Could a triple therapy tackle diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis at once?
NCT ID NCT03686657
First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether adding two common drugs—valsartan (for high blood pressure) and celecoxib (for arthritis pain)—to standard metformin therapy can improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. The trial enrolls adults with obesity, high blood pressure, and arthritis who are not well-controlled on metformin alone. Over 26 weeks, researchers will measure changes in blood sugar, insulin function, and inflammation to see if the triple combination works better than metformin by itself.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination of valsartan, celecoxib, and metformin (called RK-01)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a more effective treatment for type 2 diabetes that also addresses related conditions like high blood pressure and arthritis.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage proof-of-concept study with a small number of participants, so results may not apply broadly. The combination of drugs also carries risks like kidney or stomach issues.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Expected to start
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Dec 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Jan 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Males and females, Age: \>18 to 70 years at the time of screening visit. 2. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of the study. 3. Women must not be breastfeeding. 4. HbA1c≥8.0 5. Patients with inadequate blood glucose control with Metformin defined as a central laboratory glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) \>8.0 and \<10.5 obtained at the screening visit. Metformin-HCl monotherapy was inadequate 3 months prior to the study as indicated by the lack of decrease and/or an increase in the A1c level. Newly diagnosed drug naïve patients as defined by HbA1c\>7.0 at the screening visit. Drug naïve subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 6 months of diagnosis will be considered and selected. About half the patients are expected to be newly diagnosed in the study. 6. Drug naive as well as osteoarthritis patients with Type 2 diabetes receiving a non-aspirin pain reliever (e.g. acetaminophen) or an NSAID (e.g. Naproxen). 7. Max/maintenance dose Metformin. Subjects should have been taking the same daily dose of metformin for at least 8 weeks prior to the enrollment visit and subjects not receive these other antihyperglycemic medications within the 12 weeks prior to screening (except for short-term use of insulin \[≤7 days\] during concomitant illness or other stress). 8. Patients with \>25% AIRg at 2 minutes and 10 minutes. 9. RAS blocker naïve patients 10. 2-Hour OGTT ≥200 mg/dL 11. FPG ≥140 mg/dL 12. BMI ≥30 13. Impaired first phase and second phase of insulin secretion 14. BP ≥140/90 mm Hg (These patients might be on an anti-hypertensive drug) 15. Non-fasting laboratory glucose \>200 mg/dL with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria and/or Polyphagia 16. eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Age \>70 2. Patients with Type 1 diabetes, Screen for GAD (Glutamic acid decarboxylase) antibodies at the time of screening visit. To rule out latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), screening for other diabetes-related antibodies, such as insulinoma-associated protein (IA-2 and IA-2 beta), zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8), islet cell antibodies (ICA) or insulin autoantibody (IAA) will also be considered. 3. Pregnant women 4. Patients with a history of Ketoacidosis. 5. Subjects at serious risk of gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (e.g. current or recent history of GI bleeding ulceration, or perforation). 6. Subjects with a planned radiologic study with intravenous contrast, surgery, or other planned procedures that may predispose them to metformin-associated lactic acidosis. 7. Insulin dependent: \<25% Beta-cell function: AIRg (Acute insulin response to glucose after 2 min and 10 min after glucose injection) INSULIN DEPENDENT STATE. 8. Patients with a history of uncontrolled hyperglycemia \>15.0 mmol/L (280 mg/dL) after an overnight fast that required rescue therapy. 9. Patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia \>15.0 mmol/L (280 mg/dL) after an overnight fast that required rescue therapy during week 1-3 Metformin-HCl monotherapy or RK-01 therapy. 10. eGFR, impaired kidney function \< 60 ml/min/1.73m2. 11. Poor metabolizers of Cyp450 2C9 to avoid very high concentration (Since Cytochrome 450 2C9 is responsible for the metabolism of both Valsartan and Celecoxib, patients who are known or suspected to be poor Cyp450 2C9 metabolizers based on previous history will be excluded from the study). 12. Any of the following cardiovascular (CV)/Vascular diseases within 3 months of the enrollment visit: 1. Myocardial infarction (MI) 2. Cardiac surgery or revascularization (coronary artery bypass surgery, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft \[(CABG\]/Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)\]. 3. Unstable angina 4. Unstable congestive heart failure (CHF) 5. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or significant cerebrovascular disease 6. Unstable or previously diagnosed arrhythmia 7. Congestive heart failure, defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III and IV, unstable or acute heart failure and/or known left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤40%. 8. Acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack within 3 months prior to the informed consent. 13. Previous bariatric surgery 14. Treatment with anti-obesity drugs within 3 months prior to consent 15. Patients with COPD 16. Patients with liver disease 17. Patients with renal disease 18. Patients with autoimmune diseases e.g. Lupus, Psoriasis 19. Patients with HIV/AIDS 20. Patients with diabetes-related complications 21. Patients with Hematological and Oncological Diseases/Conditions 22. Hemoglobin \<11.0 g/dL (110 g/L) for men; hemoglobin \<10.0 g/dL (100 g/L) for women 23. Patients with chronic disease e.g. Cancer, Epilepsy, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Asthma 24. Abnormal free T4 25. Patients with serious infection
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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
-
Albany Medical College
Albany, New York, 12206, United States
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