Birmingham

Researchers are evaluating two different methods of pacing the heart in patients with slow heart rates (bradycardia). This multi-center randomized controlled trial, called PROTECT-HF, aims to compare the standard right ventricular pacing approach with a newer physiological pacing technique, which includes His bundle and left bundle area pacing. The study will enroll 2600 patients to assess differences in outcomes related to heart function and survival. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either right ventricular pacing or physiological pacing through pacemaker implantation. The physiological pacing method may involve His bundle pacing or left bundle pacing, with biventricular pacing used if these are not possible. Both treatments will be performed at participating centers, with patients and outcome assessors blinded to the treatment allocation. A subgroup of 500 patients will also take part in an optional echocardiographic sub-study to observe heart changes over 24 months. During the study, participants will be monitored from the time of consent for up to 78 months. Evaluations will occur at the start and every six months afterward to track mortality and heart failure-related health events. Researchers will gather data on heart function, treatment effects, and safety. The main analysis will consider all patients as originally assigned, and additional analysis will assess those who received the assigned treatment.

This research aims to evaluate the effects of litifilimab (BIIB059), a monoclonal antibody, in adults with active subacute or chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), with or without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Participants have active skin symptoms of CLE that have not improved with antimalarial therapy or had difficulties continuing that treatment. The study focuses on reducing skin disease activity using several scores including CLA-IGA-R and CLASI, while also assessing safety, immune response, and quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either litifilimab or a placebo injection under the skin every four weeks during a 24-week double-blind period where neither participants nor researchers know which treatment is given. After this, all participants will receive litifilimab injections every four weeks for an additional 28 weeks. Those who complete the treatment may join a long-term extension study or enter a follow-up safety period lasting up to 24 weeks. Total participation may last up to 80 weeks. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor skin disease activity using the CLA-IGA-R erythema score and the CLASI-A activity score to see how many participants improve. They will also assess safety, tolerability, immune system effects, and participants' quality of life using questionnaires. These evaluations occur regularly during both treatment periods and follow-up to understand the impact of litifilimab on CLE symptoms and overall health.

Researchers are evaluating new treatment options for adults with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer that cannot be removed by surgery and has a specific KRAS G12C gene mutation. This study compares the safety and effectiveness of adding calderasib and cetuximab, both targeted therapies, to a standard chemotherapy regimen called mFOLFOX6. The goal is to see if this combination can help patients live longer without their cancer growing or spreading compared to current treatments that may include mFOLFOX6 with or without bevacizumab. The study has two parts. It involves treatment with calderasib taken as an oral tablet, cetuximab given according to standard procedures, and mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy combining oxaliplatin, leucovorin/levofolinate calcium, and 5-fluorouracil. Some participants may receive bevacizumab or a bevacizumab biosimilar as part of the comparison. The treatments are given following approved dosing schedules. This design allows researchers to assess the safety and tolerability of these drug combinations in treating this type of colorectal cancer with the KRAS G12C mutation. Participants will be monitored for side effects, treatment tolerability, and cancer progression over a period that may last up to about 44 months. Researchers will track outcomes such as how many participants experience dose-limiting toxicities or adverse events, how many stop treatment due to side effects, and progression-free survival time. Assessments include health evaluations, laboratory tests, and imaging to observe cancer status. This long-term follow-up aims to understand both safety and effectiveness of the treatment combinations.

Researchers are studying a treatment called MK-2214 to see if it can slow certain brain changes in people with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a form of dementia that causes memory loss, difficulties with communication, and challenges in decision-making, which affect daily activities. The study aims to find out if MK-2214 can slow the spread of tau protein in the brain compared to a placebo and to assess the safety and tolerability of MK-2214. Participants will receive either MK-2214 or a placebo through an intravenous (IV) infusion. The study is designed as a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with parallel groups. The treatment period lasts up to about 23 months, during which participants will receive infusions as scheduled. The placebo looks like the study treatment but contains no active drug, helping researchers understand the treatment's effects. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for changes in tau protein levels in the brain using PET scans and for any adverse events or side effects. Researchers will track the number of participants experiencing adverse events and those who stop treatment because of them, with safety follow-up lasting up to approximately 26 months. Participants will also undergo brain imaging such as CT, PET, or MRI scans. The study involves regular assessments to measure the treatment's impact and ensure participant safety over the study duration.

