Butler

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 the use of biophoton therapy delivered by Tesla BioHealing Biophoton Generators to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study aims to determine the effectiveness of this therapy in lowering fasting glucose and improving various health indicators over an 8-week period. The study will enroll approximately 46 volunteers aged 18 to 70 years who have been clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and who meet specific eligibility criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a treatment group receiving active Biophotonizer devices or a control group receiving placebo devices, both placed on either side of the bed to be used nightly during sleep for at least 8 hours. The first 4 weeks are double-blinded, after which the control group will switch to the active device for 4 weeks in an open-label phase, while the treatment group continues active use for the full 8 weeks. Devices are portable and can also be used during the day if desired. Throughout the study, participants will complete various assessments including fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood lipids, stem cell counts, aging biomarkers, blood flow and blood pressure measurements, body weight, quality of life questionnaires, diabetes symptom evaluations, and medication use tracking. Safety will be monitored by recording any adverse events. The study duration is planned from August 2025 to August 2026, with detailed testing conducted at baseline and multiple time points up to 8 weeks.

Researchers are evaluating whether tucatinib combined with trastuzumab and mFOLFOX6 works better than the standard treatments for people with HER2 positive metastatic colorectal cancer, which is cancer that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. This phase 3 study also aims to identify the side effects that may occur with this drug combination. Participants must have HER2 positive disease confirmed by testing and measurable cancer according to specific criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive tucatinib taken orally twice daily along with intravenous trastuzumab and the mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy regimen, which includes oxaliplatin, leucovorin or levoleucovorin, and fluorouracil given by IV every two weeks. The other group will receive standard care, which could be mFOLFOX6 alone or combined with either bevacizumab or cetuximab, both given by IV on specific schedules. Treatment continues as per the study protocol. During the study, participants will be monitored for progression-free survival up to about three years using imaging reviewed by independent experts. Researchers will assess side effects and disease response. Participants must be able to provide tumor tissue samples for testing and have a good performance status. The study includes brain imaging to check for metastases and monitors safety closely throughout the treatment period.

Researchers are investigating the addition of an immunotherapy drug called durvalumab to standard chemotherapy treatment in patients with MammaPrint High 2 Risk (MP2) stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. This phase III trial aims to compare the effectiveness of usual chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy combined with durvalumab. Immunotherapy with durvalumab may help the immune system attack cancer cells and prevent tumor growth and spread, while chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide work to stop cancer cells from growing or dividing. Previous studies suggest patients with an MP2 result might respond better to this combined treatment approach. Participants first undergo MammaPrint testing to confirm MP2 status before randomization into two groups. One group receives paclitaxel intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 14 days for 6 cycles, followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide intravenously on day 1 every 14 days for 4 cycles. The other group receives the same chemotherapy schedule plus durvalumab intravenously over 60 minutes on specified cycles during both chemotherapy phases. Mammography is performed during screening, and optional tissue and blood samples are collected for future studies. Throughout the study, participants are monitored through various assessments including imaging, physical exams, laboratory tests, and quality of life questionnaires focusing on fatigue and physical and mental health. Researchers track breast cancer event-free survival and other outcomes such as treatment side effects and response rates. After completing treatment, patients are followed for up to 10 years or until death to evaluate long-term outcomes and safety.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of adding cemiplimab, an immunotherapy drug that blocks the PD-1 pathway to help the immune system attack tumor cells, to the usual treatment of docetaxel and ramucirumab in patients with stage IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. This phase II/III Expanded Lung-MAP trial compares cemiplimab combined with docetaxel and ramucirumab versus docetaxel and ramucirumab alone, aiming to improve treatment outcomes in patients who previously received platinum chemotherapy and immunotherapy but developed resistance or disease progression. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms. In Arm I, patients receive dexamethasone orally twice daily on days 0-2, ramucirumab and docetaxel intravenously on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. In Arm II, patients receive the same treatments plus cemiplimab intravenously on day 1 of each cycle. Treatment cycles continue every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable side effects occur. Throughout the study, patients undergo regular blood sample collection and imaging scans such as CT or MRI to monitor disease status. During the study, participants are closely monitored with scans, blood tests, and physical exams to assess overall survival and other outcomes like progression-free survival, response rates, and treatment safety. Researchers also collect blood samples for future molecular studies. After completing treatment, patients are followed up every 3 to 6 months for up to 3 years to track long-term survival and health status. The study measures overall survival from randomization to death from any cause, assessed up to 3 years.

