Hitachinaka

Researchers are studying AZD1163, a new bispecific antibody, to assess its effectiveness and safety in adults with moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who test positive for anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA). This Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involves participants already receiving standard treatments such as conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups to receive subcutaneous injections of either one of three doses of AZD1163 or a placebo, alongside their standard care, for 24 weeks. Following this treatment period, there will be a 28-week safety follow-up to monitor participants. Throughout the study, researchers will evaluate changes from baseline in disease activity scores using C-reactive protein levels at 12 weeks. Participants will undergo regular assessments including joint counts and laboratory tests to monitor disease status and safety. The total involvement in the study spans over 52 weeks, including treatment and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating whether the medicine vicadrostat, combined with empagliflozin, helps adults with chronic heart failure (HF) who have a weakened heart pumping function, specifically a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below 40%. Eligible participants must have been diagnosed with chronic HF at least 3 months before joining. The study is a Phase III trial designed to compare the effects of vicadrostat plus empagliflozin against placebo plus empagliflozin in people with symptomatic chronic HF classified as New York Heart Association classes II to IV. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group takes tablets containing vicadrostat and empagliflozin, while the other group takes placebo tablets that look like vicadrostat along with empagliflozin. Tablets are taken once daily for a period ranging from about 6 months up to about 3.5 years. Participants continue their usual heart failure treatments during the study. The study is double-blind, meaning neither the participants nor the study staff know who is receiving which treatment. During the study, participants regularly visit the study site or may have phone contacts for follow-up. They answer questions about their health and well-being. Doctors monitor and record any worsening of heart failure symptoms, hospital visits due to heart failure, or deaths. They also check participants' overall health and note any side effects. The main outcome measured is the time until a participant experiences cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, or an urgent heart failure visit, over up to 43 months of follow-up.