Antrim

This trial studies adults aged 18 years and older with lung fibrosis caused by systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases who have not shown lung function improvement after standard immunosuppressant treatment. It evaluates how the medicine nerandomilast affects lung disease associated with these conditions. The study is a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to test nerandomilast's safety and efficacy over at least 26 weeks. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either nerandomilast tablets or placebo tablets twice daily for a period of at least 26 weeks and up to 1 year. Alongside this, participants continue their ongoing immunosuppressant treatments for their rheumatic disease. The study involves two groups receiving either the active drug or placebo to compare outcomes between them. During the 7.5 to 13 months of participation, individuals visit the study site about 9 to 10 times for lung function tests, chest imaging at select visits, and to complete questionnaires about symptoms and quality of life. Researchers monitor changes in lung disease using high-resolution CT scans and assess safety by recording any side effects. The main outcome is the change in lung fibrosis score after 26 weeks of treatment.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of ALTO-207 on adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This Phase 2 trial compares ALTO-207 against a placebo to measure changes in depressive symptoms in participants who have moderate to severe major depressive disorder and have not responded adequately to previous antidepressant treatments. The goal is to understand how well ALTO-207 works in improving depression symptoms in this group. Participants will receive either ALTO-207 twice daily or a matching placebo. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involves treatment over a period of up to 8 weeks, during which symptom changes will be closely monitored. The study focuses on adults aged 18 to 75 who are already on stable doses of one or two oral antidepressants. During the study, participants will be assessed for changes in their depression severity using the MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) from baseline up to 8 weeks. Researchers will monitor safety and symptom changes throughout the treatment period. Participants’ adherence to the treatment and overall health will also be observed to gather comprehensive data on the study outcomes.

Researchers are investigating the use of EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology to detect awareness and enable communication in individuals with disorders of consciousness, including unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), minimally conscious state (MCS), and locked-in syndrome (LIS). The study explores whether these patients can imagine movements and use brain activity patterns to communicate, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide alternative communication methods for those unable to produce consistent motor responses. Participants undergo a three-phase study involving EEG-based BCI assessments and training. Phase I (sessions 1-2) evaluates the ability to imagine movements and produce detectable brain activity. Phase II (sessions 3-6) involves motor imagery BCI training with neurofeedback to help participants learn to modulate brain activity. Phase III (sessions 7-10) assesses the ability to use imagined movements to answer yes/no questions across various categories such as biographical and situational awareness. The BCI system uses combinations of imagined movements (left arm, right arm, feet) to represent answers. During the study, participants complete about 10 sessions of approximately 1.5 hours each, involving training and assessment tasks. Researchers monitor changes in performance accuracy using the BCI before and after training and evaluate the ability to consistently communicate yes/no responses over multiple sessions. Assessments include brain activity recordings, neurofeedback, and responses to structured questions. The study also examines how BCI technology may complement clinical assessments and potentially offer therapeutic benefits.

Researchers are investigating the effects of a medicine called BI 690517 in combination with empagliflozin for adults with chronic kidney disease who are at risk of their condition worsening. This study includes people both with and without type 2 diabetes and those already taking certain kidney-related medicines like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. The goal is to understand if adding BI 690517 helps protect kidney function and reduces risks related to kidney failure and heart problems. This is a Phase 3 clinical trial conducted over about 3 to 4 years. The study has two parts. First, participants receive either empagliflozin or a placebo similar to BI 690517 for at least six weeks, while continuing other indicated treatments like ACE inhibitors or ARBs. In the second part, participants are randomly assigned to take either BI 690517 tablets or placebo tablets once daily alongside empagliflozin for the rest of the study. The placebo tablets look like BI 690517 but contain no active medicine. Participants have regular visits to the study site, about four times in the first six months, then every six months afterward. During these visits, doctors monitor kidney function, heart health, blood pressure, weight, and any side effects. Blood and urine samples are taken to track health changes. The main outcomes measured are the time until worsening kidney disease, hospitalization for heart failure, or cardiovascular death. The study ends when a certain number of these events have occurred.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) affects millions worldwide and is a leading cause of kidney failure. This research aims to evaluate whether metformin, a common diabetes medication, can be repurposed to slow kidney function decline in adults with early-stage ADPKD. The trial addresses the limited treatment options currently available and the significant impact of ADPKD on quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either extended-release metformin or a placebo with inactive tablets identical in appearance. This global Phase III study plans to enroll 1,174 adults aged 18 to 70 years diagnosed with ADPKD. The study will carefully monitor kidney function over 24 months to assess the effects of metformin on disease progression. During the study, participants will undergo evaluations including kidney function tests measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Researchers will track changes over two years to determine if metformin slows kidney decline. Safety assessments and adherence monitoring will also be part of the study to ensure participant well-being throughout the trial period.

Researchers are evaluating a range of treatments to improve outcomes for adults admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), including cases caused by influenza and COVID-19. This Phase 3 adaptive platform trial, REMAP-CAP, is designed to test multiple treatment strategies simultaneously and adapt over time, allowing new treatments to be added as questions are answered. The trial also serves as a platform to quickly evaluate treatments during respiratory pandemics, such as COVID-19, through a sub-study called REMAP-COVID in the United States. Participants receive various interventions including antibiotics like ceftriaxone, moxifloxacin, or piperacillin-tazobactam, as well as macrolide therapies given for different durations. Other treatments assessed include corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, antiviral agents like oseltamivir and remdesivir, immune modulators including tocilizumab and baricitinib, and supportive care strategies such as mechanical ventilation methods. Dosing and duration vary for each treatment, with some interventions now closed. Treatments are administered according to local guidelines and clinical decisions, with some requiring intravenous or enteral routes. Participants are closely monitored with assessments focusing on survival and organ support status in the ICU up to 90 days after enrollment. The main outcomes measured include all-cause mortality by day 90 and the number of days alive without needing organ support in the ICU by day 21. The study collects data continuously to adapt treatment assignments for new participants, aiming to identify the most effective therapies. Follow-up and safety monitoring continue throughout hospitalization and up to 90 days after admission.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease that causes scarring, leading to coughing and breathlessness. Many people with IPF also have reflux disease, where stomach acid may enter the lungs and cause damage. This research is evaluating whether using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), medicines that reduce stomach acid like lansoprazole, can slow the progression of IPF. The study is a phase 3 clinical trial involving 298 IPF patients from about 37 UK hospitals to determine if treating with PPIs affects IPF outcomes and cough, reflux, and sleep symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either lansoprazole 30 mg capsules or matching placebo capsules twice daily, about 12 hours apart, for 12 months. They will be asked to start weekly home breathing tests using equipment provided, and some with a cough will use a device to count coughs over 24 hours. Questionnaires on cough, breathlessness, sleep, and general health will be completed. A sub-study involves additional cough and sleep monitoring sessions. Participants may reduce the dose if side effects occur. Throughout the study, participants will complete home spirometry assessments weekly, provide blood samples for safety checks at set intervals, and answer questionnaires at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Visits may be remote or in person. Researchers will monitor medication adherence, medical history changes, and side effects. The main outcome measured is the change in lung function, specifically forced vital capacity, 12 months after randomization. Additional blood samples may be collected for future research with consent.