Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

MetfOrmin BenefIts Lower Extremities With Intermittent Claudication

Metformin BenefIts Lower Extremities With Intermittent Claudication (MOBILE_IC)

MetfOrmin BenefIts Lower Extremities With Intermittent Claudication (NCT05132439) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Intermittent Claudication, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 20% of aged adults and is very common among Veterans due significant tobacco use. PAD is due to the progressive blockage of peripheral arteries, predominantly to the legs, and results in intermittent claudication (IC) or recurrent muscle pain with activity secondary to insufficient blood supply. Those with PAD and IC experience a progressive decline in walking and poor quality of life. There is no effective medical treatment for PAD and IC. Metformin is a safe and effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes but it can also reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and improve energy requirements as well as improve blood flow to the legs. Therefore, the investigators will test the ability of Metformin to improve overall functional status, reduce PAD progression, and reduce systemic inflammation in Veterans suffering from PAD and IC in a randomized, placebo controlled trial: Metformin BenefIts Lower Extremities with Intermittent Claudication (MOBILE IC) Trial. The success of this trial may identify a safe and effective treatment for PAD and IC.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Intermittent Claudication, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 200 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Intermittent Claudication subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Male and Female Veteran \>35 \& \<89 - Symptoms of Intermittent claudication - Medically stable, optimal medical therapy (for \>3 months prior to randomization which includes - statin and anti-platelet therapy, blood pressure control, smoking cessation and physical activity counseling) a. Participants may not comply with the above measures to meet inclusion criteria, but investigator driven attempts to maximize the optimal medical therapy, as tolerated, for each participant prior to trial enrollment - PAD as defined by ABI \<0.9 or \>0.9 with evidence of PAD as documented by pulse volume recordings (within 6 months prior to expected randomization date) - Maximum Walking Distance (MWD) on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) of greater than or equal to 50 meters with onset of pain before or at 400 meters without the use of a walker (cane is acceptable; within 6 months of expected randomization date) Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Diabetes (Type I or II) or Hemoglobin A1c\>6.5 (within 6 months of expected randomization) - Currently Taking metformin or have previously taken metformin (within 6 months of enrollment) - Medical condition that limit their ability to ambulate other than PAD (i.e., Angina, CHF, pulmonary disease requiring oxygen, malignancy requiring treatment, etc.) - Prior above or below knee amputation - Critical limb threatening ischemia (i.e., non-healing wounds or rest pain) - Planned hospital admission, major operation, or lower extremity revascularization to be completed (within 12 months after expected randomization date) - Prior major operation or lower extremity revascularization (within the 3 months before expected randomization) - Unable to complete quality of life testing due to Non-English Speaking and/or Dementia - Kidney disease - dialysis or eGFR\<45 (within 6 months of expected randomization date)\* - Planned iodinated contrasted study (within 6 months of expected randomization date) ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Male and Female Veteran \>35 \& \<89 * Symptoms of Intermittent claudication * Medically stable, optimal medical therapy (for \>3 months prior to randomization which includes - statin and anti-platelet therapy, blood pressure control, smoking cessation and physical activity counseling) a. Participants may not comply with the above measures to meet inclusion criteria, but investigator driven attempts to maximize the optimal medical therapy, as tolerated, for each participant prior to trial enrollment * PAD as defined by ABI \<0.9 or \>0.9 with evidence of PAD as documented by pulse volume recordings (within 6 months prior to expected randomization date) * Maximum Walking Distance (MWD) on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) of greater than or equal to 50 meters with onset of pain before or at 400 meters without the use of a walker (cane is acceptable; within 6 months of expected randomization date) Exclusion Criteria: * Diabetes (Type I or II) or Hemoglobin A1c\>6.5 (within 6 months of expected randomization) * Currently Taking metformin or have previously taken metformin (within 6 months of enrollment) * Medical condition that limit their ability to ambulate other than PAD (i.e., Angina, CHF, pulmonary disease requiring oxygen, malignancy requiring treatment, etc.) * Prior above or below knee amputation * Critical limb threatening ischemia (i.e., non-healing wounds or rest pain) * Planned hospital admission, major operation, or lower extremity revascularization to be completed (within 12 months after expected randomization date) * Prior major operation or lower extremity revascularization (within the 3 months before expected randomization) * Unable to complete quality of life testing due to Non-English Speaking and/or Dementia * Kidney disease - dialysis or eGFR\<45 (within 6 months of expected randomization date)\* * Planned iodinated contrasted study (within 6 months of expected randomization date) * Evidence current or history of hepatic failure * Women who are pregnant or breast feeding * Unable to swallow uncrushed pills * Investigator expects inclusion could cause harm to subject

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Metformin ER

Oral medication typically used for Type 2 diabetes with presumed anti-inflammatory properties

DRUG

placebo

Matched to active study drug

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05132439), the sponsor (VA Office of Research and Development), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05132439 clinical trial studying?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 20% of aged adults and is very common among Veterans due significant tobacco use. PAD is due to the progressive blockage of peripheral arteries, predominantly to the legs, and results in intermittent claudication (IC) or recurrent muscle pain with activity secondary to insufficient blood supply. Those with PAD and IC experience a progressive decline in walking and poor quality of life. There is no effective medical treatment for PAD and IC. Metformin is a safe and effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes but it can also reduce inflammation, oxidati… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05132439?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05132439?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05132439. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05132439. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.