EXercise and Activin Inhibition to Modulate InflammatioN Effects on Heart Failure and Cognition (EXAMINE-HFC)

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
• Interventions: Drug: Activin ligand-trap biological therapy; Drug: Placebo, Normal Saline

• Registration Number: NCT07202000
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if therapy with activin ligand-trap biological therapy (an investigational drug) combined with exercise training can improve exercise capacity and cognitive function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does activin-ligand trap biological therapy improve exercise capacity as measured by change in peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) from baseline to week 12?

* Does activin-ligand trap biological therapy improve cognitive function as assessed by the NIH-Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) composite score and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) from baseline to week 12?

Researchers will compare activin-ligand trap biological therapy to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if activin-ligand trap therapy works to improve exercise capacity and cognitive function in patients with HFpEF.

Detailed Description

A double-blind, prospective, phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled 24-week clinical trial to assess exercise tolerance after activin-ligand trap biological therapy compared to placebo in HFpEF patients with a primary endpoint of change in peak VO2.

Forty-eight participants with HFpEF who are overweight or obese will be recruited from the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) Laboratory and will have a recent or scheduled clinical care CPET. These measurements will serve as baseline measures. After undergoing other baseline measurements such as actigraphy, blood studies, DEXA scan, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), NIHTB-CB, and RAVLT, participants will be randomized (1:1) to either activin-ligand trap biological therapy combined with physical activity (n=24) or placebo combined with physical activity (n=24). Randomization will be stratified by sex and will be performed in permutated blocks of 4 to assure balanced group sizes. In order to allocate without bias and in a manner blinded to both participants and investigators, we will use random number generation at the time of randomization. After 12 weeks, patients will return for a new CPET, physical exam, urine and blood test, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, DEXA scan, actigraphy, assessment of NYHA class, NIHTB-CB, RAVLT, KCCQ, six-minute walk test, handgrip test, and adverse events assessment. After these assessments, patients will undergo crossover at week 12 and will receive either the activin-ligand trap biological therapy combined with physical activity (n=24) or the placebo combined with physical activity (n=24) for an additional 12 weeks. At week 24, patients will return to have a repeat of the same tests that were performed at week 12.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Study First Submitted: 2025-09-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-23
• Study First Posted: 2025-10-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-10-01
• Study Start: 2025-11-01
• Primary Completion: 2027-07
• Study Completion: 2027-08-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 48

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adult ≥ 40 years of age;

2. Body mass index ≥ 27 kg/m2;

3. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 0.50 with NYHA II-III;

4. Established diagnosis of HFpEF based on medical history supported by at least one of the following 5 criteria (i through v, below)

   i. Documented hospitalization with HFpEF as a primary cause or other urgent outpatient visit for acute HFpEF (as primary cause) at which IV loop diuretic was provided as treatment (≥ 1 month prior to screening);

   ii. Increased left atrial (LA) size: AP dimension: ≥ 4.0 in men, > 3.8 in women; or LA length ≥ 5.0 cm or LA volume ≥ 55 mL or LA volume index≥ 29 mL/m2;

   iii. PCWP at rest > 15 mmHg (or LVEDP ≥ 18 mmHg) or ≥ 25 mmHg with exercise (or PCWP/CO ≥ 2.0 mmHg/L/min with exercise);

   iv. Either of the following at rest by Doppler and Tissue Dopper: a) for patients in sinus rhythm: E/e' ratio ≥ 15 at septal annulus, or E/e' ratio ≥ 13 at lateral annulus, or average E/e' ratio ≥ 14; for patients in atrial fibrillation E/e' ≥ 11 at the septal annulus;

   v. Elevated NT-proBNP ≥ 125 pg/mL (≥ 250 with chronic atrial fibrillation).

5. Achievement of a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at baseline CPET of ≥ 1.05 to ensure maximum volitional effort was provided;

6. Ambulatory (not wheelchair/scooter-dependent) and able to perform CPET/6MWT/Chair stand evaluations;

7. Stable dose of medications (defined as no new medication or change in existing dose of medication ≥ 50%) for at least 30 days prior to screening.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Conditions anticipated to independently impact exercise capacity or clinical stability during the trial period

   1. Current or recent (within 30 days) acute decompensated HF requiring intravenous diuretics or hospitalization;
   2. Initiation of treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonist or SGLT2 inhibitor within 60 days of screening;
   3. Planned cardiac surgery or catheter intervention during the period of trial participation;
   4. Entry within 30 days of screening or plans to enter a weight loss program and/or cardiac rehabilitation or initiate any new exercise program during the study.

2. Primary cardiomyopathy (e.g., constrictive, restrictive, infiltrative, toxic, hypertrophic, congenital), LVEF < 40% within the last 3 years, or active myocarditis;

3. Lactating, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant;

4. Non-cardiac organ system dysfunction or sufficient severity to predominate as the source of exercise intolerance in addition to the following specific criteria: pulmonary disease with chronic home daytime supplemental O2 dependence, severe anemia with hemoglobin < 9 g/dL or chronic kidney disease (CKD) with estimated GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2 based on the CKD-EPI equation.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Activin ligand-trap biological therapy (KER-012) subcutaneously (SC) 1.5mg/kg every 4 weeks X 3	Activin ligand-trap biological therapy	Activin ligand-trap biological therapy subcutaneously in addition to an individualized physical activity program for 12 weeks before the crossover.
Normal Saline subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks X 3	Placebo, Normal Saline	Patients will receive placebo in addition to an individualized physical activity program for 12 weeks before the crossover.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) in HFpEF subjects following activin ligand-trap biological therapy or placebo.	From baseline to week 12 and from week 12 to week 24	Peak VO2 measured by a maximal effort Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in cognitive function.	From baseline to week 12 and from week 12 to week 24	Changes in cognitive function as assessed by the NIH-Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) composite score standardized by age.
Change in cognitive function	From Baseline to week 12, and from week 12- 24	changes in cognitive function as assessed by comparing the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) score, standardized by age.
Change in body composition.	From baseline to week 12 and week 12 to week 24	Change in body composition as measured by DEXA scan to compare the % lean muscle mass and absolute quantity of lean muscle mass
Change in cardiac function measured by echocardiography	From baseline to week 12 and from week 12 to week 24	Change in E/e' ratio
Change in patient-reported Quality of Life .	From baseline to week 12 and from week 12 to 24	Change to Quality of Life as measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score
Change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class.	From baseline to week 12 and week 12 - 24	Change in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification system which categorizes heart failure severity into four classes based on physical activity limitations and symptoms.; Class I :No limitation of physical activity; Class II: Slight limitation of physical activity; Class III:Marked limitation of physical activity; Class IV: Unable to carry on any physical activity without discomfort; symptoms of heart failure at rest
Change metabolic measures such as in Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)	From baseline to week 12, and week 12 to week 24	Change in HbA1C
Changes in metabolic measures such as waist to hip measurements	From baseline to week 12 and week 12 to week 24	Change in waist-to-hip ratio
Change in six-minute walk distance	From baseline to week 12 and week 12 -24	percent change in six-minute walk distance (6MWD)
Change in physical activity as measured by the Apple Health App	From baseline to week 12 and week 12 to weeks 24	Percent change in physical activity as measured by the Apple Health App
Changes in cardiovascular risk biomarkers: high sensitivity c-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)	From baseline to week 12 and from week 12 to week 24	Change in high sensitivity c-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) (ml/L)
Change in cardiovascular biomarkers: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP)	from baseline to week 12 and from week 12 week 24	Change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) (pg/ml)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States