Hormone drug may slow Aging-Related diseases in rare condition

NCT ID NCT03312400

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether low doses of the hormone drug danazol can slow the shortening of telomeres—the protective caps on DNA—in people with telomere diseases. These conditions can cause bone marrow failure, lung scarring, and liver damage. Eighteen participants took danazol for one year, and researchers measured changes in telomere length, lung function, and liver health. The goal was to see if the drug is safe and can reduce the rate of telomere loss.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Danazol (a synthetic hormone)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a treatment option to slow disease progression in people with telomere-related conditions.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 18 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Danazol can cause hormonal side effects, and the long-term benefits are uncertain.

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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

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.