Polokwane

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effects of a new medicine called NNC0487-0111 in people who have Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction HFpEF or Heart Failure with mildly reduced Ejection Fraction HFmrEF and excess body weight. This phase 3 clinical trial aims to find out if NNC0487-0111 is safe and effective for treating these conditions compared to a placebo. Participants have HFpEF or HFmrEF and a body mass index of 30 or above. The study is sponsored by Novo Nordisk AS and uses a randomized, quadruple-masked design. Participants will receive either NNC0487-0111 or a matching placebo by injection under the skin once a week. The NNC0487-0111 is given in increasing doses over time. The study is parallel in design, meaning participants are randomly assigned to one of the two groups and receive that treatment throughout the trial. This treatment period extends for up to about 165 weeks. The study evaluates the time to certain heart failure events, hospitalizations, cardiovascular deaths, and other major cardiovascular events. During the study, participants will be monitored regularly to assess heart failure outcomes and kidney function, as well as quality of life using questionnaires like the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Safety and effectiveness are assessed through hospital visits, heart failure event tracking, and blood tests including kidney function and blood sugar levels. The total participation spans over three years, with ongoing evaluations to measure the time to heart failure events and cardiovascular outcomes. Participants receive close medical monitoring throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of inavolisib combined with Phesgo compared to a placebo combined with Phesgo as maintenance treatment for participants with previously untreated HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has a PIK3CA mutation. This Phase 3 study focuses on participants with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have completed induction therapy. Participants first receive induction therapy with Phesgo plus taxane-based chemotherapy. Following this, they enter the maintenance phase where they are randomly assigned to receive either inavolisib tablets taken orally once daily for 21 days of each 21-day cycle along with Phesgo administered subcutaneously every 3 weeks, or a matching placebo tablet with Phesgo on the same schedule. Optional endocrine therapy may be given based on the investigators choice according to standard care. Throughout the study, participants undergo regular monitoring including tumor assessments, quality of life questionnaires, and safety evaluations lasting up to approximately 111 months. Key outcomes measured include progression-free survival assessed by investigators, overall survival, response rates, duration of response, and adverse event rates. Plasma concentrations of inavolisib are also measured at specific timepoints. Participants will be followed closely during and after treatment to assess these outcomes over an extended period.

Researchers are conducting a nationwide study in South Africa to develop the first nationally representative blood pressure and anthropometric reference values for children aged 5 to under 18 years. This study addresses the lack of appropriate African ancestry data, which currently results in reliance on European and US standards that may not suit the South African paediatric population. The goal is to improve understanding of blood pressure and hypertension in children and to establish clinical guidelines tailored to this population. The study involves measuring blood pressure and body measurements in a randomized sample of approximately 22,464 school-aged children from all provinces and various urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. Data collection will take place over five years, capturing a diverse group representative of South Africas ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These measurements will be used to create nomograms and inform national guidelines for hypertension management in children. Participants will have their blood pressure and anthropometric data collected during the study period. Researchers will analyze these data to determine normal reference values and develop clinical practice guidelines for managing childhood hypertension. The information gathered will also support community engagement and awareness initiatives. The studys findings aim to guide healthcare providers and inform national health policies for better paediatric hypertension care in South Africa.