Sparta

Researchers are evaluating the short-term and long-term safety and effectiveness of belimumab in adults diagnosed with early systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have positive autoantibodies and continue to have active disease despite stable initial treatment. This phase 4, prospective, open-label study aims to describe how belimumab works in this specific group over a three-year period. Participants will receive belimumab (GSK1550188) administered by subcutaneous injection. There is one treatment arm where all participants will receive this drug. The study lasts for three years, during which participants will be regularly monitored to assess disease activity and treatment safety. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including clinical evaluations to measure disease activity, laboratory tests, and questionnaires to track health status. The main outcome is the percentage of participants who achieve Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) by week 52. Safety and efficacy will be closely monitored throughout the study period, with follow-up visits and evaluations scheduled at regular intervals.

Researchers are evaluating efruxifermin (EFX) in adults aged 18 to 80 who have compensated cirrhosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of EFX in improving liver health and delaying disease progression in this population. The study focuses on subjects with advanced liver fibrosis (stage 4) but without liver decompensation. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either efruxifermin or a placebo, both administered by subcutaneous injection. The study includes two cohorts: Cohort 1 requires biopsy confirmation of liver fibrosis and specific metabolic features, while Cohort 2 allows biopsy or non-invasive diagnosis. Treatment and observation continue over an extended period to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis and clinical events. During the study, researchers will monitor the time until significant clinical events such as disease progression or liver decompensation occur, with a follow-up of up to five years. For Cohort 1, the proportion of participants showing improvement in fibrosis without worsening steatohepatitis will be assessed at 96 weeks. Participants will undergo regular evaluations including clinical assessments and laboratory tests to track liver function and safety throughout the study period.

Researchers are investigating the safety and effectiveness of efruxifermin in people with non-cirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) who have moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (stage 2 or 3). This Phase 3 study is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, enrolling a total of 1650 participants in two groups to evaluate treatment outcomes. Participants will receive either efruxifermin or a placebo by subcutaneous injection. The study involves two cohorts, with Cohort 1 including patients who have biopsy-confirmed NASH or MASH and specific liver fibrosis and activity scores. The treatment period and detailed dosing schedules are not provided but the study compares the effects of the active drug against placebo. During the study, participants will be monitored for improvement in liver disease status, including resolution of NASH/MASH and at least a one-stage improvement in liver fibrosis after 52 weeks for Cohort 1. Long-term outcomes such as event-free survival will be observed over 240 weeks. Safety and efficacy assessments will be conducted throughout the study period, including evaluations of liver histology and metabolic health.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of ECC4703, a thyroid hormone receptor beta isoform agonist, and ECC0509, a semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase inhibitor, alone and combined, on reducing liver fat in adults with presumed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). This Phase 2a trial aims to measure changes in liver fat using magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) after 12 weeks of treatment. Participants are randomly assigned to receive low or high doses of ECC4703, ECC0509, their combination, or placebo in oral capsule form. The study compares the dose-dependent effects of these treatments on hepatic fat reduction. Placebo capsules match the active treatments to maintain blinding. The treatment period lasts for 12 weeks. During the study, participants undergo MRI scans to measure liver fat content at baseline and week 12. Researchers monitor liver enzymes, metabolic markers, and safety throughout the trial. Participants must comply with study procedures, including regular assessments and biomarker tests, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatments over the 12-week period.

