DCA-PAH Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Phase I, Open Label, Two Centre Study to Evaluate Dichloroacetate (DCA) in Advanced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

• IRAS ID

  3247

• Contact name

  Martin Wilkins

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Eudract number

  2008-004133-20

• ISRCTN Number

  Not Known

• Research summary

  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease in which the blood pressure within the lung is elevated. Over time, blood vessels in the lung undergo a structural change which reduce blood flow through the lungs and puts an increased pressure load on the heart. The current treatments for PAH are not as effective as we would like. We are conducting a study of a new medicine, dichloroacetate (DCA), for pulmonary hypertension. This medicine affects the way in which cells divide and the idea is that DCA will reduce cell division and help restore blood vessels to normal. In this way, we hope that the heart will be under less pressure. Our study starts with a small dose of DCA given twice daily. The effects of the drug on blood pressure in the lungs and the heart are measured at the start and after 4 months of treatment. All 12 patients will receive DCA. We expect the results of the study to tell us whether the drug is worth studying in a larger patient group.

• REC name

  London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  09/H0706/53

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Aug 2009

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion