New drug aims to shrink polyps in inherited colon cancer condition
NCT ID NCT05552755
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests an experimental drug called REC-4881 in 67 adults with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a genetic condition that causes many polyps in the colon and small intestine. The goal is to see if the drug can safely reduce the number and size of polyps, helping control the disease. Participants must be 18 or older, have had their colon removed, and have moderate to severe polyps in the duodenum or remaining bowel.
Why investors are watching
Recursion Pharmaceuticals is running a phase 1b-2 trial of its drug REC-4881 in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a rare inherited condition that causes colon polyps and high cancer risk. For a small company, this mid-stage readout matters because it tests whether the drug can control the disease in a niche patient group, and a clear result could shape the company's pipeline value.
If it works: A positive result could show REC-4881 reduces disease burden in FAP patients, which might support further development and regulatory discussions. That could strengthen the company's position in rare-disease treatments.
If it fails: The trial could fail to show efficacy or face safety issues, which is common in early-phase studies. A negative or delayed readout could hurt the company's prospects, as it has few other public catalysts.
AI-written from the trial record. Speculative, and not investment advice.
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 67 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2023
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
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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18 years and older
- 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. Male or female and ≥ 18 years of age 2. Have provided written informed consent to participate in the study 3. Diagnosis of phenotypic classical FAP with disease involvement of the duodenum or the residual colon/rectum/pouch as the primary disease site. 4. Genetic diagnosis of FAP with APC gene mutation (Part 2 only). 5. Has undergone colectomy or subtotal colectomy 6. Spigelman Classification Stage II or higher. 7. Investigator/Participant agrees to leave polyps ≤10 mm unresected during endoscopies performed at Screening and while on study 8. Have no significant cardiovascular abnormalities at Screening: 1. Left ventricular ejection fraction \>50% as determined on screening echocardiogram (ECHO)/ multi-gated acquisition (MUGA) 2. A QT interval corrected for heart rate using the Fridericia formula (QTcF) \< 450 msec in men and \<470 milliseconds (msec) in women. 9. Have no significant hematopoietic abnormalities at Screening: 1. White blood cell count (WBC) ≥ 3,000/cubic millimeters (mm\^3) (non-black populations); 2,700/mm\^3 (black populations) 2. Platelet count ≥ 120,000/mm\^3 3. Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 grams (g)/deciiter (dL) 4. No history of clinical coagulopathy. 10. Have no significant hepatic abnormalities at Screening: 1. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 \* upper limit of normal (ULN) (individuals with Gilbert syndrome may be enrolled) 2. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.0 \* ULN. 11. Have no significant renal abnormalities at Screening: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times \* ULN. 12. Female participants who are women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours before the first dose of study drug. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required and must be negative for the participant to be eligible. 13. All participants must be willing to follow the contraceptive guidance in the protocol and must not be lactating or planning to attempt to become pregnant during the study or for a further period of 4 months after the last dose of study drug or impregnate someone during this study or for a further period of 14 weeks after the last dose of study drug. 14. Absence of gross blood in stool at Screening; red blood on toilet paper only is acceptable. 15. Participant must be willing to discontinue use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) 6 weeks prior to Study Day 1 and remain off NSAIDs throughout the treatment period of the study (use of aspirin ≤ 700 milligrams \[mg\] week is allowed.) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Has any clinically significant laboratory abnormality, medical or psychiatric illness which, in the opinion of the Investigator, could interfere with the conduct or interpretation of the study or put the participant at risk. 2. Has had prior pelvic irradiation. 3. Has gastrointestinal disease or recent gastrointestinal procedure that could interfere with oral absorption of REC-4881, including difficulty swallowing capsules. 4. Has received treatment with other investigational agents within the 4 weeks prior to Study Day 1 or a period during which the investigational agent has not been cleared from the body (that is, at least a period of 5 half-lives, if known), whichever is longer. 5. Treatment with other FAP-directed drug therapy (such as off-label use of Balsalazide) within 8 weeks of screening endoscopy (Part 2 only) or had a Whipple procedure. 6. Is currently under treatment for desmoid tumors. 7. Use of omega-3 fatty acids or oral corticosteroids prior to Study Day 1 8. Use of strong cytochrome P3A (CYP3A) inhibitors or inducers prior to Study Day 1 9. History of an ongoing or newly diagnosed eye abnormality, including: 1. Retinal pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, veno-occlusion, or macular edema 2. Corneal pathologies such as herpes keratitis, corneal dystrophy, corneal erosions, corneal degeneration, active or recurrent keratitis, or uveitis (intermittent, posterior, and/or panuveitis) 3. Other clinically significant ophthalmologic abnormalities (for example, retinal detachment) or has findings at Screening. \[Participants with corrected myopia may be enrolled.