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Metformin for Pulmonary Hypertension HFpEF

Phase II Trial of Metformin for Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03629340
Acronym
PH-HFpEF
Enrollment
33
Registered
2018-08-14
Start date
2019-02-26
Completion date
2026-02-27
Last updated
2026-06-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension

Brief summary

The main objective of this study is to determine the clinical efficacy of metformin versus placebo and the therapeutic response with regards to functional capacity and hemodynamics in PH-HFpEF.

Detailed description

This is a 12-week blinded cross over trial of metformin in PH-HFpEF to improve exercise hemodynamics, functional capacity, and glucose metabolism. This phase II clinical trial will provide detailed phenotyping, physiological and mechanistic data on PH-HFpEF.

Interventions

DRUGMetformin

500 mg PO BID x 1 week then increase to 1000 mg PO BID x 11 weeks

DRUGPlacebo oral capsule

Placebo capsule that is of identical size, shape, and color to experimental drug capsule PO (by mouth) BID (two times each day) for 12 weeks

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

2\. PH-HFpEF Confirmed diagnosis by RHC within the past 6 months: Mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (mPAP) ≥ 25 mm Hg AND Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) ≥ 15 mm Hg AND Transpulmonary Gradient (TPG) ≥ 12 mm Hg OR Exercise measurements Mean Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (mPAP) ≥ 30 mm Hg AND Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) ≥ 20 mm Hg AND PA calculation (change in mPAP/change in cardiac output) = ≥3 mmHg/L/min 3\. Three or more features of metabolic syndrome defined as: Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² Systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mm Hg Elevated waist circumference \> 102 cm in men and \> 88 cm in women Fasting triglyceride (TG) level over 150 mg/dl High-density lipoprotein \<40 mg/dL in men or \< 50 mg/dL in women

Exclusion criteria

1. Age less than 18 years; 2. Uncontrolled systemic hypertension based on repeated measurement of sitting systolic blood pressure \>170 mm Hg or sitting diastolic blood pressure \>95 mm Hg at Screening; 3. Systemic sitting blood pressure \< 110 mmHg systolic or \< 60 mm Hg diastolic at Screening; 4. Hemoglobin A1C \> 10; 5. Currently taking metformin or history of intolerance to metformin or contraindication to taking metformin; 6. Known type 1 diabetes 7. Positive urine pregnancy test or breastfeeding 8. Ejection Fraction \< 50% 9. Dementia; 11\. End-stage malignancy; 12. Major cardiovascular event or procedure within 6 weeks prior to enrollment; 13. Severe valvular disease; 14. Other severe acute or chronic medical, psychiatric or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study or would prevent completion of the study; 15. Current Smoker; 16. Hemoglobin \<9 g/dL; 17. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<30 mL/min/1.73 m2; 18. Receipt of an investigational product or device, or participation in a drug research study within a period of 15 days 19. \<3 months of stable dose of PDE5i

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
The primary endpoint of the trial will be mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) during submaximal exercise as compared between placebo and metformin at 12 weeks (i.e. the week 12 RHC of placebo vs week 12 RHC of metformin).12 weeks (i.e. the 12th week of placebo vs 12th week of metformin)

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMichael Risbano, MD, MA

University of Pittsburgh

STUDY_DIRECTORMarc A Simon, MD, MS

University of California, San Francisco

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 30, 2026