Charleston

Researchers are investigating CGT9486, also known as bezuclastinib, in an open-label Phase 2 study for patients with Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis AdvSM. This includes those diagnosed with Aggressive Systemic Mastocytosis ASM, Systemic Mastocytosis with an Associated Hematologic Neoplasm SM-AHN, and Mast Cell Leukemia MCL. The study aims to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of bezuclastinib in this patient population. Participants will receive bezuclastinib tablets orally, taken continuously in 28-day cycles. The study is divided into two parts Part I focuses on identifying effective and tolerable dosing exposures over 18 months, while Part II evaluates the drugs efficacy by measuring objective response rates and confirming the exposure-response relationship, also over 18 months. Additional assessments include effects on mutation allele burden, serum tryptase levels, histopathologic changes, spleen and liver volume, and safety monitoring. During the study, participants will undergo various clinical evaluations, including laboratory tests, imaging to monitor organ size changes, and assessments of disease response and progression. Researchers will track adverse events and pharmacokinetic profiles throughout the 18 months. The study involves continuous monitoring of participants to understand the treatments impact on survival and disease progression over this period.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of two types of maxillary expanders used to widen the upper jaw in children aged 8 to 13 years with maxillary transverse deficiency. This trial compares a traditional expander made by hand in a laboratory to a newer expander designed on a computer and produced with 3D printing technology. The goal is to determine if the 3D-printed expander is as effective as the conventional one while potentially offering greater comfort to the patient. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups one group receives the conventional laboratory-made Hyrax expander, and the other group receives the 3D-printed Hyrax expander. Both devices are used in the orthodontic clinic to treat upper jaw expansion. The treatment period includes follow-up visits over six months where dental photos, X-rays, and scans are taken to monitor progress. Patients and their parents or guardians will also complete online questionnaires about quality of life and pain experienced at various times during the study. During the study, participants will attend regular clinical visits for standard orthodontic follow-up, including photos, X-rays, and dental scans to assess the expanders effects. Researchers will measure changes in the midpalatal suture opening, interincisal diastema width, molar inclination, and maxillary arch widths after two weeks. Pain perception and oral health-related quality of life will also be evaluated using specific pain scales and questionnaires. This study lasts six months, with ongoing monitoring of treatment progress and patient comfort.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and early effects of 4D-710, an investigational gene therapy, in adults with cystic fibrosis CF lung disease who cannot use or tolerate existing CFTR modulator therapies. A sub-study also includes adults with advanced CF lung disease or frequent lung flare-ups who are currently on CFTR modulator therapy. This Phase 12 open-label trial aims to find appropriate dosing and assess potential benefits for these patient groups. Participants receive a single inhaled dose of 4D-710, which is a gene therapy designed to deliver a corrected version of the CFTR gene to lung cells. The study includes a dose exploration phase for those ineligible for modulator therapy, a dose expansion phase at selected doses, and a sub-study for participants on modulator therapy receiving various doses. Each participant undergoes one administration of the therapy during the trial. Throughout the study, participants are monitored for adverse events over a 60-month period. Evaluations include lung function tests, oxygen saturation measurements, and tracking of pulmonary exacerbations. Participants maintain their existing treatments if applicable, and researchers assess safety and early signs of effectiveness. The total study duration extends up to approximately nine years, including long-term observation after dosing.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of tenapanor in adults with Chronic Idiopathic Constipation CIC. This study is a 26-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed by a 4-week treatment-free safety follow-up period. It aims to compare three different doses of tenapanor with a placebo taken twice daily to assess their impact on constipation symptoms. The study includes a 2-week screening period to confirm eligibility, followed by a 26-week randomized treatment period where patients receive either 5 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg of tenapanor twice daily, or a matching placebo. Patients record their constipation symptoms daily in an electronic diary. After the treatment period, there is a 4-week safety follow-up without treatment to monitor any adverse effects. Participants will have regular visits every 2 to 6 weeks for safety checks including medical assessments, vital signs, ECG, and lab tests. Their symptom diaries will be reviewed throughout the study. The main outcome measured is the durable complete spontaneous bowel movements response at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include changes in bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, and straining. The total study duration is approximately 32 weeks including all phases.

Researchers are evaluating two brief interventions aimed at addressing potentially problematic cannabis use in emerging adults aged 18 to 25. Cannabis is widely used among this age group, and frequent use may lead to long-term health, social, and academic or occupational challenges. The study seeks to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and early effectiveness of a novel cannabis brief intervention compared to a health education approach, using rigorous methods to improve intervention quality for this population. The study involves two groups receiving different 2-session brief interventions, each session lasting 40 to 50 minutes and separated by about one week. One group receives health education focusing on sleep hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, stress, and social connection. The other group participates in the Bloom intervention, which includes personalized discussions about values, reasons for cannabis use, and strategies for living in line with personal goals. Participants are randomly assigned to one of these interventions. Participants complete detailed cannabis assessments including biological samples and self-report measures at baseline, immediately after the second session, and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Saliva samples are collected five times to test for THC and CBD levels. Researchers measure cannabis use patterns, problems related to use, and symptoms of cannabis use disorder. The total participation period extends up to 6 months post-intervention, with regular assessments to monitor changes and safety throughout the study.

