Durban

Researchers are studying a new treatment for HIV-1 infection that combines two medicines, islatravir and ulonivirine, taken once weekly. The goal is to see if this new study treatment works as well as the standard antiretroviral therapy (ART), which usually involves taking up to three medicines once or twice daily. This research also aims to learn about the safety and tolerability of the study treatment compared to the standard ART. The study compares the once-weekly combination of islatravir and ulonivirine with the standard daily treatment of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF). Participants will take either the study drugs or the standard drugs for 96 weeks. Some participants may receive matching placebos as part of the study design. The treatment is given orally as capsules or tablets according to the assigned group. Participants will be monitored throughout the study with regular assessments, including measuring the amount of HIV-1 virus in the blood to see if it is suppressed below 50 copies/mL at weeks 24 and 48. The study will also track any side effects or adverse events and whether participants stop the treatment due to these events. Overall, the study lasts about 96 weeks, with ongoing safety and effectiveness evaluations to understand how well the treatments work and how safe they are over time.

Researchers are looking for new medicines to prevent HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1) infection. The goals of this study are to learn: * If taking MK-8527 once a month works to prevent HIV-1 infection as well as or better than a standard (usual) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken once a day * About the safety of MK-8527 and if people tolerate it

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of benralizumab, given as a subcutaneous injection, in children and adolescents aged 6 to under 18 years who have severe eosinophilic asthma. These patients have a history of asthma exacerbations and uncontrolled symptoms despite treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus at least one other controller medication. This Phase III study aims to compare benralizumab to placebo in reducing the time to the first asthma exacerbation. The study includes a screening period lasting from 4 to 12 weeks to confirm eligibility. After screening, patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either benralizumab or placebo via subcutaneous injections during a double-blind treatment period lasting a minimum of 16 weeks. This period continues until the patient experiences an asthma exacerbation or a set number of events occur. Patients who exacerbate can enter an open-label extension where all receive benralizumab for at least 48 weeks. An end-of-treatment visit occurs 8 weeks after the last dose in the extension phase. Participants will be monitored through visits and assessments including confirmation of severe eosinophilic asthma, asthma control questionnaires, and symptom diaries. Researchers will measure the time to first asthma exacerbation as the primary outcome. Medication adherence is tracked during screening, and safety is monitored throughout both the double-blind and extension periods. Total participation may span over a year, considering screening, treatment, extension, and follow-up visits.

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of two doses of remibrutinib compared to placebo in people aged 12 years and older with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic skin condition. The study is a phase 3 clinical trial involving participants with a diagnosis lasting at least six months and active symptoms in multiple body areas. The purpose is to determine how well remibrutinib works and how safe and tolerable it is for this condition. The trial lasts a total of 76 weeks and includes several parts: a screening period of up to 4 weeks, a first treatment period of 16 weeks where participants receive either remibrutinib Dose A, Dose B, or placebo in a double-blind manner, followed by a second treatment period lasting 52 weeks during which all participants receive remibrutinib doses. After treatment, there is a 4-week safety follow-up without treatment. Participants stopping treatment early are encouraged to continue in the study and complete the safety follow-up. During the study, participants will be regularly monitored for their response to treatment, including the proportion who achieve a clinical response measure called HiSCR50 at Week 16. Assessments will include physical exams and safety checks throughout the treatment periods and follow-up. The study seeks to gather detailed information on how remibrutinib affects the severity of hidradenitis suppurativa and participants' overall health during and after treatment.

Researchers are conducting a first-in-human, Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of three investigational drugs: AZD2284, AZD2287, and AZD2275 in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study aims to find the optimal dosing regimen and assess how the drugs distribute in the body, as well as to explore the safety and potential effectiveness of escalating doses of AZD2284 based on initial findings. The trial is divided into two parts: Part A focuses on imaging to determine the best dosing approach for AZD2287, with or without pre-administration of AZD2275 to improve drug distribution. Part B involves dose escalation of AZD2284 to evaluate safety, tolerability, and possible efficacy, followed by expansion cohorts to further explore AZD2284's effects. Participants will receive these investigational drugs during the respective study parts. Participants will undergo various assessments including imaging scans (SPECT/CT and planar images), laboratory tests, and evaluations of adverse events and dose limiting toxicities over different timeframes up to 5 years for long-term monitoring. Researchers will measure drug absorption, organ and tumor uptake, and safety outcomes. The total study duration includes monitoring for side effects and treatment responses to better understand the investigational drugs' impact.

