One-time targeted lung denervation (dNerva) for people with COPD and lung hyperinflation
Official title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy After Treatment With the dNerva Lung Denervation System in Subjects With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (AIRFLOW-4)
Run by Nuvaira, Inc. · NCT07051707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will see if a single dNerva targeted lung denervation procedure, added to usual COPD medications, improves breathing and lung function in people with COPD who have high residual lung volume and low emphysema.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nuvaira, Inc. Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone |
| Locations | 10 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 9 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 24, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | October 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | November 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07051707 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 40–80 with moderate-to-severe COPD on optimized inhaled therapy, with documented high residual volume (RV ≥175% predicted and RV/TLC >55%) and relatively low emphysema.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with predominant emphysema, low lung hyperinflation, active smoking, very severe gas exchange abnormalities, or those not on optimized medical therapy are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults with moderate-to-severe COPD who meet strict lung-function criteria (high residual volume, low emphysema, and FEV1 25–70% predicted) and who are on standard inhaled therapy are enrolled and assigned to either a one-time dNerva targeted lung denervation plus standard care or to continued standard care alone. The trial measures lung function (including RV/TLC and FEV1), symptom scores, and safety outcomes over follow-up to determine whether the added procedure leads to superior improvement. Secondary endpoints include other efficacy measures and a thorough safety assessment of the lung denervation device and procedure. Treatment is delivered at participating US tertiary centers experienced in interventional pulmonology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a single-procedure option to reduce lung hyperinflation and improve breathing and quality of life for a subset of COPD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior clinical work on targeted lung denervation has shown promising but mixed results on symptom and exacerbation outcomes, and safety continues to be characterized in ongoing studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 40 and ≤ 80 years of age at the time of consent. * Women of childbearing potential must not be pregnant, evidenced by a negative pregnancy test (blood or urine) pre-treatment, or lactating and agree not to become pregnant for the duration of the study. * Smoking history of at least 10 pack years. * Not smoking or using any other inhaled substance (e.g. cigarettes, vaping, cannabis, pipes) for a minimum of 2 months prior to consent and agrees to not start for the duration of the study. * Resting SpO2 ≥ 89% on room air. * MMRC ≥ 2; CAT score ≥ 10. * Diagnosis of moderate to severe COPD as defined by FEV1/FVC \< 70% (post-bronchodilator), 25% ≤ FEV1 ≤ 70% predicted, and PaCO2 \< 50 (if FEV1 \< 30%). * RV ≥ 175% of predicted and RV/TLC \> 55% (post-bronchodilator). * Participant is on standard medical care, defined as a minimum of therapy with LABA/ICS, LAMA/LABA, or LAMA/LABA/ICS for at least 2 months prior to consent. * If subject has participated in a formal pulmonary rehabilitation program recently, program completion must have occurred ≥3 months prior to consent; if in a maintenance program, subject agrees to continue their current program through their 12-month follow-up visit; NOTE: Prior participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program is not required for inclusion in the study. * Participant is a candidate for bronchoscopy in the opinion of the investigator or per hospital guidelines and is able to discontinue blood thinning medication peri-procedurally. * Participant is able and agrees to complete all protocol required baseline and follow up tests and assessments including taking certain medications (e.g., azithromycin, prednisolone/prednisone). Exclusion Criteria: * Body Mass Index (BMI) \<18 or \>32. * Participant has an implantable electronic device and has not received appropriate medical clearance. * Uncontrolled diabetes in the opinion of the investigator. * 4 or more respiratory related hospitalizations within 1 year of consent. * Malignancy treated with radiation or chemotherapy within 1 year of consent. * Participant diagnosed with a dominant non-COPD lung disease, or condition affecting the lungs, which is the main driver of the participant's clinical symptoms (e.g., cystic fibrosis, paradoxical vocal cord motion, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, interstitial lung disease or active tuberculosis or Asthma) or has a documented medical history of pneumothorax within 1 year of consent. * Clinically relevant bronchiectasis, defined as \> 1/3 cup mucous expectoration daily. * Pre-existing diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension (e.g., cardiovascular function impairment including peripheral edema) and mPAP ≥25 mmHg at rest by right heart catheterization (or estimated right ventricular systolic pressure \>50 mmHg by echocardiogram if no previous right heart catheterization). * Myocardial infarction within last 6 months, evidence of life-threatening arrhythmias or acute ischemia, pre-existing documented evidence of a LVEF \< 40%, stage C or D (ACC/AHA) or Class III or IV (NYHA) congestive heart failure. * Surgical procedure(s) on the stomach, esophagus or pancreas performed ≤2 years of consent, or ongoing related symptoms within the past year. * Symptomatic gastric motility disorder(s) (e.g., gastroparesis) as evidenced by GCSI score ≥18.0, severe uncontrolled GERD (e.g., refractory heartburn, endoscopic esophagitis) or severe dysphagia (e.g., esophageal stricture, achalasia, esophageal spasm). NOTE: Participants with a hiatal hernia are allowed if Participant meets all other enrollment criteria. * Any disease or condition that might interfere with completion of a procedure or this study (e.g., structural esophageal disorder, life expectancy \<3 years). * Prior lung or chest procedure (e.g., BLVR explant procedure, median sternotomy, bullectomy, lobectomy, segmentectomy or other interventional lung or chest procedure) performed ≤1 year of consent? Participants with lung transplant, BLVR valves, LVRS, metal stents within 5cm of the anticipated treatment location; presence of lung volume reduction valves, coils or other lung implants. * Daily use of \>20 mg of prednisone or its equivalent at the time of consent. * Known contraindication or allergy to medications required for bronchoscopy or general anesthesia (e.g., lidocaine, atropine, propofol, sevoflurane) that cannot be medically controlled. * Baseline chest CT scan reveals bronchial anatomy cannot be treated with available catheter sizes; presence of whole lung emphysema \>20% (-950 HU), single lung emphysema \>26% (-950 HU), severe bullous disease (\>1/3 hemithorax) or discovery of a mass that requires treatment. * Participant is currently enrolled in another drug or interventional clinical trial that has not completed follow-up.
Where it's running
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University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital - UAB Lung Health Center
Birmingham, Alabama, United States Recruiting -
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Henry Ford Hospital - Lung and Pulmonary Care
Detroit, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Salem, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Ohio State University Medical Center - Ohio State Lung Center
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Penn Highlands - Lung Innovations/Clinical Research Associates
DuBois, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Show 4 more locations
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Temple University - Temple Lung Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - UMPC Comprehensive Lung Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Prof. Gerard Criner, MD — Temple Health
- Study coordinator: Elyse Ebeling
- Email: eebeling@nuvaira.com
- Phone: 763-450-2803
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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.