Researchers are investigating new treatments for high-risk, early-stage breast cancer, specifically targeting two types triple-negative breast cancer TNBC and hormone receptor-low positiveHER2-negative breast cancer. These cancers are characterized by low or no HER2 protein and low hormone receptor presence. The study aims to evaluate if adding sacituzumab tirumotecan sac-TMT to pembrolizumab and chemotherapy can better reduce cancer cells in tumors and lymph nodes and improve the length of time patients live without cancer progression compared to pembrolizumab with chemotherapy alone. Participants in this trial receive one of two treatment plans. One group gets sacituzumab tirumotecan intravenously every two weeks plus pembrolizumab every three weeks for 12 weeks, followed by pembrolizumab with carboplatin and paclitaxel for another 12 weeks. After 3 to 6 weeks, surgery and optional radiation therapy take place, followed by pembrolizumab for about 28 weeks. Participants with remaining disease may receive additional treatments chosen by their doctors, including olaparib, capecitabine, doxorubicin, epirubicin, or cyclophosphamide. The other group receives chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel with pembrolizumab initially, then pembrolizumab with cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin or epirubicin, followed by surgery, optional radiation, and pembrolizumab for about 28 weeks, with similar additional options for residual disease. During the study, participants undergo core needle biopsies, receive intravenous infusions of study drugs, and have surgery and possible radiation therapy. Researchers assess outcomes such as the percentage of participants with no detectable cancer cells at surgery pathological complete response, event-free survival up to about 92 months, and overall survival up to nearly 10 years. Quality of life and side effects are monitored through questionnaires and adverse event tracking. The study lasts several years, with various assessments throughout treatment and follow-up periods to gather comprehensive data on treatment effects and safety.

Researchers are studying pulmonary arterial hypertension PAH, a condition where lung blood vessels become thick and narrow, causing high blood pressure in the lungs and making it hard for the heart to work. PAH can cause difficulty breathing and limit activity. While standard treatments help symptoms, they do not stop the disease from worsening. This research focuses on sotatercept, a targeted therapy aimed at specific proteins involved in PAH, to learn about its long-term safety and tolerability when added to usual PAH treatments. Participants in this long-term follow-up study, who previously took part in certain sotatercept trials, may continue receiving sotatercept by subcutaneous injection every three weeks. Those coming from blinded studies start at 0.3 mgkg with possible increases up to 0.7 mgkg, while those from unblinded studies continue their current dose with possible titration to 0.7 mgkg. The study monitors participants over an extended period to assess continued effects alongside their usual PAH therapy. During the study, participants will have regular assessments including monitoring for adverse events, blood tests for blood components and chemistry, body weight, blood pressure, and ECG readings. Researchers will also evaluate exercise capacity, heart function markers, and risk scores related to PAH. The study aims to follow participants for up to approximately 7 to 8 years to understand long-term safety, treatment tolerability, and health changes while using sotatercept with standard PAH care.

Researchers are evaluating treatments for germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma GCB DLBCL, a fast-growing blood cancer affecting immature B-cells. The study compares two treatment combinations to see if more people respond to zilovertamab vedotin MK-2140 plus R-CHP versus polatuzumab vedotin plus R-CHP. This Phase 2 trial aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of these regimens in participants with newly diagnosed GCB DLBCL. Participants receive either zilovertamab vedotin along with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone R-CHP, or polatuzumab vedotin combined with R-CHP. Treatments are given by intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 6 cycles, approximately 4 months, with prednisone or prednisolone taken orally for 5 days of each cycle. For participants with high-risk DLBCL, up to 2 additional cycles of rituximab or biosimilar are given. During the study, participants are monitored for response to treatment using Lugano Response Criteria, with follow-up lasting up to about 31 months for the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include progression-free survival, overall survival, event-free survival, duration of complete response, adverse events, and quality of life assessments. Safety and health status are regularly checked through exams, lab tests, and questionnaires over several years, with total study participation extending up to 7 years.

Researchers are studying ways to improve treatment decisions for smokers who find it hard to quit using medications. This trial compares different approaches including nicotine replacement therapies patches and lozenges, varenicline, and harm reduction products like e-cigarettes. The goal is to find better strategies to help smokers quit by adjusting treatments based on early response. Participants will receive free treatment products for 12 weeks. Initially, they will be randomized to either varenicline or combination nicotine replacement therapy. After 4 weeks, based on their success in quitting, they may continue the same medication or switch to the other option. At 8 weeks, those still not successful may either continue their current medication or switch to e-cigarettes. No products are provided after 12 weeks. The study includes an additional survey at 6 months after the first phone call. All visits and assessments are done remotely, with a total of 8 surveys completed over the 6-month study period. Researchers will measure quitting success at 8 weeks as the primary outcome and assess dependence and longest quit attempt duration at 12 weeks. Participants are monitored through surveys without in-person visits, making participation convenient and accessible.

Researchers are exploring new treatment options for neovascular age-related macular degeneration NVAMD, a condition affecting the eyes. This trial aims to compare a new medicine called tiespectus also known as MK-8748 or EYE201 with the standard treatment aflibercept to see if tiespectus works as well in treating NVAMD. The study includes adults aged 50 and older who have not previously received treatment for this condition. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups tiespectus low dose, tiespectus high dose, or aflibercept. Those in the tiespectus groups will receive three initial injections every 4 weeks, followed by injections every 8 weeks up to week 48. After week 48, treatment will continue at intervals based on individual response until week 92. The aflibercept group will receive three initial injections followed by injections every 8 weeks until week 92. During the study, participants will have their vision tested using the Best-Corrected Visual Acuity BCVA score and their eye structure examined with imaging techniques. Researchers will monitor changes in vision over one year and track any side effects up to approximately 96 weeks. Participants will attend regular visits for treatment and assessments throughout the study period lasting about 92 weeks.