- Email: edravis@alpfamedical.com
- Phone: +1. 713.819.0658
Similar studies
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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.