Barranquilla

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the PerQdisc Nucleus Replacement Device NRD for patients with degenerative disc disease DDD causing chronic low back pain. This prospective, open-label, multi-center study involves 72 patients who have DDD in one or more lumbar discs between L1 and S1. The study aims to collect additional data on this minimally invasive device, which is designed to maintain disc height and preserve spinal motion compared to the current standard spinal fusion surgery. Participants will undergo nucleus replacement surgery using the PerQdisc device via standard anterior, lateral, or minimally invasive posterolateral surgical approaches to replace the single nucleus pulposus in the affected lumbar disc. All surgeries require approval from a Medical Advisory Board. The study focuses on patients who have exhausted at least six months of conservative treatments for their back pain and meet specific criteria, including disc height and pain scores. During the study, participants will be monitored closely with evaluations at multiple time points up to five years. Researchers will assess performance outcomes such as disability Oswestry Disability Index, pain levels Visual Analog Scale, disc height, and range of motion, as well as safety outcomes including device expulsion, failure, neurological status, revision surgeries, and serious adverse events. Follow-up visits will include questionnaires, imaging, and clinical assessments to track the devices impact over time.

Researchers are studying metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer mCRPC to find new treatment options. This trial evaluates if the study medicine ifinatamab deruxtecan I-DXd or MK-2400 helps people live longer overall and experience slower cancer growth or spread compared to chemotherapy. The study is a Phase 3 trial comparing I-DXd with standard chemotherapy for mCRPC patients. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either I-DXd at 12 mgkg every 3 weeks through intravenous infusion or docetaxel chemotherapy at 75 mgm2 every 3 weeks combined with daily prednisone pills. Treatment continues until the disease progresses, unacceptable side effects occur, or treatment is stopped for other reasons. Premedication is given before each dose of I-DXd to help prevent nausea and vomiting. During the study, participants will have regular visits for treatment and monitoring. Researchers will assess overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival for up to about 36 months. Additional measures include response rates, time to pain progression, PSA progression, and adverse events. The study tracks safety, treatment effects, and quality of life over a long follow-up period to better understand the potential benefits and risks of I-DXd compared to chemotherapy.

Researchers are evaluating a study medicine called MK-1045 in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus SLE or rheumatoid arthritis RA. The main goal is to learn about the safety and tolerability of MK-1045 when given at different dose levels. This is a phase 1 clinical trial focused on treatment and led by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Participants will receive MK-1045 through intravenous infusion. The study has three parts Part 1 involves single doses at various levels, Part 2 includes three step-up doses over three weeks as prime, step-up, and target doses, and Part 3 offers optional dose expansion with similar dosing. This sequential study uses randomized allocation without masking. During the study, participants will be monitored for adverse events and treatment discontinuations up to approximately 52 weeks depending on the study part. Researchers will also measure how the drug behaves in the body and its effect on peripheral B cell counts. Participants will have regular assessments including safety and pharmacokinetic evaluations throughout the study period, which runs up to July 2029.

Researchers are evaluating new medicines to prevent HIV-1 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 infection. This Phase 3 clinical study aims to determine if taking the drug MK-8527 once a month can prevent HIV-1 infection as well as or better than the standard daily pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP. The study also assesses the safety and tolerance of MK-8527 in participants. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives 11 mg of MK-8527 once monthly along with a daily placebo pill matching FTCTDF. The other group receives a daily dose of FTC245 mg TDF and a monthly placebo matching MK-8527. This treatment period lasts for approximately two years, followed by an additional 28-day period where all participants receive open-label FTCTDF daily. During the study, participants will undergo regular monitoring to check for HIV-1 infection and any adverse events. Researchers will track the number of participants who acquire HIV-1, experience side effects, or stop treatment due to side effects over the two-year period. Safety and adherence assessments will be conducted to evaluate the study treatments. The total participation time includes the two-year treatment phase plus the 28-day follow-up with open-label FTCTDF.

Researchers are evaluating molnupiravir, an oral medicine designed to stop the COVID-19 virus from multiplying, to see if it can prevent severe illness from COVID-19 in people at high risk of disease progression. The study focuses on adults with confirmed COVID-19 infection who are at increased risk due to age, medical conditions, or other factors. This is a Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial led by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either molnupiravir or a matching placebo. Those in the molnupiravir group will take 800 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days, totaling 10 doses. The same dosing schedule applies to the placebo group. Some participants may also receive remdesivir as part of standard care if clinically appropriate. During the study, participants will be monitored for up to 29 days to assess outcomes such as hospitalization, death, or medically attended visits related to COVID-19. Safety will be evaluated by tracking adverse events and discontinuation due to side effects. Researchers will also measure symptom relief, viral RNA levels, and other health indicators. The study is expected to continue until January 2031.

