UPMC Recruiting For Advanced Heart Failure Clinical Trial

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 10 Nov 2008 - 8:00 PST

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UPMC currently is enrolling for a Phase 2 clinical trial to study the effects of a genetically-targeted enzyme replacement therapy for advanced heart failure. Initial data for the study "Calcium Up-Regulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy in Cardiac Disease (CUPID trial)" were recently reported at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, La.

Potential candidates for the trial are patients who continue to deteriorate from their disease despite optimal drug therapy and who are eligible for either an implantable mechanical support device or a heart transplant.

Phase 2 of the study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that compares the use of the enzyme replacement therapy at two- or three-dose levels with placebo. The therapy is delivered in a single dose directly to the heart muscle during a 10-minute outpatient procedure, performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory via a small incision in the upper leg.

The CUPID trial is expected to enroll 46 patients with advanced heart failure at 15 medical centers throughout the United States.

For more information, or to see if you qualify for the CUPID trial at UPMC, call (412) 383-7339.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
U.S. Steel Tower, 600 Grant St.
57th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
United States
http://www.upmc.com