Could a common diabetes drug boost heart pump recovery?

NCT ID NCT07666698

Not yet recruiting Disease control Sponsor: The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether metformin, a standard diabetes medicine, can improve heart function in people who have received a mechanical heart pump (LVAD) for severe heart failure. Researchers will give metformin or a placebo to 108 patients for 12 months and check heart function, blood markers, and overall health. The goal is to see if metformin helps the heart recover better and reduces complications.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Metformin (a diabetes drug)
What this could lead to: If it works, metformin could become a simple, cheap add-on therapy to help heart recovery after LVAD implantation, reducing complications and improving quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase (1/2) trial with only 108 people, so results may not apply broadly. Metformin is generally safe but can cause gastrointestinal side effects; it may also not improve heart function as hoped.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HEART FAILURE LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dong-Jin Wang

Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China

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