This multinational, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of duvakitug in participants with moderately to severely active Crohn's Disease. The study includes three sub-studies focusing on induction treatment, with specific co-primary endpoints assessing clinical remission and endoscopic response at 12 weeks. Participants will receive either duvakitug or a placebo via subcutaneous injection during the treatment periods. The study duration can last up to 35 weeks and consists of a screening period of up to 5 weeks, followed by a 12-week induction phase in either Sub-Study 1 (open-label feeder induction) or Sub-Study 2 (pivotal induction). Non-responders may enter a 12-week extended induction phase in Sub-Study 3. After treatment, participants not enrolling in the maintenance study will have a 6-week follow-up period. Throughout the study, participants will have scheduled visits for assessments, including monitoring of clinical remission and endoscopic response using standardized scoring systems at 12 weeks. The total number of visits varies depending on sub-study participation, with up to 15 visits for those in Sub-Study 3. Safety and treatment effects will be closely monitored during these visits and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of duvakitug in people with moderately to severely active Ulcerative Colitis (UC). This multinational, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study aims to see if duvakitug can help achieve clinical remission in this condition. The study targets participants aged 16 to 80 years with a confirmed diagnosis of active UC for at least 3 months who have not responded well or are intolerant to other treatments. Participants will receive either duvakitug or a placebo as a solution injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection). The study includes up to 35 weeks with multiple periods: a screening period, a 12-week induction phase (either open-label or randomized), a 12-week extended induction for those who do not respond initially, and a 45-day follow-up for those not continuing into the maintenance study. During these phases, participants may have up to 8 to 15 on-site visits depending on their sub-study group. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored closely with scheduled visits for assessments including clinical evaluations related to UC activity and response to treatment. The main outcome measured is the proportion of participants who achieve clinical remission by week 12. Safety and tolerability will also be tracked during and after the treatment period, with follow-up visits to ensure participant well-being.

Researchers are establishing the Caris Biorepository to collect and store high-quality biological specimens along with clinical and demographic data. This resource aims to support research studies focused on advancing precision medicine and improving patient care, especially in areas related to cancer, early detection of cancer, and minimal residual disease. The biorepository is designed to securely share valuable biospecimen information and clinical outcomes to help develop targeted treatments and improve healthcare. The Caris Biorepository will gather specimens prospectively from multiple sources and maintain molecular integrity and clinical relevance of these samples. It will provide access to this information for researchers both within Caris Life Sciences and external collaborators such as government agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners. The project supports drug development, clinical research trials, publications, and healthcare policy development by bridging the gap between human specimens and associated clinical data. Participants in this research will provide biospecimens and clinical data, with the biorepository managing access and use of these materials over time. The study focuses on developing a high-quality collection of human samples and associated data for up to 35 years, supporting various research purposes. Outcomes include ensuring specimen integrity and releasing specimens for testing while maintaining detailed clinical information to facilitate future medical discoveries and improvements in patient outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of radiation therapy with or without the chemotherapy drug cisplatin in patients with stage III-IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have had surgery to remove their tumors. This phase II trial aims to understand if adding cisplatin to radiation therapy improves disease-free survival, especially considering the role of p53 mutations in the cancer cells. The study also investigates toxicities and potential genomic factors that might influence treatment outcomes. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group receives intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) alone once daily, five days a week for six weeks. The other group receives the same radiation treatment combined with weekly intravenous cisplatin over one to two hours, also for six weeks. Treatment continues as long as there is no disease progression or unacceptable side effects. During the study, participants undergo regular follow-ups every six months for three years and then yearly for seven more years to monitor for cancer recurrence or new tumors. Researchers assess disease-free survival, tracking the time from randomization until cancer returns, a second tumor develops, or death. Additional laboratory tests and biomarker analyses are performed to understand genetic changes and treatment effects. Safety and toxicities are closely monitored throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy in patients with high-risk stage III-IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck that is HPV-negative. The study aims to compare the usual treatment of radiation therapy with cisplatin chemotherapy against two experimental approaches: radiation with docetaxel and cetuximab chemotherapy, and the usual treatment plus the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab. This phase II/III trial focuses on improving disease-free and overall survival in this patient population. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. One group receives intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with weekly cisplatin for 6 weeks. Another group receives IMRT with weekly docetaxel and cetuximab. The third group receives IMRT with weekly cisplatin plus atezolizumab administered intravenously every 3 weeks starting one week before radiation, for up to eight doses. Treatments are given in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable side effects. Throughout the study, patients undergo blood sample collection and may have CT scans, MRI, and biopsies as needed. Follow-up visits occur at 1 and 3 months post-treatment, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and annually thereafter. Researchers measure disease-free survival up to 7 years, overall survival up to 7 years, symptom burden, quality of life, and treatment-related toxicities. Blood and tissue specimens are collected for future research.