Using empagliflozin to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension

A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Empagliflozin in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

This study is testing if a medication called empagliflozin can help people with pulmonary arterial hypertension feel better by lowering their blood pressure in the lungs and improving heart function.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 72 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: China National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases (Government)
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT06554301 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Participants will receive either empagliflozin or a placebo daily for 12 weeks, with regular clinic visits every four weeks for checkups and tests. The study will assess whether empagliflozin can reduce pulmonary artery pressure and improve cardiac function compared to the placebo, while also monitoring any medical issues that arise during treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension, particularly those with idiopathic, hereditary, or drug-induced forms.

Not a fit: Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension not fitting the specified subgroups or those unable to comply with study requirements may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is relatively novel, previous studies have explored the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiovascular conditions, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least 18 years old.
2. Sign the informed consent form.
3. Subjects who are willing and able to comply with the requirements of prescribed visits, treatment plans, laboratory examinations and other research procedures.
4. PAH with symptoms was initially diagnosed and belonged to one of the following subgroups:

   A. Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPAH); B. hereditary pulmonary hypertension (HPAH); C drug or toxin-induced PAH, based on previous exposure to drugs, chemicals or toxins, such as fenfluramine derivatives, other appetite suppressants, toxic rapeseed oil or L- tryptophan.

   D. PAH is accompanied by:

   A) connective tissue disease B) Congenital systemic-pulmonary shunt (surgical correction must be performed at least one year before screening, and there is no or no clinically insignificant systemic-pulmonary shunt \[1.0≤ lung-systemic blood flow ratio (QP/QS)≤1.5\]), according to the opinion of the researcher.
5. Received right heart catheterization (RHC) at the time of screening or within 5 years before screening (if RHC is not performed, it will be performed during screening), which is consistent with the diagnosis of PAH and meets all the following criteria:

   A. mean pulmonary artery pressure (papm) \> 20mmhg (at rest) B pulmonary arteriole wedge pressure (PAWP)≤15 mmHg (if reliable PAWP data cannot be obtained, left ventricular end diastolic pressure \[LVEDP\]≤15 mmHg).

   C pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) \> 2.00 wood units (\> 160 dynes/sec/cm5).
6. There are symptoms of WHO/NYHA FC Grade II or III.
7. Stable PAH targeted background oral therapy. Subjects received endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and/or phosphodiesterase inhibitor type 5 (PDE5-I) or soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) agonist. Stability was defined as no change in dose or regimen within 30 days before baseline and during the duration of the study.
8. 6-minute walking distance (6 MWD) ≥ 150m.
9. If the subject is taking concomitant drugs that can affect PAH (for example, calcium channel blockers, digoxin or L- arginine supplements), the dose must be kept stable for at least 30 days before the baseline visit and throughout the study.
10. If there is the possibility of pregnancy, both male and female subjects should agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method during the whole study period (from informed consent to the end of follow-up).

Exclusion Criteria:

* 1\) Subjects shall not have the following three or more risk factors for left ventricular dysfunction: Body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m2 History of systemic hypertension

There is any of the following evidence to prove the history of major coronary artery disease:

A coronary angiographic evidence of a history of myocardial infarction or percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery disease (at least one coronary artery stenosis \> 50%); B. Positive results of exercise provocation test and image evidence; C. previous coronary artery bypass surgery; D. stable angina pectoris; 2) Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) conducted within 180 days before or during the screening showed mild or above lung diseases. Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded: A. forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)\<60% (expected value); or B total lung volume (TLC) \< 60% of the estimated value. 3) The evidence of thromboembolic disease is confirmed by lung ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scanning or local standard diagnosis and treatment evaluation at the time of diagnosis or after diagnosis of PAH.

4\) Severe chronic liver disease (i.e. Child-pugh grade C), portal hypertension, cirrhosis or complications of cirrhosis/portal hypertension (e.g., history of varicose bleeding, history of hepatic encephalopathy).

5\) Confirm the active infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).

6\) Subjects whose alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level is more than or equal to 3 times the normal upper limit value (ULN) or whose total bilirubin is more than or equal to 2 times ULN at the time of screening.

7\) Chronic renal insufficiency at screening, which is defined as serum creatinine \> 2.5 mg/dL or requiring dialysis support.

8\) Hemoglobin concentration \< 9 g/dL during screening. 9) diabetes. 10) cardiac function grade IV (NYHA classification) 11) The subject has been treated with IV or SC prostacyclin pathway drugs (for example, epoprostol, triprostinil or iloprost) at any time before baseline (allowed to be used in pulmonary vasodilation test).

12\) The subject has pulmonary vein occlusion disease. 13) Diagnosed and/or treated with malignant tumor within 5 years before screening, but excluding localized non-metastatic basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or radical resection of cervical carcinoma in situ.

14\) At the time of screening, there was a history of alcohol or drug abuse within 6 months.

15\) Start the exercise-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program within 90 days of the screening period and/or during the study period.

16\) Participated in other interventional clinical studies within 30 days before screening. It is allowed to participate in registered or observational studies at the same time, as long as the subjects meet all other selection criteria and comply with all research process requirements.

17\) Any reason (for example, any past or intermittent diseases) that the respondent thinks may increase the risk of participating in the study or may affect the study analysis and damage the study participation or collaboration, so that the subject cannot participate in the study.

18\) Those who are known to be allergic to Engelgin or any auxiliary materials. 19) According to the researcher\'s judgment, life expectancy is less than 12 months.

20\) Pregnant or lactating women.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

• Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Tingting Guo, M.D

Conditions Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension