Okayama

Researchers are evaluating MK-2214, a study treatment designed to slow brain changes in people with early Alzheimers disease AD. AD is a form of dementia that causes memory loss, communication difficulties, and challenges in decision-making, affecting daily tasks. This phase 2 trial aims to determine if MK-2214 slows the spread of tau protein in the brain compared to a placebo, as well as to assess the safety and tolerability of MK-2214. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either MK-2214 or a placebo through intravenous IV infusion every 4 weeks during the study. The study uses a parallel design with quadruple masking to compare the effects of the study drug versus placebo over a period of up to approximately 23 months. Both groups receive infusions on the same schedule to maintain the studys integrity. During the study, participants will undergo brain scans including positron emission tomography PET to measure tau protein levels and other assessments such as cognitive and daily living function tests. Researchers will monitor adverse events and treatment discontinuations throughout the study, which lasts up to about 26 months. These assessments help determine the impact of MK-2214 on disease progression and safety in individuals with early AD.

Researchers are investigating new treatment options for breast cancer that is hormone receptor-positive HR and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative HER2-, specifically for cases that are unresectable locally advanced or metastatic. This type of breast cancer involves cancer cells that depend on hormones like estrogen or progesterone and have low HER2 protein levels. The study focuses on comparing the effects of patritumab deruxtecan against chemotherapy or trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients whose cancer has progressed despite prior treatments. Participants receive either patritumab deruxtecan through intravenous infusions every three weeks for about 13 months or a treatment chosen by their physician, which may include various chemotherapy drugs or trastuzumab deruxtecan, administered according to specific schedules for up to 13 months. The study is randomized and open-label, meaning participants are randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups, and both the patients and researchers know which treatment is given. Throughout the study, participants undergo regular assessments to monitor cancer progression and overall survival for up to approximately 85 months. Researchers evaluate tumor response, duration of response, and changes in quality of life using standardized questionnaires. Safety is carefully monitored by recording adverse events and treatment discontinuations. The goal is to understand if patritumab deruxtecan can improve outcomes compared to current treatment options.

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 evaluating new treatments for advanced ovarian cancer in women who have completed initial surgery and chemotherapy. The study focuses on non-HRD positive ovarian cancer, comparing a targeted therapy called sacituzumab tirumotecan sac-TMT given alone or with bevacizumab, against standard care options such as bevacizumab maintenance or observation. The goal is to see if sac-TMT with or without bevacizumab can help patients live longer without their cancer worsening. Participants in the experimental group will receive sac-TMT through intravenous infusion on days 1, 15, and 29 of every 6-week cycle until the cancer progresses, side effects become prohibitive, or other reasons for stopping arise. They may optionally receive bevacizumab on days 1 and 22 of each cycle. The comparator group will either receive bevacizumab alone every 3 weeks for up to 22 courses or be monitored without active treatment. Supportive medications like steroid mouthwash and other rescue drugs are recommended before sac-TMT infusions. Throughout the study, participants will be regularly monitored for how long they live without their disease progressing, overall survival, side effects, and quality of life using specialized questionnaires. These assessments will continue for up to approximately 78 months. The study is randomized, with single masking, and led by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Participants can expect regular visits for treatment and monitoring during this period.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of trontinemab in people with early symptomatic Alzheimers disease, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to mild dementia due to Alzheimers. This Phase III trial aims to understand how trontinemab affects cognitive decline and disease progression in this population. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either intravenous trontinemab or a placebo in a parallel-group design. Treatment is administered by IV infusion, and the effects are compared over a period of 72 weeks. The study includes comprehensive safety and efficacy assessments throughout this period. During the 72 weeks of the study, participants will undergo various evaluations including cognitive tests such as the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes CDR-SB, Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scales, brain imaging with PET and MRI scans, and biomarker measurements in cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Safety monitoring includes tracking adverse events, infusion reactions, and antibody development. The study requires participants to have a study partner and to complete all study procedures over this time.

