New heart drug shows promise in early trial
NCT ID NCT05642507
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new drug called AC01 in 58 adults with heart failure and reduced pumping ability. The goal was to check safety and how the body processes the drug. Participants received either AC01 or a placebo in increasing doses. The study is complete, but results are not yet public.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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.
- Participants
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58 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2023
- Finished
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Oct 2025
- 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
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18 to 80 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.
Key Inclusion Criteria, Dose Escalation Phase: * Male and female out-patients of any ethnicity, between 18-80 years (inclusive), with stable HFrEF. * Chronic HF for at least 6 months duration defined by history with current NYHA class II-III severity. * LVEF ≤40% by TTE more than 6 months before screening and again at screening (screening measurement confirmed by echocardiography core lab). * Sinus rhythm with mean resting heart rate 55-90 bpm. * Cardiac Index 0.5-2.4 measured by Innocor at screening and Day -1. Screening measurement confirmed by core lab. * Transvenous ICD for primary prevention in place and active (as long as it is not subcutaneous). * Optimal guideline-based medical therapy for HFrEF as judged by the Investigator, at stable doses for ≥2 weeks with no intention to change dosing during trial duration. Key Exclusion Criteria, Dose Escalation Phase: * Any cardiac rhythm that does or could interfere with ECG or TTE interpretation, including but not limited to permanent or persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter with an episode in the last 3 months, frequent premature ventricular contractions, or atrial or ventricular pacing * Ongoing or planned mechanical circulatory support, treatment with any IV vasoactive drugs (vasodilators, inotropes, or vasopressors) or diuretics, and/or dialysis or hemofiltration or ultrafiltration. * Probable alternative explanations for symptoms or signs (e.g., but not limited to, known primary cardiomyopathy \[hypertrophic, constrictive, restrictive, infiltrative, congenital\]). Primary uncorrected hemodynamically significant valve disease, right-sided HF not due to left-sided HF. * History of aborted cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest in the setting of myocardial infarction is allowed). * Hospitalized for HF or received IV diuretics, vasodilators, or inotropes for HF ≤30 days. * Clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome or stroke ≤30 days. * PCI or percutaneous valve intervention ≤30 days or planned. * Angina pectoris ≤30 days. * Any cardiovascular procedure planned during study duration. * Hospitalized or unplanned visit to the emergency department for any reason in last 30 days; patient is eligible 30 days from discharge from hospital. * Use of any drugs or substances known to be strong inducers of CYP3A4 enzyme within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug and/or planned to be used during the overall study period until the day after the final dose of study drug (e.g., rifampin, phenytoin). * eGFR by CKD-EPI \<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 at screening or at Day -1. * Serum or plasma potassium \<3.5 or \>5.2 mEq/L at screening or at Day -1. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin \>2 times ULN at screening or at Day -1 or known cirrhosis or severe liver or pancreatic disease, or Gilbert's syndrome. * Any condition that in the opinion of the Investigator may interfere with adherence to, or makes patient not suitable for, entry into the study. * Mean systolic blood pressure \<90 mmHg or \>140 mmHg, sitting after at least 5 minutes rest at screening or at Day -1. * Any of the following ECG findings at screening or at Day -1: atrial or ventricular pacing, QTcF \>450 ms for males and \>470 ms for females, AV block I with PQ \>240 ms, AV block II or III. In the case of non-paced QRS prolongation \>120 ms, the QTcF is allowed to be up to but not greater than 470 ms. Key Inclusion Criteria, Cohort Expansion Phase: * Male and female out-patients of any ethnicity, between 18-80 years (inclusive), with stable HFrEF. * Chronic HF for at least 6 months duration defined by history with current NYHA class II-III severity. * LVEF ≤40% by TTE more than 6 months before screening and again at screening (screening measurement confirmed by echocardiography core lab). * Sinus rhythm or permanent, persistent or paroxysmal AFF (AFF at screening capped at ≥25% of enrolled patients) with mean resting heart rate 55-90 bpm measured as part of vital signs, at screening and on Day -1. Mean defined as mean of 3 separate measurements 1 minute apart. * Transvenous ICD for primary prevention in place and active (i.e., subcutaneous ICD not accepted). * Optimal guideline-based medical therapy for HFrEF as judged by the Investigator, at stable doses for ≥2 weeks with no intention to change dosing during trial duration. Key Exclusion Criteria, Cohort Expansion Phase: * Any cardiac rhythm other than AFF that does or could interfere with ECG or TTE interpretation, including but not limited to \>20% of ventricular contractions on ECG strips being premature ventricular contractions including doublets, triplets, bigeminy or trigeminy, or atrial or ventricular pacing. * Ongoing or planned mechanical circulatory support, treatment with any IV vasoactive drugs (vasodilators, inotropes, or vasopressors) or diuretics, and/or dialysis or hemofiltration or ultrafiltration. * Probable alternative explanations for symptoms or signs (e.g., but not limited to, known primary cardiomyopathy \[hypertrophic, constrictive, restrictive, infiltrative, congenital\]). Primary uncorrected hemodynamically significant valve disease, right-sided HF not due to left-sided HF. * History of aborted cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest in the setting of myocardial infarction is allowed). * Hospitalized for HF or received IV diuretics, vasodilators, or inotropes for HF ≤30 days. * Clinical diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome or stroke ≤30 days. * PCI or percutaneous valve intervention ≤30 days or planned. * Angina pectoris ≤30 days. * Any cardiovascular procedure planned during study duration. * Hospitalized for cardiovascular or other disease in last 30 days as per Investigator discretion; patient is eligible 30 days from discharge from hospital. * Use of any drugs or substances known to be strong inducers of CYP3A4 enzyme within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug and/or planned to be used during the overall study period until the day after the final dose of study drug (e.g., rifampin, phenytoin). * eGFR by CKD-EPI \<30 mL/min/1.73 m2 at screening. * Serum or plasma potassium \>5.2 mEq/L at screening. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin \>2 times ULN at screening or at Day -1 or known cirrhosis or severe liver or pancreatic disease, or Gilbert's syndrome. * Any condition that in the opinion of the Investigator may interfere with adherence to, or makes patient not suitable for, entry into the study. * Mean systolic blood pressure \<90 mmHg or \>140 mmHg, sitting after at least 5 minutes rest at screening or at Day -1. * Any of the following ECG findings at screening or at Day -1: atrial or ventricular pacing, QTcF \>450 ms for males and \>470 ms for females, AV block I with PQ \>240 ms, AV block II or III. In the case of non-paced QRS prolongation \>120 ms, the QTcF is allowed to be up to but not greater than 470 ms.
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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
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Amsterdam University Medical Centre
Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands
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Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata
Trieste, 34149, Italy
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Erasmus Medical Centre
Rotterdam, 3015 GD, Netherlands
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Golden Jubilee National Hospital
Glasgow, G81 4DY, United Kingdom
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Karolinska University Hospital
Stockholm, 171 76, Sweden
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King's College Hospital
London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
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Maastricht Heart and Vascular Center
Maastricht, 6229 HX, Netherlands
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Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee, DD1 9SY, United Kingdom
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Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Gothenburg, 413045, Sweden
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Skånes Universitetssjukhus Lund
Lund, 222 42, Sweden
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Spedali Civilia di Brescia
Brescia, 25123, Italy
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University Medical Center
Utrecht, Netherlands
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University Medical Centre Groningen/ICON
Groningen, 9718 GZ, Netherlands
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University of Glasgow, Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences
Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
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