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

Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Valproic Acid/Simvastatin Plus Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel Based Regimens in Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients

Randomized Phase 2 Study of Valproic Acid combinEd With Simvastatin and Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel-based Regimens in Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients (The VESPA Trial).

Valproic Acid/Simvastatin Plus Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel Based Regimens in Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients (NCT05821556) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, sponsored by National Cancer Institute, Naples. 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

This is a proof-of-concept, Open label, randomized, multicentric, superiority phase-2 study.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA 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 240 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas 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: 1. Written willing to sign a consent form to study procedures and to correlative studies. 2. Histologically or cytologically proven metastatic PDAC. 3. No prior treatments (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery) for PDAC 4. Either sex aged ≥ 18 years. 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1 at study entry. 6. Imaging-documented measurable disease, according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. 7. Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity is mandatory for patients enrolled in PAXG scheme. 8. Adequate bone marrow haematological function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L AND platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L AND haemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL. 9. Adequate liver function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 2 in case of biliary stent) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5 X ULN. 10. Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR kidney function (creatinine clearance) at least 60 mL/min in males and ≥50 mL/min in females (calculated according to Cockroft-Gault formula). Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Prior malignancy within one year. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer. 2. Prior chemotherapy or any other medical treatment for metastatic PDAC (previous adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed if terminated \> 6 months previously). 3. Patients who have had prior treatment with an HDAC inhibitor and patients who have received compounds with HDAC inhibitor-like activity, such as valproic acid. 4. Current use of statins or fibrates or any medication for hypercholesterolemia for any time during the 3 months before the study. 5. Proven hypersensitivity to statins and to any component of the other medications used in the trial. 6. Major surgical intervention within 4 weeks prior to enrollment; 7. Pregnancy and breast-feeding. 8. Brain metastasis. ...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: 1. Written informed consent to study procedures and to correlative studies. 2. Histologically or cytologically proven metastatic PDAC. 3. No prior treatments (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery) for PDAC 4. Either sex aged ≥ 18 years. 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1 at study entry. 6. Imaging-documented measurable disease, according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. 7. Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity is mandatory for patients enrolled in PAXG scheme. 8. Adequate bone marrow haematological function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L AND platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L AND haemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL. 9. Adequate liver function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 2 in case of biliary stent) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5 X ULN. 10. Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min in males and ≥50 mL/min in females (calculated according to Cockroft-Gault formula). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior malignancy within one year. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer. 2. Prior chemotherapy or any other medical treatment for metastatic PDAC (previous adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed if terminated \> 6 months previously). 3. Patients who have had prior treatment with an HDAC inhibitor and patients who have received compounds with HDAC inhibitor-like activity, such as valproic acid. 4. Current use of statins or fibrates or any medication for hypercholesterolemia for any time during the 3 months before the study. 5. Proven hypersensitivity to statins and to any component of the other medications used in the trial. 6. Major surgical intervention within 4 weeks prior to enrollment; 7. Pregnancy and breast-feeding. 8. Brain metastasis. 9. Hepatitis or any severe liver disorder. 10. Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease or any concurrent condition which in the investigator's opinion makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study, or which would jeopardize compliance with the protocol, or would interfere with the results of the study. 11. Patients with long QT-syndrome or QTc interval duration \> 480 msec or concomitant medication with drugs prolonging QTc (see list in the appendix). 12. History of poor co-operation, non-compliance with medical treatment, unreliability or any condition that may impair the patient's understanding of the Informed consent form. 13. Participation in any interventional drug or medical device study within 30 days prior to treatment start. 14. Patients who cannot take oral medication, who require intravenous alimentation, have had prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, or have active peptic ulcer disease. 15. Sexually active males and females (of childbearing potential) unwilling to practice contraception during the study and until 6 months after the last trial treatment.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Valproic acid

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

DRUG

Simvastatin 20mg

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

DRUG

Gemcitabine 1000 mg

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

DRUG

Nab paclitaxel

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

DRUG

Cisplatin

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

DRUG

Capecitabine

The treatment should be started within 3 days from randomization. One cycle consisted of 28 days of treatment for both arms. Patients will continue to receive study treatment up to 6 cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, physician's decision, patient's refusal, or any other discontinuation criteria. Continuation of treatment, over the six cycles, will be allowed only in case of clinical benefit, defined as continuous decrease of CA19-9 concentration or radiological response, without unacceptable toxicity. All subjects who finish treatment, whichever the reason, will enter in the follow-up. We expect that for the primary endpoint, PFS, follow-up will last up to 10 months after enrollment. Anyhow, all subjects will be followed until death and data on subsequent treatment will be collected.

Locations (5)

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.

Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli - IRCCS - Fondazione G. Pascale
Naples, Italy, Italy
Università vita e Salute, IRCCS San Raffaele
Milan, Milano, Italy
Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli - Medical Oncology, Roma, Italia
Roma, Roma, Italy
University of Verona Hospital Trust
Verona, Verona, Italy
Ramon y Cajal Hospital and Health Research Institute (IRYCIS)
Madrid, Madrid, Spain

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05821556), the sponsor (National Cancer Institute, Naples), 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 NCT05821556 clinical trial studying?

This is a proof-of-concept, Open label, randomized, multicentric, superiority phase-2 study. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05821556?

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 NCT05821556?

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 NCT05821556. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05821556. 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 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.