Nerve ablation for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction using the right greater splanchnic nerve
Official title: Endovascular Ablation Of The Right Greater Splanchnic Nerve In Subjects Having Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial
Run by Axon Therapies, Inc. · NCT07403058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This early-stage, catheter-based test looks at whether ablating the right greater splanchnic nerve can help people 40 and older with HFrEF and is done in a randomized, sham-controlled setup.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Axon Therapies, Inc. Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 9 sites (Prague and 8 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 1, 2028 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07403058 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 40 or older with chronic HFrEF (NYHA II–III or ambulatory IV), stable GDMT, and elevated NT-proBNP despite optimal therapy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-ambulatory heart failure, unstable GDMT, or contraindications to the ablation procedure may be less likely to benefit.
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 small, early-phase interventional trial evaluating the safety and potential benefit of the Satera Ablation System to ablate the right greater splanchnic nerve in adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. It is randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled, with a 2:1 ratio of active treatment to sham, conducted at up to 10 international sites. Patients are followed prospectively to observe outcomes and identify which patient characteristics predict benefit. Enrollment targets up to 50 participants aged 40 or older who are on stable guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure. The study aims to characterize safety and potential signals of efficacy to guide future development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the procedure could offer a new treatment approach to help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for some people with HFrEF.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in nerve modulation for heart failure have shown mixed but encouraging signals; this trial tests a novel, targeted approach with a sham control.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Chronic heart failure, defined as:
1. Symptoms of HF requiring current (QD or QOD or appropriate dosing as per screening committee) treatment with loop diuretics for at least 30 days prior to screening visit, AND
2. NYHA class II, NYHA class III, or ambulatory NYHA class IV symptoms at screening or signs of HF, AND
3. NT-proBNP \>800 pg/ml in normal sinus rhythm (\>1400 pg/ml in atrial fibrillation or flutter) within 3 months of consent, with no adjustment for BMI
2. Ongoing stable GDMT HF management for a minimum of 30 days prior to screening (unless unable to tolerate GDMT) which refers to those HF drugs carrying a Class I indication, including:
1. An inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS inhibitor), including an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and beta-blocker (BB).
2. A mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), Sodium-Glucose Transport 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), or nitrates/hydralazine, should be used in appropriate patients, according to the published guidelines unless intolerant or not indicated.
3. Drug intolerance, contraindications, or lack of indications must be attested to by the investigator. Patients should be on appropriate doses of diuretics as required for volume control.
4. Stable GDMT refers to consistent dose (change is considered a more than 100% increase or 50% decrease in dose) for at least 30 days prior to screening visit or as appropriate per the screening committee.
3. Participants cannot have started a glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 or gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) agonist within the last 6 months or plan to start a GLP-1 or GIP agonist within the ensuing 6 months after enrollment.
4. Considered for Class I recommended cardiac rhythm management device therapy. Specifically: if indicated by class I guidelines, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), an implanted cardioverter- defibrillator (ICD) or a pacemaker should be implanted at least 3 months prior to enrollment. These criteria may be waived if a patient is clinically contraindicated for these therapies or refuses them and must be attested to by the investigator.
5. LVEF 20% - 40% (at screening visit and determined by echo core lab).
6. Age ≥40 years.
7. Subject is willing and able to provide appropriate study-specific informed consent, follow protocol procedures, and comply with follow-up visit requirements.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. MI (type I) and/or percutaneous cardiac intervention within 3 months prior to screening; CABG in past 3 months prior to screening, or current indication for coronary revascularization.
2. Cardiac resynchronization therapy initiated within 3 months prior to enrollment.
3. Advanced heart failure defined as one or more of the following:
1. ACC/AHA/ESC Stage D HF or non-ambulatory NYHA Class IV HF.
2. Inotropic infusion (continuous or intermittent) within 6 months prior to screening.
3. Subject is on the cardiac transplant waiting list or has undergone transplant.
4. Presence of, or history of, mechanical circulatory support for HF.
5. Planned other advanced HF Therapies in the next 12 months.
4. Right heart dysfunction defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) \<12 mm or right ventricular (RV) fractional area change (FAC) \<25% (at screening visit and determined by echo core lab).
5. Body mass index (BMI) \>45 kg/m2.
6. 6-minute walk test distance \<100 meters OR \>450 meters.
7. Admission for HF within the 30 days prior to planned index procedure.
8. Any known history of orthostatic hypotension or orthostatic hypotension at the time of screening (regardless of the presence of symptoms). Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) decrease of \>20 mmHg upon going from supine to standing position or undergoing treatment with Midodrine.