Researchers are investigating the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of combining baxdrostat with dapagliflozin compared to dapagliflozin alone in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and high blood pressure. This Phase III, international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to see if this combination reduces risks such as significant kidney function decline, kidney failure, heart failure events, or cardiovascular death. The study includes a 4-week run-in period where participants not previously treated with SGLT2 inhibitors receive dapagliflozin alone. After this, participants are randomly assigned to receive either baxdrostat plus dapagliflozin or placebo plus dapagliflozin in a double-blinded manner. Study visits occur frequently initially (at 2, 4, 8, 16, 34, and 52 weeks after randomization) and then approximately every 4 months. If participants stop the blinded treatment early, they continue dapagliflozin alone unless specific criteria require its discontinuation. Participants will undergo regular assessments including blood pressure monitoring and laboratory tests related to kidney function and cardiovascular health. The primary outcome measures the reduction in risk of major kidney and heart events over up to 37 months. Even if participants stop the study treatment, they will continue follow-up visits and data collection to ensure comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluation throughout the study duration.

Researchers are evaluating AZD0780, an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, in a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study to see if it can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-PLUS) in adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or those at high risk for a first ASCVD event. The study compares AZD0780 to a placebo and monitors participants from randomization until the primary analysis censoring date, followed by a final study closure visit. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either oral AZD0780 or an oral placebo once daily. The treatment period lasts until the primary analysis censoring date, after which a study closure visit will occur. The study is event-driven and designed to assess the time to the first major cardiovascular event during treatment. During the study, participants will be closely monitored with various assessments to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes and safety over approximately 54 months. Researchers will track the time to first event of any component of MACE-PLUS and collect data to assess the effect of AZD0780 compared to placebo. The study includes regular visits and evaluations to ensure participant safety and adherence to treatment.

Researchers are conducting the RESOLVE trial, an open, randomized clinical study in Uganda and South Africa, to find the best way to manage virologic failure in people with HIV taking the antiretroviral therapy combination of tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD). The study focuses on individuals aged 15 and older who have experienced two viral load results above 1,000 copies/mL while on TLD for at least one year. The main goal is to see which management strategy leads to viral suppression below 50 copies/mL after 48 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Standard of Care group, which uses genotypic resistance tests and follows national guidelines; the Individualized Care group, which bases treatment on resistance test results and urine adherence tests; or the Immediate Switch group, which switches directly to a protease inhibitor-based second-line therapy. The randomization considers clinic location, previous exposure to certain HIV drugs, and history of virologic failure. The study includes visits at enrollment, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks. During the year-long follow-up, participants will have their viral load monitored to assess suppression status. The primary outcome is viral suppression at 48 weeks post-enrollment, using the FDA snapshot definition. The study involves assessments at each visit and collects data on treatment response and adherence. Pregnant women can participate, and the study excludes those planning to move away or with prior failure on specific HIV drugs.

Researchers are evaluating ziltivekimab as a treatment for people living with heart failure and inflammation. This Phase 3 study compares ziltivekimab to a placebo in participants with heart failure who have mild to preserved ejection fraction and systemic inflammation. The study aims to assess the effect of ziltivekimab on cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, or urgent heart failure visits over a period of up to 4 years. Participants will receive monthly injections of either ziltivekimab or a placebo using a pre-filled syringe or a pen-injector. The study medication is administered subcutaneously once a month for up to 4 years. The trial includes up to 20 clinic visits during which participants will be monitored and assessed. During the study, participants will use a study app on their phone to record all injections and complete questionnaires. Researchers will monitor participants for key outcomes like cardiovascular events and heart failure episodes from the time of randomization until the end of the study. Safety and health status will be regularly evaluated throughout the study period, which may last up to 48 months.

Researchers are evaluating how well elritercept (TAK-226, KER-050) works in reducing the need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in adults with very low, low, or intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who require regular blood transfusions. The study is a Phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that also aims to assess the safety and tolerability of elritercept over both short and longer periods, including in adults with high transfusion needs. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either elritercept or a matching placebo by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks. The study includes a Primary Phase lasting 24 weeks and a Secondary Phase lasting an additional 24 weeks, during which participants continue the same treatment. Following these phases, an Extension Phase allows eligible participants to continue treatment until discontinuation or study unblinding. Study visits occur every 2 weeks during the first 6 cycles and every 4 weeks thereafter. Treatment continuation depends on meeting disease assessment criteria every 24 weeks. Participants will undergo various assessments including bone marrow aspirates, transfusion evaluations, and disease status checks throughout the study. Safety follow-up lasts for 8 weeks after the last dose, with visits every 4 weeks during this time. Afterward, long-term follow-up occurs quarterly for up to 5 years or until withdrawal, death, loss to follow-up, or study closure. The main outcome measured is the percentage of participants achieving transfusion independence for at least 8 weeks during the first 24 weeks of treatment.