Could a natural chemical be the key to safer heart failure treatment?
NCT ID NCT04113109
First seen Aug 11, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at why the heart failure drug LCZ696 (sacubitril/valsartan) can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when people first start taking it. The researchers think a natural chemical called bradykinin, which the drug prevents from breaking down, might be responsible. To test this, adults with stable heart failure will receive LCZ696 along with either a drug that blocks bradykinin (icatibant) or a placebo, and their blood pressure and urine output will be compared. The goal is to understand the mechanism behind the blood pressure drop, which could help doctors use this life-saving medication more safely.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- LCZ696 (sacubitril/valsartan, also known as Entresto) and icatibant (a bradykinin blocker)
- What this could lead to
- If bradykinin is found to drive the blood pressure drop seen with LCZ696, doctors could use this knowledge to start the drug more safely, reducing side effects and helping more people with heart failure benefit from it.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early mechanistic study, not a large outcome trial. The results may not change practice, and blocking bradykinin could have its own risks, such as affecting blood pressure regulation in unexpected ways.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEART FAILURE are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Digital nurse companion: could an app ease the burden of chronic illness?
- Could continuing a common heart drug before surgery save lives?
- Poles apart? nordic walking may outpace standard rehab for heart failure
- Could a gentler tug on the Heart's reins spark recovery?
- Can slow breathing soothe a failing heart?
- Can shedding pounds reboot the Heart's exercise engine?