Can a common antifungal tame nighttime cortisol? NIH launches pilot study

NCT ID NCT07649317

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This pilot study aims to understand how cortisol levels change throughout the day in people with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) compared to healthy volunteers. It will also test whether a single dose of the drug ketoconazole can lower nighttime cortisol in MACS patients. The study involves 36 adults and includes hospital stays for frequent blood, urine, and saliva sampling.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Ketoconazole

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could point toward a treatment that lowers nighttime cortisol in people with MACS, potentially reducing related health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.

What could go wrong

This is a very early, small pilot study with only 36 participants and a single dose of ketoconazole. It is designed to gather information, not to prove a treatment works, and may not lead to any new therapy.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    RECRUITING

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••