Experimental pill avenciguat targets liver blood pressure in cirrhosis – but trial halted early

NCT ID NCT05161481

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested a drug called Avenciguat in adults with liver cirrhosis and high blood pressure in the portal vein (the main vessel to the liver). Participants took either a low or high dose of Avenciguat or a placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. The goal was to see if the drug could lower this blood pressure. The trial was terminated early, so results are limited.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Avenciguat (BI 685509)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new oral treatment to lower dangerous blood pressure in the liver's main vein for people with cirrhosis.
What could go wrong: This was a small, early-phase (phase 2) trial that was terminated, so results are limited. It is not yet proven to be safe or effective, and side effects are possible.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cirrhosis of liver portal hypertension

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HYPERTENSION, PORTAL

Contacts and locations

Locations

AKH - Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, 1090, Austria
ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda

Milan, 20162, Italy
American Research Corporation at the Texas Liver Institute

San Antonio, Texas, 78215, United States
Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena

Modena, 41124, Italy
Beijing Friendship Hospital

Beijing, 100050, China
Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University

Beijing, 100071, China
California Liver Research Institute

Pasadena, California, 91105, United States
Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM)

Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
Edegem - UNIV UZ Antwerpen

Edegem, 2650, Belgium
Floridian Clinical Research-Miami Lakes-68368

Miami Lakes, Florida, 33016, United States
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS

Roma, 00195, Italy
HOP Rangueil

Toulouse, 31059, France
HOP d'Angers

Angers, 49933, France
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

CABA, C1199ABB, Argentina
Hospital Puerta de Hierro

Majadahonda, 28222, Spain
Hospital Ramón y Cajal

Madrid, 28034, Spain
Hospital Vall d'Hebron

Barcelona, 08035, Spain
Hvidovre Hospital

Hvidovre, 2650, Denmark
Inland Empire Clinical Trials, LLC

Rialto, California, 92377, United States
Kitasato University Hospital

Kanagawa, Sagamihara, 252-0375, Japan
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC)

Leiden, 2333 ZA, Netherlands
Medical University of Innsbruck

Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
NanFang Hosptial

Guangzhou, 510515, China
National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center

Kanagawa, Yokohama, 245-8575, Japan
Northwell Health Center for Liver Disease

Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States
Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital

Osaka, Osaka, 545-8586, Japan
Ospedale Regionale di Lugano

Viganello, 6962, Switzerland
Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone"

Palermo, 90127, Italy
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

Birmingham, B15 2TH, United Kingdom
Regional Institute of Gastroenterology Hepatology "Prof. Dr. O. Fodor"

Cluj-Napoca, 400000, Romania
Shin-yurigaoka General Hospital

Kanagawa, Kawasaki, 215-0026, Japan
Singapore General Hospital

Singapore, 169608, Singapore
Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Bucheon

Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14584, South Korea
St Mary's Hospital

London, W2 1NY, United Kingdom
St. Josefs-Hospital, Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden, 65189, Germany
Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Taipei, 11217, Taiwan
The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University

Hangzhou, 310000, China
ULS de Santa Maria, E.P.E

Lisbon, 1649-035, Portugal
University Hospital Dubrava

Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
Universitätsklinikum Münster

Münster, 48149, Germany
Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Mainz, 55131, Germany
Western Galilee Hospital

Nahariya, 2210001, Israel
Yokohama City University Hospital

Kanagawa, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
Yonsei University Wonju Severance Christian Hospital

Wonju-si, Gangwon State, 26426, South Korea

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