Researchers are evaluating zorevunersen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide drug, in children with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. This Phase 3, global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of zorevunersen by measuring changes in major motor seizure frequency and other important aspects such as behavior, cognition, clinical status, and quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either zorevunersen or a sham procedure during Treatment Period 1, which lasts about 52 weeks. Zorevunersen is given by intrathecal injection at specific doses and intervals throughout this period. After Treatment Period 1, all eligible patients enter Treatment Period 2, where everyone receives zorevunersen for additional dosing over several months. Patients who complete the study may have the chance to join an open-label extension to continue receiving the drug. During the study, participants will undergo regular assessments including seizure monitoring, behavioral and cognitive evaluations, and health-related quality of life measurements. The primary outcome is the change in major motor seizure frequency at Week 28, with secondary outcomes assessed at Week 52. Safety and tolerability are also closely monitored. Overall participation lasts through both treatment periods and possible extension, with detailed follow-up to evaluate the drugs potential for disease modification.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of volrustomig compared to observation in participants with unresected locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma LA-HNSCC who have not progressed after receiving definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy cCRT. This phase III, randomized, open-label global study aims to assess whether volrustomig can improve outcomes in this patient population. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups those who receive volrustomig as sequential therapy, and those who undergo observation without additional treatment. The study compares these two approaches following prior curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The trial includes long-term follow-up to monitor patient outcomes. During the study, participants will be regularly assessed for progression-free survival, overall survival, physical functioning, and quality of life. Researchers will also monitor for the presence of anti-drug antibodies and adverse events related to volrustomig. Follow-up evaluations may continue for up to approximately eight years to fully understand the treatment impact and safety profile.

Researchers are evaluating whether retatrutide and tirzepatide can prevent major adverse liver outcomes in adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease MASLD who are at high risk based on non-invasive tests. This Phase 3 randomized controlled trial aims to assess these treatments compared to placebo in about 4,500 adults over approximately 224 weeks. The study is sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company and focuses on liver disease progression and related health measures. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive retatrutide, tirzepatide, or placebo, all administered by subcutaneous injection. The trial includes two placebo groups corresponding to each experimental drug. After completing the main study, eligible participants may join a 2-year extension where all will receive either retatrutide or tirzepatide regardless of their initial assignment. During the study, participants may attend around 25 to 30 clinic visits for health monitoring, study procedures, and assessments of liver function and disease status. Researchers will measure the time to major adverse liver outcomes, changes in liver fibrosis scores, liver stiffness, liver fat content, liver enzyme levels, body weight, and cardiovascular events. Monitoring will continue from baseline through study completion, with detailed evaluations at multiple timepoints including week 104.

Researchers are evaluating Enzomenib DSP-5336, an oral drug, in patients with various types of acute leukemia, including relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia AML, acute lymphocytic leukemia ALL, and acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage. The study also includes patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes MDS and relapsed multiple myeloma MM in selected sites. This phase 12 trial aims to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of DSP-5336 alone or combined with standard AML treatments, particularly in patients with specific genetic mutations like MLL rearrangement or NPM1 mutation. The study involves dose escalation and dose expansion of DSP-5336 administered orally. Participants may receive DSP-5336 alone or combined with standard AML regimens such as venetoclax plus azacitidine or intensive chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin 73. Different study arms include patients with or without certain medications like CYP3A4 inhibitor azoles, and those with specific genetic profiles. The trial evaluates recommended phase 2 doses for various patient groups and combination treatments. Participants will undergo assessments including monitoring for adverse events within 30 days after the last dose and evaluation of clinical responses approximately six months after treatment begins. Researchers will collect blood and bone marrow samples for genomic analysis and track drug levels in the body. Safety labs, ECGs, physical exams, and patient questionnaires will be performed throughout the study. The trial includes long-term follow-up of overall survival up to two years after treatment ends, with visits and tests scheduled to monitor health and treatment effects.

Researchers are evaluating ziftomenib in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia AML that has an NPM1 mutation. This Phase 2 study aims to assess the drugs effectiveness, safety, and how it behaves in the body. It is the first trial to administer ziftomenib to this patient group in Japan, with the goal of understanding its potential benefits for patients who have limited treatment options. Participants will take ziftomenib orally once daily. The study will monitor responses every 28 days, continuing treatment until the disease progresses or the patient withdraws. Several secondary measures will assess deeper remission rates, transfusion needs, and duration of response. The study also includes detailed monitoring of adverse events, drug levels in the blood, and patient health indicators during treatment and after discontinuation. During the trial, participants will have regular assessments including disease response evaluations every 28 days and safety checks. Follow-up will continue for up to one year after treatment ends to track overall survival and late effects. Participants will be monitored for side effects, changes in laboratory values, heart function, and overall physical status. The study duration varies but includes ongoing treatment and post-treatment observation to gather comprehensive data on ziftomenibs impact.