Largest kidney disease trial of it's kind begins in Oxford
The first people have been recruited in Oxford for a new global clinical trial into a treatment which could slow chronic kidney disease.
The first people have been recruited in Oxford for a new global clinical trial into a treatment which could slow chronic kidney disease.
The progressive condition can lead to the need for kidney dialysis or a transplant, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
It affects about 1 in 10 adults worldwide and is a leading cause of death globally.
William Herrington, Professor of Clinical Trials and Epidemiology of Kidney Disease at Oxford Population Health and chief investigator for the trial known as EASi-KIDNEY (Easy Kidney) said: "It is estimated that there are about 850 million people around the world living with chronic kidney disease, which currently has no cure.
Additional treatments are urgently required to lessen the often devastating impact of kidney failure on quality of life and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death."
This trial will build on positive research from the group from previous trials in Oxford. That trial, (EMPA-KIDNEY) led by researchers at Oxford Population Health, demonstrated that empagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney disease progression or death from cardiovascular disease by 28% in patients with CKD with and without diabetes.
EASi-KIDNEY will involve vicadrostat and empagliflozin.
Professor Herrington says the study will be the largest of it's kind:
"We're aiming for 11,000 people across 15 to 20 countries and we'll need at least 400 hospitals to work with us and they'll be 50 across the UK."
Patrick Wallace, who joined the trial at the Oxford Kidney Unit, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said "I wanted to participate in the trial as I am conscious of the vital importance of clinical trials in improving our knowledge of conditions such as chronic kidney disease. "
Professor Herrington tells us the name of the trial EASi-KIDNEY is a reference to the treatments involved, but also to how easy they wanted to make it to take part.
"We can't fix the car parking at hospitals but we can try and make it easier by having less frequent visits, trying to shorten times waiting in pharmacies waiting for drugs, so we can get into the trial, want to volunteer and to stay in the trial long term."
If you would be interested in joining you can find out more here.