Researchers are investigating new treatments for metastatic cervical cancer, which is cancer that has spread beyond the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of the antibody drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan sac-TMT combined with pembrolizumab and bevacizumab. The goal is to find out if these treatments, given together or with some variations, help patients live longer or delay cancer progression compared to standard care. The study has two parts. In Part 1, participants receive sac-TMT, pembrolizumab, and bevacizumab together to assess safety. In Part 2, all participants first get standard induction treatment with pembrolizumab, paclitaxel, and cisplatin or carboplatin, possibly with bevacizumab. Those whose cancer does not worsen then enter maintenance treatment, where they are randomly assigned to receive either pembrolizumab alone or sac-TMT plus pembrolizumab, with optional bevacizumab. Participants are involved for up to about 20 months during maintenance treatment after up to 4 months of induction. The study monitors safety by tracking side effects and treatment discontinuations. Effectiveness is measured by progression-free survival and overall survival up to several years. Quality of life and physical functioning are also assessed through questionnaires. Treatments and evaluations occur through regular intravenous infusions and periodic monitoring visits.

Researchers are investigating new treatments for radiographic axial spondyloarthritis r-axSpA, a form of arthritis causing pain, stiffness, and swelling in the spine and pelvis joints. This condition shows visible damage on X-rays. The study aims to evaluate if different doses of the medicine tulisokibart can improve r-axSpA symptoms compared to a placebo, which helps measure the medicines effects accurately. Participants will be assigned to one of several groups receiving high, medium, or low doses of tulisokibart, or a placebo. The study includes a 16-week placebo-controlled phase. After that, participants receiving the low dose or placebo will be re-assigned to medium or high doses. Following this, there is a long-term extension lasting 124 weeks, which has a 40-week main extension and an 84-week optional extension, allowing continued treatment and observation. Throughout the study, participants will have regular assessments to monitor symptoms and disease activity using various indexes and imaging scores. Researchers will track the percentage of participants who achieve improvement at week 16 and monitor safety by recording adverse events up to approximately 154 weeks. The study uses injections of tulisokibart or placebo under the skin and includes ongoing evaluations of physical function, pain, inflammation, and quality of life.

Researchers are investigating new treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration NVAMD, a condition that affects vision. This study aims to learn if a medicine called tiespectus also known as MK-8748 or EYE201 can treat NVAMD as well as the standard treatment called aflibercept. The trial is a pivotal Phase 23 study that compares these treatments in people newly diagnosed with NVAMD. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups one group receives a low dose of tiespectus, another receives a high dose of tiespectus, and the third group receives aflibercept. Those in the tiespectus groups get three initial injections every 4 weeks, then continue injections every 8 weeks until week 48, followed by treatments at intervals based on their individual response up to week 92. The aflibercept group receives three initial injections followed by injections every 8 weeks until week 92. During the study, participants are regularly assessed for changes in their best-corrected visual acuity using ETDRS letters from baseline to one year. Other evaluations include eye imaging to measure retinal thickness and monitoring for any adverse events up to approximately 96 weeks. The study lasts over one year with ongoing visits to track treatment response and safety.

Researchers are evaluating the combination of baxdrostat and dapagliflozin in people with chronic kidney disease CKD and high blood pressure hypertension. This Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to assess whether this combination reduces the risk of serious kidney damage, heart failure events, or cardiovascular death compared to dapagliflozin alone. The study includes participants with CKD and hypertension who meet specific kidney function and blood pressure criteria. Participants who are not already taking SGLT2 inhibitors will first complete a 4-week dapagliflozin run-in period. Then, they will be randomly assigned to receive either baxdrostat plus dapagliflozin or a placebo plus dapagliflozin. Baxdrostat dosing may start low and be increased if needed. Study visits will occur at 2, 4, 8, 16, 34, and 52 weeks after randomization, and then approximately every four months until the study ends, which is based on the number of key kidney or heart-related events. Throughout the study, participants will have regular assessments including blood tests to monitor kidney function and potassium levels, blood pressure measurements, and evaluations of heart and kidney health. If participants stop the blinded study drug early, they will continue dapagliflozin if possible and remain in the study for ongoing visits and monitoring. The main outcome is whether the combination treatment reduces the risk of a 50% sustained decline in kidney function, kidney failure, heart failure events, or cardiovascular death over up to 37 months.

Researchers are evaluating AZD0780, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, in a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study. This trial focuses on patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ASCVD or those at high risk for a first ASCVD event. The study aims to assess how AZD0780 compares to placebo in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, also known as MACE-PLUS, over the course of the trial. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either oral AZD0780 once daily or a matching placebo once daily. The study continues until a primary analysis censoring date, which may be up to approximately 54 months from randomization. After this, a study closure visit will be conducted as the final visit for each participant. During the study, participants will be regularly monitored for cardiovascular events including heart attacks, strokes, urgent coronary revascularizations, and other related outcomes. Researchers will track the time to first occurrence of these events as the primary outcome. Safety and other secondary outcomes like all-cause mortality will also be assessed. The total participation time can last up to about 54 months, with ongoing evaluations throughout this period.