OPtimizing Aldosterone Receptor Antagonist Therapy by Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate in Heart Failure

NCT ID: NCT04789239

Last Updated: 2025-07-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 110 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-31

Brief Summary

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) is one of cornerstones in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, MRA has been extremely under-used globally. The main reason for this seems to be increased risk of hyperkalemia in individuals on MRA. Theoretically, by limiting the risk of hyperkalemia it could thus be possible to optimize MRA therapy. This is studied in this randomized controlled trial in which it is investigated whethere adding a potassium-binder in combination with MRA treatment prevent hyperkalemia to a greater extent than only using MRA.

The specific aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) in optimizing MRA in symptomatic patients with HFrEF.

A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study in Sweden (n=110)

The study consists of 2 phases: 1) open-label run-in within maximum 2 months, where all are treated with SZC to test tolarability, and 2) a 1:1 randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled treatment during 6 months.

The open-label phase, in turn, consists of three periods: run-in (1 - 2 weeks), correc-tion (maximum 72 hours) and maintenance (4-7 weeks). In addition, post-randomization phase, all patients will be followed by 3 visits (Follow-Up 1, 2 and 3) at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after End of Study (EOS) / End of Treatment (EOT) (which comes first) for further control of kalium and creatinine levels and documentation of current MRA use incl dose.

Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) (Lokelma)®, 5 g, 10 g, orally, is an approved drug in Sweden. For correction of hyperkalemia, the recommended starting dose is 10 g, three times daily. Once normokalemia has been achieved, the maintenance reg-imen should be started with 5 g once daily. The dose can be titrated up to 10 g once daily or lowered to 5 g once every other day as needed, to maintain a normal level of potassium.

Primary Objective:

To demonstrate the efficacy of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) on optimiz-ing MRA in HFrEF, SZC vs Placebo.

Outcome measure: Whether a patient maintains MRA either at a dose ≥ 25 mg daily (for those without MRA at base-line) or a dose increase by 25 mg daily (for those with MRA ≤ 25 mg daily at baseline) and K level in the normal range (3.5-5.0 mmol/L) at the end of study, without rescue therapy due to hy-perkalemia at any point during the randomization phase.

Detailed Description

Target subject population

Stable and symptomatic patients with chronic heart failure and LVEF ≤ 40% despite Guideline-Directed Medical Treatment (ACE/ARB/ARNI, beta blockers, SGLT2 inhibitor, MRA) at the discretion of physician´s judgement AND remaining suboptimal treatment of MRA

Duration of treatment

This study consists of 2 treatment phases: 1) Open-label Run-in, and 2) Randomized, pla-cebo-controlled, double-blinded treatment during 6 months. The Open-label phase, in turn, consists of three periods: up-titration (normally 1 - 2 weeks, or longer in some cases), Cor-rection (maximum up to 72 hours) and Maintenance (4-7 weeks)

Investigational product, dosage and mode of administration Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) (Lokelma)®, 5 g, 10 g, orally, is an approved drug in Sweden. For correction of hyperkalemia, the recommended starting dose is 10 g, three times daily. Once normokalemia has been achieved, the maintenance regimen should be started with 5 g once daily. The dose can be adjusted up to 10 g once daily or lowered to 5 g once every other day as needed, to maintain a normal level of potassium.

Conditions

Heart Failure; Hyperkalemia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

SZC + MRA treated heart failure patients

Optimal dose of SZC, which is an approved drug for hyperkalemia in Sweden.

The subject is treat with 5 mg daily however it can be reduced to once every second day, or inreased to as much as as 10 mg daily, depending on measured potassium levels. This is combined with a mineralcorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolacton or eplerenon), 25 mg or 50 mg depending on what dose they could tolerate.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate

Intervention Type: DRUG

SZC is an approved drug in Sweden and subsidized for patients with chronic kidney disease in stages 3 to 5, with or without chronic heart failure, for whom treatment with Resonium is not suitable and for patients with chronic heart failure without con-comitant chronic kidney disease

Placebo + MRA treated heart failure patients

The subject is treat with placebo drug, 5 mg once daily, however it can be reduced to once every second day, or increased to as much as as 10 mg daily, depending on measured potassium levels. This is combined with the dose of mineralcorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolacton or eplerenon) 25 mg or 50 mg depending on what dose they could tolerate.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

Treatment with the same dose of placebo medicine as they would have received had they been treated with the interventional drug (SZC).