Researchers are looking for ways to treat germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GCB DLBCL). DLBCL is a fast-growing blood cancer that affects B-cells. GCB is a type of DLBCL that affects young B-cells that are still maturing. The goal of this study is to learn if more people who receive zilovertamab vedotin (MK-2140) and R-CHP have the cancer respond (go away) than those who receive polatuzumab vedotin and R-CHP.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, effectiveness, best dose, and how the body processes (pharmacokinetics) an investigational drug called BNT326. This study includes people with advanced solid tumors that are metastatic, recurrent, or have progressed after previous treatments. The investigation is divided into two parts: Part 1 tests BNT326 alone, and Part 2 studies BNT326 alone or combined with other immunotherapy drugs, including pumitamig (BNT327). Participants have specific tumor types like melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer, among others. In Part 1, participants receive BNT326 by intravenous infusion in various groups based on cancer type and prior treatments. Part 2 involves BNT326 given alone or with pumitamig, also by intravenous infusion, in several defined cancer groups. Some groups are randomized to receive different dose levels or combinations to find the optimal treatment plan. The study includes a screening phase, treatment phase lasting up to 24 months or until progression or unacceptable side effects, a safety follow-up, efficacy follow-up, and long-term survival monitoring, totaling about 38 months for Part 1 and 48 months for Part 2. During the study, participants undergo regular assessments including measuring tumor response using RECIST criteria, monitoring for side effects and serious adverse events up to months after treatment ends, and measuring drug levels in the blood. Researchers track treatment interruptions or discontinuations due to side effects and evaluate dose-limiting toxicities. Tumor tissue samples are required before enrollment. Safety and effectiveness data are collected throughout treatment and follow-up periods to understand how well BNT326 works alone or combined and its safety profile.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and therapeutic effects of a combination treatment using BNT113 and pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab alone for patients with unresectable recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that is positive for human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16+) and expresses the PD-L1 protein with a combined positive score of 1 or higher. This Phase II/III trial includes patients whose cancer cannot be treated with local therapies and who have not received prior systemic anticancer therapy for their current disease condition. The trial consists of two parts. Part A is a non-randomized Safety Run-In Phase to confirm the safety and tolerability of BNT113 combined with pembrolizumab at the selected dose. Part B is a randomized phase that compares BNT113 plus pembrolizumab against pembrolizumab alone as first-line treatment. Patients in Part A continue their treatment without randomization. Treatments are given by intravenous injection or infusion, and patients may receive either combination therapy or monotherapy for up to 24 months. There is also an optional pre-screening phase to test tumor samples for HPV16 DNA and PD-L1 expression before entering the main trial. Participants undergo regular assessments including tumor measurements based on RECIST 1.1 criteria confirmed by independent review. Researchers monitor treatment-emergent adverse events for up to 27 months in Part A and evaluate overall survival and progression-free survival for up to 48 months in Part B. Tumor tissue samples are collected before treatment to confirm eligibility. The study involves ongoing safety monitoring and efficacy evaluations throughout the treatment and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of trontinemab in people aged 50 to 90 with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to mild dementia. This Phase III clinical trial focuses on those who show evidence of Alzheimer's pathology and have a recent history of cognitive decline. The study aims to measure changes in cognitive function over 72 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either intravenous trontinemab or a placebo. The trial is designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, meaning neither participants nor researchers know who receives the active drug or placebo. The treatment period lasts up to 72 weeks, during which participants will undergo various assessments to monitor their cognitive status and safety. During the study, participants will complete clinical tests including cognitive assessments and imaging such as MRI, PET scans, or cerebrospinal fluid analysis to confirm Alzheimer's pathology. A study partner will assist participants as needed. Researchers will track changes from the start of the study through week 72 using tools like the Clinical Dementia Rating. Safety monitoring and adherence to study procedures will also be closely observed throughout the trial.

Researchers are evaluating the long-term safety and effects of nerandomilast in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) who have previously completed treatment with nerandomilast in earlier studies. The study aims to understand how well participants tolerate nerandomilast over time, and whether it helps improve lung function, delays symptom worsening, reduces hospital visits, or impacts survival. This is a Phase 3 open-label extension trial. Participants take nerandomilast tablets daily for up to 1 year and 10 months while continuing their usual pulmonary fibrosis treatments. The study follows an open-label design where all participants receive nerandomilast. There are no placebo or comparator groups in this extension phase. Throughout the study, participants regularly visit their doctors for health assessments and lung function tests. Doctors monitor any health problems or side effects experienced during treatment. The main outcome measured is whether participants experience any adverse events up to the final follow-up visit, which occurs at week 99. This close monitoring helps evaluate the long-term safety and potential benefits of nerandomilast in this patient group.

Researchers are conducting a global, multicenter, prospective observational registry to study patients with Pompe disease, including those with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) and infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD). The study includes both patients who are untreated and those receiving approved Pompe disease therapies. The main goals are to assess the long-term safety and real-world effectiveness of these treatments, understand their impact on quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, and describe the natural history of untreated Pompe disease. Participants may be treated with various therapies including enzyme replacement therapies such as cipaglucosidase alfa delivered by intravenous infusion, alglucosidase alfa or avalglucosidase alfa once approved locally, and miglustat co-administered with ATB200. Patients not receiving any medical therapy for Pompe disease are also included. The study gathers data from both treated and untreated patients as they are managed in routine clinical practice. Throughout the study, participant data will be collected to monitor the frequency of adverse events and serious adverse events over a period of five years. Researchers will also evaluate treatment effectiveness, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes during this time. This observational approach allows for long-term safety monitoring and understanding of Pompe disease progression in a real-world setting.