\] 10. Has cancer at screening endoscopy in gastrointestinal (GI) tract (including stomach, duodenum, and colon/rectum/pouch) (Part 2 only). 11. Has a large polyp (\>1 centimeter \[cm\]) not amenable to complete removal 12. Has active pancreatitis secondary to pancreatic duct obstruction 13. Has active gall bladder disease 14. Is pregnant, lactating or is planning to attempt to become pregnant during this study or within 4 months after the last dose of study drug (women) or is planning to attempt to impregnate someone or donate sperm during the study or within 14 weeks after the last dose of study drug (men). 15. Has had major surgery prior to Study Day 1 16. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. 17. Has known hypersensitivity to the study drug or its excipients. 18. Has a history of alcohol or substance abuse within 1 year prior to screening for study participation, or is currently using alcohol, drugs of abuse, or any prescribed or over-the-counter medication in a manner which, in the opinion of the Investigator, indicates abuse. 19. Received treatment with another mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor 8 weeks prior to Screening and throughout the treatment period of the study. 20. Any of the following known active infections: 1. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) not optimally controlled or treated. Participants with HIV who are on sustained stable antiretrovirals (for \>4 weeks) and have cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ counts ≥ 350 cells/microliter (μL) may be enrolled. No HIV testing is required unless clinically indicated or mandated by local health authority. 2. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with surface antigen positive: participants with a prior history of treated HBV infection who are hepatitis B surface antigen-negative may be enrolled. No testing is required for hepatitis B unless clinically indicated or mandated by local health authority. 3. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: untreated or on active treatment. Participants with a prior history of treated HCV infection who are HCV RNA-undetectable may be enrolled. No testing is required for hepatitis C unless clinically indicated or mandated by local health authority. 21. Has a severe or uncontrolled medical condition (for example, dermatologic disease, etc.) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would pose a significant clinical risk for the participant. 22. Use of strong Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP) or Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 (MRP2) inhibitors within 14 days of Study Day 1 and throughout the treatment period of the study. 23. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease ≤ 6 months before first dose 1. Myocardial infarction or unstable angina 2. Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias 3. Uncontrolled hypertension: systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 180 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 100 mmHg 4. Pulmonary embolism, symptomatic cerebrovascular events or any other serious cardiac condition (for example, pericardial effusion or restrictive cardiomyopathy) 5. QTcF prolongation \>450 msec in males and \>470 msec in females at screening or history of long QTc syndrome 6. Congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III-IV) 7. Myocarditis / clinically significant pericarditis. 8. Atrial enlargement.
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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 study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
7 sites. 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
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason
RECRUITINGSeattle, Washington, 98101, United States
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Corewell Health (Spectrum Health Hospitals Colorectal Cancer Multis)
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGGrand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
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Del Sol Research Management
WITHDRAWNTucson, Arizona, 85715, United States
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Digestive and Liver Center of Florida
TERMINATEDOrlando, Florida, 32825, United States
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GI Pros
WITHDRAWNNaples, Florida, 34102, United States
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Gastro One-8110 Walnut Rs
TERMINATEDCordova, Tennessee, 38108, United States
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Gastroenterology Health Partners, PLLC
WITHDRAWNNew Albany, Indiana, 47150, United States
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Genetic Cancer Prevention Clinic - UT Southwestern
RECRUITINGDallas, Texas, 75390, United States
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Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah
RECRUITINGSalt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
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MD Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Mayo Clinic - Rochester
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGRochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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Mayo Clinic - Scottsdale
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGScottsdale, Arizona, 85259, United States
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Medical Associates Research Group
WITHDRAWNSan Diego, California, 92123, United States
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Tandem Clinical Research
TERMINATEDMarrero, Louisiana, 70072, United States
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University of Pennsylvania
RECRUITINGPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Vanderbilt Digestive Center
RECRUITINGNashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Washington University School of Medicine
RECRUITINGSt Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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