Researchers are evaluating how to best recommend chemotherapy for patients with colon cancer after surgery by using the presence or absence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood. This approach aims to identify microscopic residual tumor cells and may provide better risk prediction for cancer recurrence compared to traditional methods. The trial focuses on patients with Stage IIB, IIC, or III colon cancer who have undergone complete tumor removal. Participants will have their tumor tissue and blood tested centrally using the Signatera assay to determine ctDNA status. Patients without detectable ctDNA may avoid chemotherapy, while those with detectable ctDNA are considered at higher risk and will be randomly assigned to receive different chemotherapy regimens, including mFOLFOX6, CAPOX, or mFOLFIRINOX, given intravenously or orally over periods ranging from 3 to 6 months. The study includes initial screening, treatment, and possible second randomization for patients whose ctDNA status changes during monitoring. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including blood tests, imaging scans, and performance evaluations to monitor their health and response to therapy. Researchers will track the time to ctDNA positivity and disease-free survival for up to 3 and 5 years, respectively. Safety and treatment effects will be closely observed throughout the study duration, ensuring thorough follow-up and monitoring for all participants.

Researchers are evaluating a phase II Lung-MAP treatment trial testing combinations of targeted drugs—capmatinib, osimertinib, and ramucirumab—to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread and shows EGFR and MET gene changes. Capmatinib and osimertinib are kinase inhibitors that block abnormal proteins signaling cancer growth, while ramucirumab is an antibody that may stop new blood vessel growth needed by tumors. Targeting these gene changes may help shrink or control the cancer. Patients are randomized into two groups: one group receives capmatinib and osimertinib orally along with ramucirumab intravenously, while the other group receives capmatinib and osimertinib orally without ramucirumab. Throughout the study, participants undergo CT or MRI scans and provide blood samples. The treatments are given according to the assigned group to compare their effects and safety. During the trial, participants are closely monitored with imaging and blood tests to assess cancer progression and treatment side effects. The main measure is progression-free survival, tracking time until cancer worsens or death, over up to 3 years. Researchers also evaluate response rates, overall survival, toxicity, and collect tissue and blood samples to study tumor DNA. Participants' health status and laboratory values are regularly checked to ensure safety and effectiveness of the treatments.

Researchers are evaluating treatments for patients with metastatic kidney cancer to see if adding surgery to standard immunotherapy-based drug combinations improves outcomes. This phase III trial focuses on kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The study compares standard immunotherapy drugs, which help the immune system fight cancer, with or without the surgical removal of the kidney, known as nephrectomy. Doctors currently do not agree on whether surgery adds benefit when combined with these immunotherapy treatments. Participants first receive one of three immunotherapy-based drug regimens, including combinations of nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, avelumab, and axitinib, given through intravenous infusions and oral tablets over several weeks. After 10-14 weeks of this initial treatment, patients are randomly assigned to either continue immunotherapy drugs alone or to also have kidney surgery followed by the same drugs. Surgery may be done by different methods and must occur within 8 weeks of randomization. Axitinib is stopped at least 24 hours before surgery. During the study, participants undergo regular scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis to assess disease status. They are monitored for survival for up to 7 years after randomization, with follow-up visits every 3 months in the first year, then every 6 months for two years, and annually thereafter. Researchers also evaluate tumor response, surgical complications, and drug side effects. Specimens are collected for future research, and participants' health and treatment effects are closely followed throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating whether a virtual exercise program can be effectively delivered to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy to help reduce side effects such as fatigue and muscle weakness. The goal is to make it easier for patients to exercise at home during treatment. This study focuses on patients with hematopoietic, lymphatic system cancers, or localized malignant solid tumors who are undergoing chemotherapy with curative intent. The exercise program includes supervised resistance training through telehealth video calls twice a week and unsupervised aerobic exercise sessions three times per week. Participants receive adjustable-weight dumbbells and wear an accelerometer to monitor activity. The intervention lasts up to six months or until the end of chemotherapy, whichever comes first. After completing the exercise program, participants have follow-up visits at 4 weeks and 3 months to assess progress. During the study, patients complete physical performance tests such as the 6 Minute Walk Test and grip strength measurements. Researchers also collect data on physical activity levels using accelerometers and questionnaires, as well as patient-reported outcomes and employment status over time. The main outcomes measured are the percentage of completed exercise sessions and the rate of participants dropping out of the program, focusing on the feasibility of delivering this intervention virtually.

Researchers are evaluating a new biophoton therapy designed to help patients with brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson's disease. This randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial aims to confirm previous findings that showed the therapy is safe and effective. Approximately 80 patients will participate in this study at the Tesla MedBed Center in Butler, PA. Participants will stay in a hotel-like research center for either 4 or 6 weeks depending on their group assignment. For the first 2 weeks, the study is triple blinded: participants will use either active biophoton devices or placebo devices placed under and beside their beds during sleep for at least 8 hours each night. After this, those initially on placebo may switch to the treatment for an additional 4 weeks, while those on treatment continue for 2 more weeks. The study devices produce biophotons aimed at supporting the body's natural healing processes. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires measuring quality of life and cognitive function, and undergo various tests including neurological exams, EEG, blood flow, and brain biophoton assessments. These assessments occur at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after starting treatment. The study also monitors safety and treatment effects over the course of the participation, which lasts up to 6 weeks.