Renal denervation for treating hypertension without medications

A Prospective, Multicenter, Sham-controlled, Single-blinded, Randomized, Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of DENEX Renal Denervation System in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension Not Treated With Anti-HTN Medication

This study is testing a new procedure called renal denervation to see if it can help people with high blood pressure who aren't taking any medication.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Kalos Medical (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Athens)
• Trial ID: NCT04535050 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of the DENEX System for renal denervation in patients with hypertension who are not currently taking antihypertensive medications. The procedure aims to block sympathetic nerves in the kidney using high-frequency energy delivered to the renal artery. Participants will be compared to a sham group to assess the treatment's impact on blood pressure. The study includes various assessments to ensure participant eligibility and monitor outcomes over time.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 80 who are drug-naïve or willing to stop antihypertensive medications and have specific blood pressure measurements.

Not a fit: Patients who are currently on antihypertensive medications or have uncontrolled hypertension may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option for patients with hypertension who cannot or prefer not to use medications.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies on renal denervation have shown promise, suggesting potential effectiveness, but this specific approach with the DENEX System is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject aged 18 to 80 years old at the time of signing the informed consent
2. Subject who is drug-naïve or willing to discontinue current antihypertensive treatment (not on antihypertensive medications for at least 4 weeks prior to Screening Visit 1) at Screening Visit 1 through the 3-month post-procedure visit. Drug-naïve is defined as those with no previous exposure to antihypertensive medications.
3. Subject who meets all of the following blood pressure measurements:

   * Office Systolic Blood Pressrue (SBP) \< 180 mmHg at Screening Visit 1
   * Office SBP ≥ 150 mmHg and \< 180 mmHg, and office diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg at Screening Visit 2
   * 24-h ambulatory SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and \< 170 mmHg at Screening Visit 2
4. Subject who voluntarily decides to participate in this clinical study and sign the written consent.
5. Subject who willing and able to complete all clinical investigation-related procedures and assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject with renal anatomy that is ineligible for treatment:

   * Diameter of main renal artery for each kidney is \< 3 mm or \> 8 mm OR presence of accessory renal arteries (ARAs) with a diameter \< 3 mm
   * Presence of fibromuscular dysplasia
   * Presence of kidney tumors or secretory tumors in the adrenal gland
   * \> 50% stenosis in any treatable vessel
   * Presence of aneurysm (any localized increase in vessel diameter)
   * Treatment area within 5 mm segment in the renal artery contains an atheroma, calcification, or a renal artery stent
   * A single functioning kidney
   * Polycystic kidney disease
2. Subject with prior renal denervation, renal artery stenting, renal artery angioplasty, renal nephrectomy, or renal transplant
3. Subject with type 1 diabetes mellitus or uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA1c over 10.0%)
4. Subject with epidermal growth factor receptor (eGFR) \< 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, using the 4-variable modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) clinical investigation calculation
5. Subject taking sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors or glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists that have been prescribed \< 90 days prior to Screening Visit 1 or necessary to remain on these medications for duration of clinical investigation
6. Subject with ≥ 1 episode of orthostatic hypotension not related to medication changes within the past year prior to Screening Visit 1
7. Documented repeated (\> 1) hospitalization for hypertensive crisis within the 12 months and/or any hospitalization for hypertensive crisis within the 3months prior to Screening Visit 1.
8. Subject requiring chronic oxygen support or mechanical ventilation (other than nocturnal respiratory support for sleep apnea)
9. Subject with primary pulmonary hypertension
10. Subject with untreated secondary cause of hypertension (known or suspected) or taking medications that increase sympathetic tone that could contribute to hypertension
11. Subject with frequent or chronic pain that requires treatment with NSAIDs for two or more days per week during the last month prior to Screening Visit 2 (aspirin and clopidogrel permitted for cardiovascular risk reduction)
12. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on anti-retroviral drug therapy but without documentation that hypertension preceded initiation of anti-retroviral drug therapy
13. Subject with a history of myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, heart failure, or atrial fibrillation within 3 months prior to Screening Visit 1
14. Subject who requires more than occasional use (e.g., PRN) of narcotic drugs over the month prior to Screening Visit 1
15. Subject currently taking anti-mineralocorticoid medications, unless weaned off by ≥ 8 weeks prior to Screening Visit 1
16. Subject with a history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy or subject who refuses blood transfusions
17. Subject working night shifts
18. Subject with a medical history of contraindications, anaphylactic reactions, or uncontrollable allergic reactions to contrast agents
19. Subject using active implantable medical devices (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator \[ICD\] or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device \[CRT-D\], neuromodulation device, spinal cord stimulator, pressure reflector, etc.)
20. Subject with scheduled or planned surgery that may affect clinical investigation endpoints, in the opinion of the investigator
21. Subject has a documented condition that would prohibit or interfere with ability to obtain an accurate blood pressure measurement using the protocol-specified automatic/office blood pressure monitor (e.g., upper arm circumference outside cuff size ranges available by geography or arrhythmia that interferes with automatic monitor's pulse sensing and prohibits an accurate measurement).
22. Subject with documented confounding medical condition that may adversely affect the safety of the subject, in the opinion of the investigator (e.g. clinically significant peripheral vascular disease, aortic aneurysm, severe cardiac valve stenosis for which a significant reduction of blood pressure is contraindicated, or bleeding disorders such as thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, or significant anemia,)
23. Subject with known unresolved history of drug use or alcohol dependency, lacks ability to comprehend or follow instructions, or would be unlikely or unable to comply with clinical investigation follow-up requirements
24. Subject currently enrolled in a concurrent investigational drug or device clinical investigation, unless approved by clinical investigation sponsor
25. 23)25) Pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the course of the clinical investigation or follow-up. A negative pregnancy test is required for all women of child- bearing potential.
26. Subject who is unsuitable for the study for any reason as judged by the investigator

Where this trial is running

Athens

• University of Athens Hippocratio Hospital — Athens, Greece (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Konstantinos Tsioufis, Professor — National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
• Study coordinator: EunHa Choi

Conditions Hypertension; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Renal Denervation