Heart Disease Clinical Trials Recruiting Now

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but the treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. SGLT2 inhibitors have expanded from diabetes drugs to cornerstone heart failure therapies. RNA-based medicines are targeting previously untreatable genetic risk factors. And cardiac device innovation — from leadless pacemakers to transcatheter valves — continues to make procedures less invasive and more effective.

Important: This is not medical advice. If you are experiencing chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

SGLT2 Inhibitors: From Diabetes to Heart Failure Standard of Care

SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin) were originally developed for Type 2 diabetes but proved to have remarkable cardiovascular benefits. Current trials are expanding their use:

• HFpEF (preserved ejection fraction): The most common type of heart failure, historically without effective treatments. SGLT2 inhibitors are now being tested in more specific HFpEF subtypes.
• Post-heart attack: Trials testing whether early SGLT2 inhibitor use after myocardial infarction can prevent heart failure development
• Cardiac amyloidosis: Exploring SGLT2 inhibitor benefit in this growing diagnosis
• Combination therapies: Pairing SGLT2 inhibitors with other heart failure drugs to maximize benefit

RNA Therapies: Precision Cardiovascular Medicine

RNA-based therapies represent a paradigm shift in cardiovascular treatment — targeting the genetic instructions that produce harmful proteins:

• Lp(a) reduction: Elevated lipoprotein(a) affects 20% of the population and has no approved treatment. siRNA and antisense drugs in Phase 3 trials can reduce Lp(a) by 80-90% with quarterly or semi-annual injections.
• PCSK9 siRNA: Inclisiran is approved, but next-generation RNA therapies aim for longer duration and broader lipid effects.
• Triglyceride reduction: RNA drugs targeting ANGPTL3 and ApoCIII for severe hypertriglyceridemia.
• Cardiac repair: Early-stage mRNA therapies that instruct the heart to produce regenerative growth factors after injury.

Device and Procedural Trials

Cardiovascular device innovation is moving toward less invasive, longer-lasting, and smarter technologies:

• Pulsed field ablation (PFA): A next-generation ablation technology for AFib that targets heart tissue more selectively than thermal ablation, potentially reducing complications
• Transcatheter valve replacement: Expanding beyond aortic valves to mitral and tricuspid valve repair/replacement without open-heart surgery
• Leadless pacemakers: Tiny pacemakers implanted directly in the heart, eliminating the need for leads and surgical pockets
• Cardiac regeneration: Experimental approaches using stem cells, gene therapy, or engineered tissue to regenerate damaged heart muscle

Recruiting Heart Disease Trials

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