Can a growth factor rebuild leg arteries and ease pain?
NCT ID NCT00424866
First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage trial is testing whether a protein called FGF-1, injected into the leg muscle, is safe and tolerable for people with peripheral arterial disease—a condition where narrowed leg arteries cause pain when walking. The study includes adults aged 50 to 75 with intermittent claudication (leg cramps during activity). Participants receive one of three doses of FGF-1 or a placebo, and researchers monitor side effects and how the drug moves through the body. The goal is to see if this approach could eventually help improve blood flow and reduce leg pain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FGF-1 (a growth factor protein) given as an injection into the leg muscle
- What this could lead to
- If safe and effective, FGF-1 could offer a new way to ease leg pain and improve walking in people with blocked leg arteries.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early, small pilot study focused on safety, so it may not prove effectiveness. Possible risks include injection-site reactions or other side effects.
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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About 24 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2028
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2030
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
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50 to 75 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria 1. Subjects considered eligible to enter the study must sign an informed consent form prior to the initiation of any study procedures. In the event that the subject must be withdrawn and is re-screened for study participation at a later date, a new informed consent form must be signed. Subjects must be competent to give written informed consent. 2. Age must be ≥50 and ≤75 years of age with a life expectancy of \> 1 year and leg survival \> 6 months. Patients \>75 and ≤80 years of age will be considered if they show no signs of cognitive or muscle function decline and are fully able to comply with the protocol. 3. Patients must have experienced intermittent claudication for at least 6 months and have been stable for the past 3 months. 4. Patients must have peripheral arterial disease, as confirmed by a resting ABI ≥0.40 and \<0.90 based on at least one leg as measured using both the dorsal pedis and posterior tibial arteries. 5. Stenosis of \>70% up to total occlusion must be present in the popliteal artery and/or in the tibial peroneal trunk or at least 2 tibial arteries above the ankle without inflow limitation of the popliteal artery. Adequate popliteal inflow is defined as continuous flow from the abdominal aorta, iliac, common femoral and superficial femoral with any stenosis \< 50% as determined either by intra-arterial DSA, CTA or Gd CE-MRA. 6. The screening Gardner treadmill test peak walking times (PWT) must be \>1 minute and \< 12 minutes and limited by pain in one or both calves. 7. Preexisting medication regime must be stable for 6 weeks preceding dosing. Exclusion Criteria 1. Evidence of critical leg ischemia, i.e. ischemic rest pain or ischemic ulceration 2. Treadmill walking limited by conditions other than intermittent claudication including arthritis, angina and dyspnea 3. Lower limb amputation of, or in, either leg including toes 4. Evidence of limb ischemia from immunologic or inflammatory disorders 5. Leg surgery or revascularization within past 6 months or peripheral angioplasty within past 3 months or anticipated during study 6. Participation in any investigational device or drug trial within the past 6 months 7. Myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke or ischemic attack within past 6 months 8. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, III or IV heart failure, restrictive or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or severe valvular disease 9. QTc elongation greater than 450 ms in males or 460 ms in females 10. PT (INR), PTT, urinalysis, thyroid function (T3, T4, TSH) outside normal limits 11. Hemorrhage or thrombotic events (e.g. deep vein thrombosis) within past 6 months 12. Thrombocytopenia (\<100,000/µl), history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia 13. Major surgery with the past 6 months 14. Positive proliferative retinopathy exam 15. Present of any type of cancer or history of cancer except past (but not present) basal cell dermal carcinoma not on either leg 16. Inflammatory or progressive fibrotic or myelofibrotic disorders 17. Patients experiencing bacterial or viral infection (e.g. hepatitis or HIV) or who may otherwise be febrile 18. Hemoglobin A1c(HgbA1c) of \>8% 19. Type I diabetes 20. Total fasting cholesterol \>200 21. Uncontrolled hypertension (≥160 systolic or ≥100 diastolic pressure) or hypotension (\<90 systolic or \<60 diastolic pressure) 22. Disease or drug (e.g. systemic corticosteroid) immuno-compromised 23. Hepatic dysfunction as defined either by AST or ALT \> 2.0 times the upper limit of normal 24. Serum creatinine of ≥ 2.5 mg/dl 25. Proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio \> 3) 26. Antiproliferative drugs (e.g. thalidomide, hydroxyurea) 27. Radiation therapy 28. Implanted devices not compatible with strong magnetic fields 29. Life expectance of less than 1 year 30. Females who are premenopausal and not sterilized or using adequate birth control or are either pregnant, intend to become pregnant or are nursing
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Venturis Therapeutics
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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