Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Colchicine Versus Placebo in Acute Myocarditis Patients
Colchicine Versus Placebo in Acute Myocarditis Patients to Reduce Late Gadolinium Enhancement Mass on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and the Risk of Clinical Outcomes: The ARGO Trial
Colchicine Versus Placebo in Acute Myocarditis Patients (NCT05855746) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Acute Myocarditis, sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart, mostly caused by viruses. Patients with acute myocarditis are exposed to several complications: recurrence, ventricular arrhythmias (from 5 to 30%), heart failure (5-10%), death or heart transplantation (\< 4%). To date, there is no specific treatment for myocarditis. Patient management only focuses upon empirical optimal care of arrhythmia and heart failure. There is a strong rationale for using colchicine in acute myocarditis: * the IL1 (Interleukin1) pathway plays a detrimental role in acute myocarditis. NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome assembly, and subsequent IL-1beta production, are profoundly inhibited by colchicine. * colchicine has been shown to improve cardiac outcomes in inflammatory cardiac disorders, including pericarditis, coronary artery disease, and post pericardiotomy syndrome. * In murine model of CVB3-induced myocarditis (coxsackievirus B3), colchicine improved myocarditis through reduction of NLRP3 activity. * Small case series with improvement of left ejection fraction in myocarditis following low-dose colchicine in addition to conventional heart failure therapy have been reported. With its pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effect in the pro-inflammatory cascade, reducing the myocardial damage and cell death induced during myocarditis, colchicine has the potential to reduce the risk of heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. Finally, colchicine is a drug widely available, at low cost, and has a long and well-known safety record.
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 Acute Myocarditis, 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.
A target enrollment of 300 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
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
Treatments Being Tested
Colchicine Pill
Participant receive, in addition to standard of care therapy, six months of colchicine (at a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily, morning and evening) beginning maximum 72 hours post-randomization. The standard of care is defined according to the European consensus paper as follow: All participants without contraindication receive a betablockers, and heart failure ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines directed medical therapies if LVEF \< 50% (Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction), including ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, diuretics if indicated. The choice of the dosage and the drug is left at the investigator decision. During the six months of the treatment administration, in case of severe adverse reaction (such as nausea and/or diarrhea during five days), a dose reduction could be considered by the investigator: half of the study protocol dose could be accepted (0.5 mg per day in the morning). In case of remaining adverse reactions, the study drug should be stopped.
Placebo
Participant receive, in addition to standard of care therapy, six months of placebo (at a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily, morning and evening) beginning maximum 72 hours post-randomization. The standard of care is defined according to the European consensus paper as follow: All participants without contraindication receive a betablockers, and heart failure ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines directed medical therapies if LVEF \< 50% (Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction), including ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, diuretics if indicated. The choice of the dosage and the drug is left at the investigator decision.
Locations (2)
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.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05855746), the sponsor (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), 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 NCT05855746 clinical trial studying?
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart, mostly caused by viruses. Patients with acute myocarditis are exposed to several complications: recurrence, ventricular arrhythmias (from 5 to 30%), heart failure (5-10%), death or heart transplantation (\< 4%). To date, there is no specific treatment for myocarditis. Patient management only focuses upon empirical optimal care of arrhythmia and heart failure. There is a strong rationale for using colchicine in acute myocarditis: * the IL1 (Interleukin1) pathway plays a detrimental role in acute myocarditis. NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family,… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT05855746?
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 NCT05855746?
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 NCT05855746. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05855746. 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.