Interventions

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate

SZC is an approved drug in Sweden and subsidized for patients with chronic kidney disease in stages 3 to 5, with or without chronic heart failure, for whom treatment with Resonium is not suitable and for patients with chronic heart failure without con-comitant chronic kidney disease

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

Treatment with the same dose of placebo medicine as they would have received had they been treated with the interventional drug (SZC).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Lokelma

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Recruiting will take place mainly from specialist care at University hospitals or Province hospitals in Sweden. But some of patients might have simultaneous follow-up at primary care as well.

For inclusion in the study subjects should fulfil the following criteria:

1. Obtain signed informed consent prior to any study specific procedures

2. >18 yrs.

3. LVEF ≤ 40% within past 2 years (including recovered EF later on).

4. NYHA II-IV.

5. On optimal treatment including ACE/ARB/ARNI, beta blockers, SGLT2 inhibitor, as per physician´s judgement.

6. Suboptimal treatment with MRA (defined as: no use or ≤ 25 mg daily)

7. And one of following:

1. Prior hyperkalemia (S-K> 5.0 mmol/L or P-K> 4.8 mmol/L*) during MRA treat-ment within last 24 months, and current S-K ≤ 5.0 or P-K ≤ 4.8 mmol/L

2. Current S-K 4.5-5.0 mmol/L or P-K 4.3-4.8 mmol/L, and potential risk of hyper-kalemia as indicated by eGFR 30-45 ml/min/1,73 m2 (modified MDRD formula)

3. Current S-K 5.1-5.9 mmol/L or P-K 4.9-5.7 mmol/L

• Corresponding plasma K (P-K) level is 0.2 mmol lower than serum K(S-K) (The Nordic Reference Interval Project).

Depending on the S-K status during screening, patients are divided into two groups before treatment initiation /run-in:

• Group 1: Patients who are hyperkalemic (S-K 5.1 - 5.5 mmol/L measured within last 2 weeks)
• Group 2: Patients who are normokalemic (S-K 3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L) during screening but are at a high risk of developing hyperkalemia associated with MRA initiation / increase. Namely, one (or both) of the following:

• Prescription of MRA within last 12 months and documented hyperkalemia after MRA prescription
• S-K 4.5-5.0 mmol/L and GFR < 45 mL/min/1,73 m2

Note: All S-K related limits in this protocol concern serum measurements. In Sweden it is plasma that is analyzed, which makes 4.8 mmol/l (plasma) equivalent to 5.0 mmol/L(serum)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Symptomatic hypotension (< 90/60 mmHg)

2. eGFR < 30 ml/min/1,73 m2 (modified MDRD formula)

3. HF due to restrictive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic (obstructive) cardio-myopathy or primary valvular disease

4. Current/recent (within 3 months) hospitalization due to myocardial infarc-tion, unstable angina pectoris, coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting), or other interven-tions (valvular repair/replacement, cardiac transplantation or implantation of a ventricular assistance device)

5. Ongoing or planned dialysis

6. Prior history of hypersensitivity (other than hyperkalemia) to a MRA, or SZC

7. Advanced malignancy requiring treatment

8. History of QT prolongation associated with other medications that required discontinuation of that medication.

9. Congenital long QT syndrome.

10. Symptomatic or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation despite treatment, or asymp-tomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia. Subjects with atrial fibrillation controlled by medication are permitted

11. QTc(f) > 550 msec

12. Currently pregnant (confirmed with positive pregnancy test) or planned pregnancy or breast-feeding

13. Can not sign informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

AstraZeneca

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Göteborg University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Michael Fu

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Michael Fu

Professor, MD, PhD, FESC

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Michael Fu, Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Locations

Section of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital-Östra Hospital

Gothenburg, Västra Götalanddsregion, Sweden

Sahlgrenska University Hospital-Ostra Hospital

Gothenburg, , Sweden

Countries

Sweden

Other Identifiers

ESR-19-20262

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id