9. Orthostatic pulse pressure narrowing from supine to standing (+3 minutes) of ≥10mmHg in the absence of a HR increase \>15bpm
10. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or preload insufficiency syndrome or on medical therapy for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (e.g., midodrine, droxidopa).
11. Systolic BP \<100 mmHg or \>170 mmHg despite appropriate medical management.
12. Baseline screening ECG resting HR \>100 beats per minute or ventricular tachycardia.
13. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation within 6 months prior to screening or planned in the next 12 months at the time of screening.
14. Presence of significant valve disease defined by the site cardiologist as:
1. Greater than mild mitral valve stenosis.
2. Greater than moderate mitral valve regurgitation.
3. Greater than moderate-to-severe tricuspid valve regurgitation.
4. Greater than moderate aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation.
15. Any planned procedure to address valve disease in the past 6 months.
16. Known hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, constrictive pericarditis, cardiac amyloidosis, or other infiltrative cardiomyopathy (e.g., hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis).
17. History of clinically significant liver cirrhosis.
18. Prior weight loss surgery
19. Dialysis dependent; or estimated GFR \<20 ml/min/1.73 m2 by CKD-EPI creatinine equation.
20. Arterial oxygen saturation \<90% on room air.
21. Chronic pulmonary disease requiring continuous home oxygen OR hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic pulmonary disease (including intubation) in the 12 months before study entry OR known history of GOLD Class III or worse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
22. Participating in conflicting investigational drug or device study that is not completed within 30 days prior to the screening visit.
23. Life expectancy \<12 months for non-cardiovascular reasons.
24. Any condition, or history of illness or surgery that, in the opinion of the site investigator or Screening Committee, might confound the results of the study or pose additional risks to the patient.
25. Females who are pregnant or lactating or planning to become pregnant during the next year.
26. LVEDD \> 7.5 cm (at screening visit and determined by echo core lab)
27. Estimated peak pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) \> 70 mmHg (at screening visit and determined by echo core lab).
Exclusion Criteria Assessed During the index procedure:
28. Vessel tortuosity or variant vascular anatomy that could preclude the access or maneuvering of the interventional device from the access site to target vessel. This includes previous spine surgery that may impact the ability to access and treat the target sites of T11 and T10.
Where it's running
-
Motol and Homolka University Hospital
Prague, Czechia Recruiting -
Heart and Vascular Clinic
Tbilisi, Georgia Recruiting -
Tbilisi Heart Center
Tbilisi, Georgia Recruiting -
Hospital Universitari Quirónsalud Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA
Valencia, Spain Recruiting -
Vithas Valencia Turia
Valencia, Spain Recruiting
Show 3 more locations
-
King's College London
London, United Kingdom Recruiting -
Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. Jana Mikulicza Radeckiego we Wrocławiu
Wroclaw, Poland Not yet recruiting -
Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds, United Kingdom Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Piotr Ponikowski, MD, PhD — Professor of Cardiology, Head of the Department of Heart Diseases at Wroclaw Medical University
- Study coordinator: Judit Adorjan
- Email: j.adorjan@axontherapies.com
- Phone: +1 650 722-1119
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Atrial Shunt to Help Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
This study tests whether an atrial shunt implanted after heart catheterization helps people with HFrEF when added to standard heart failure therapy.
-
Achieving Optimal Medical Therapy Through Transcatheter Mitral Repair in HFrEF
This trial tests whether early transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) helps patients with HFrEF and secondary MR reach guideline-directed medical therapy faster and more completely, and whether that improves quality of life and outcomes.
-
CRD-4730 for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
This trial tests CRD-4730 versus placebo to see if it helps adults with HFrEF who are already on standard heart failure therapy.
-
Olive oil supplementation during cardiac rehab for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
This study tests whether adding extra-virgin olive oil during a cardiac rehabilitation program is doable and helpful for people with HFrEF.
-
Remote-guided medication up-titration for people with reduced ejection fraction heart failure
This trial will see if telemedicine follow-up helps clinicians start and increase guideline-recommended heart failure medicines faster and more completely in adults with newly diagnosed HFrEF.
-
Vericiguat for right‑ventricular function and heart remodeling in HFrEF
This study will test whether adding vericiguat to usual heart‑failure treatment helps adults with stable HFrEF improve right‑ventricular function and heart remodeling over 12 months.
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.