Clinical Research Directory

Vericiguat for the Inhibition of Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis Progression

Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is a condition in which the aortic valve progressively narrows and stiffens due to calcium deposition, eventually impairing blood flow from the heart to the body. No drug therapy has been proven to slow CAVS progression. Individuals with mild-to-moderate CAVS are managed with periodic monitoring until the stenosis becomes severe, at which point surgical or transcatheter valve replacement is the only treatment option. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether vericiguat, an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, can slow the progression of mild-to-moderate CAVS. The primary questions this study aims to answer are: Does vericiguat slow the progression of aortic valve calcium accumulation, as measured by the change in aortic valve calcium score from baseline to 24 months, compared to placebo? The study will compare vericiguat against a placebo (an inactive pill that is identical in appearance but contains no active drug). Both participants and the research team will not know which treatment each participant is receiving throughout the study. Participants will: Take vericiguat or placebo orally once daily for 24 months; Begin treatment at 2.5 mg/day and undergo a stepwise dose increase every two weeks to a target dose of 10 mg/day, provided the drug is tolerated; Attend approximately 8 scheduled study visits over two years, during which they will undergo cardiac imaging examinations (transthoracic echocardiography and non-contrast cardiac CT), blood sample collection, physical assessment, and completion of standardized questionnaires on quality of life and heart failure symptoms; Undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning and end of the study, if there are no contraindications. Approximately 238 participants will be enrolled across roughly 19 hospitals in China.

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of DA-1229 (Evogliptin) in Patient's Calcific Aortic Valve Disease With Mild to Moderate Aortic Stenosis (EVOID-AS)

This is an adaptive Phase 2/3 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel, 2 arm study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DA-1229 compared to placebo in patients with calcific aortic valve disease with mild to moderate aortic stenosis. There are 2 arms in this study to which patients will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to receive the DA-1229 or placebo orally once daily for a period of 104 weeks. The 2 arms are: placebo and DA-1229 10 mg Group. The study will have three phases: Screening Period (up to 4 weeks), Treatment Period (104 weeks), and Follow-Up Period (2-4 weeks). Total Study Duration is112 Weeks.

Derivation and Validation of the Aortic Valve Echocardiographic Calcium Score to Confirm Severe Aortic Stenosis: the Echo-AVCS Study

The Echo-AVCS Study is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter observational study designed to derive and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-based echocardiographic aortic valve calcium score (Echo-AVCS) for confirming severe aortic stenosis (AS). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard imaging modality for assessing AS severity; however, discrepancies between valve area and transvalvular gradient measurements may complicate diagnosis, particularly in low-flow or discordant AS presentations. Cardiac computed tomography (CT)-derived aortic valve calcium scoring is currently used to resolve diagnostic uncertainty, but it involves additional cost and radiation exposure. This study will enroll consecutive adult patients undergoing clinically indicated TTE and cardiac CT with calcium scoring performed within 3 months. Standardized echocardiographic images will be centrally analyzed using dedicated AI-based image segmentation and machine learning methods to quantify aortic valve calcification directly from TTE images. CT-derived aortic valve calcium score will serve as the reference standard. The primary objective is to derive and validate the Echo-AVCS score for identifying severe AS. Secondary objectives include determination of sex-specific diagnostic thresholds, correlation with CT calcium volume, association with symptoms and NYHA class, and evaluation of prognostic associations with aortic valve replacement, heart failure hospitalization, cardiovascular events, and mortality at 1-year follow-up.

Impact of TAVI on the Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites

Aortic stenosis is a common heart valve disease in older adults. It occurs when the aortic valve becomes narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Without treatment, this condition can lead to serious complications and reduced survival. A widely used treatment is transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive procedure that replaces the diseased valve and improves blood flow. Recent research suggests that heart diseases, including aortic stenosis, may affect the gut (intestinal) environment. The gut contains trillions of microorganisms (called the gut microbiota) that play an important role in digestion, immunity, and overall health. In patients with heart conditions, reduced blood flow may impair the intestinal barrier and alter the balance of these microorganisms. This imbalance may contribute to inflammation and other complications. This study aims to better understand how aortic stenosis and its treatment with TAVI influence the gut microbiota and intestinal health. Researchers will measure specific substances produced by gut bacteria (called metabolites) in blood and stool samples. These include bile acids, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), tryptophan-related compounds, and short-chain fatty acids. Samples will be collected before and three months after the TAVI procedure. In addition, genetic analysis of stool samples will be performed to identify and compare the types of bacteria present before and after treatment. The goal is to determine whether improving heart function with TAVI can restore a healthier gut environment. This may help identify new ways to improve outcomes and reduce complications in patients with aortic stenosis.

Exploration of Manidipine to Reverse Aortic Valve Calcification

This is a prospective, randomized, comparative, clinical trial conducted by Wuhan Union Hospital that aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of manidipine compared to placebo in patients with calcific aortic valve disease with mild aortic valve stenosis.