Purpose

This study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and effects of stimulating the splenic neurovascular bundle (NVB) with the Galvani System, which consists of a lead, implantable pulse generator, external components and accessories. The study will consist of 4 study periods, including a Randomized Control Trial period (Period 1), an Open Label period (Period 2), a Treat-to-target period (Period 3), and a Long-term Follow-up period (Period 4). Participants eligible for implant will have active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and have an inadequate response or intolerance to at least two biologic Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) or JAK inhibitors (JAKis). A sufficient number of participants will be enrolled so that approximately 28 participants will undergo device implantation.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 22 Years and 75 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • RA of at least six months duration, per 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria - Male or female participants, 22-75 years of age - Active RA - Inadequate Response to at least 2 biologic DMARDs and/or JAK-inhibitors (JAKis) including at least one TNF inhibitor - Have an appropriate washout from previously used biological DMARDs or JAKi - Receiving current treatment with standard dose(s) of conventional synthetic DMARD(s) or have documented history of failure due to ineffectiveness or intolerance

Exclusion Criteria

  • Inability to provide informed consent - Significant psychiatric disease or substance abuse - History of unilateral or bilateral vagotomy - Active or latent tuberculosis - Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); current acute or chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C; previous hepatitis B - Positive SARS COV 2 PCR screening test for COVID-19 infection (at the point of screening for this study) - Currently implanted electrically active medical devices (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators) - Previous splenectomy

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Sequential Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Multicenter study with 4 periods. Period 1 is a randomized, controlled double-blind period where participants are assigned randomly to either active or sham stimulation. During the open-label Periods 2 through 4, participants are assigned treatment based on responses to treatments in the prior period
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Active Stimulation; Period 1
Active stimulation for 12 weeks
  • Device: Active Stimulation
    Stimulation will be turned ON and applied during each day of the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Sham Comparator
Sham Stimulation; Period 1
Sham stimulation for 12 weeks
  • Device: Sham Stimulation
    Sham stimulation will be provided during the period
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Experimental
Open label active stimulation, Period 2
Open label active stimulation for 12 additional weeks
  • Device: Active Stimulation
    Stimulation will be turned ON and applied during each day of the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Other
Open label RA Drug, Period 2
Open label drug treatment with baricitinib for 12 weeks
  • Drug: Baricitinib
    Baricitinib (2 mg) is administered daily during the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Experimental
RA drug combined with active stimulation, Period 3
Participants on baricitinib during Period 2 will have active stimulation added for 24 weeks
  • Device: Active Stimulation
    Stimulation will be turned ON and applied during each day of the period.
  • Drug: Baricitinib
    Baricitinib (2 mg) is administered daily during the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Experimental
Active stimulation combined with RA drug, Period 3
Participants on active stimulation during Period 2 will have baricitinib added for 24 weeks
  • Device: Active Stimulation
    Stimulation will be turned ON and applied during each day of the period.
  • Drug: Baricitinib
    Baricitinib (2 mg) is administered daily during the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)
Other
Long-term Follow-up, Period 4
Standard of care treatments with or without stimulation
  • Device: Active Stimulation
    Stimulation will be turned ON and applied during each day of the period.
  • Drug: Background Treatment
    Stable dose of standard background treatment (e.g., csDMARD therapy)

Recruiting Locations

Medvin Research - Covina
Covina, California 91722
Contact:
Study Coordinator
626-869-5730
Info@medvinresearch.com

Medvin Research - Whittier
Whittier, California 90602
Contact:
Study Coordinator
562-758-6600
Info@medvinresearch.com

The Osteoporosis & Clinical Trials Center
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Contact:
Study Coordinator
301-791-6680
arthritis@rheumdocs.com

NYU Langone
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Contact:
Galvani Operations Director
877-613-9001
clinical@galvani.bio

Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon 97239
Contact:
Cong-Qui Chu, MD
503-494-8637

Altoona Center for Clinical Research
Altoona, Pennsylvania 16635
Contact:
Study Coordinator
800-924-7790

Arthritis & Rheumatology Institute
Allen, Texas 75013
Contact:
Study Coordinator
972-798-8553

St. David's Healthcare
Austin, Texas 78705
Contact:
SDH Office of Research; Research Dept
512-544-8070
Krishna.Saini@stdavids.com

Tekton Research
Austin, Texas 78745
Contact:
Study Coordinator
512-388-5717
trials@tektonresearch.com

Southwest Rheumatology Research
Mesquite, Texas 75150
Contact:
Study Coordiinator
972-288-2600
jointpain@swrr.net

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Galvani Bioelectronics

Study Contact

Operations Director
+1 877 613 9001
clinical@galvani.bio

Detailed Description

Participants with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who receive the implantable system will be randomly assigned to receive either active stimulation or sham-stimulation for 12 weeks (Period 1). Following Period 1, all participants will enter an open label phase (Period 2) during which participants who responded to stimulation will continue on stimulation; whereas participants who received sham stimulation, or were stimulation non-responders, will receive a market-approved RA drug for 12 weeks. At the end of Period 2, participants who respond to their Period 2 therapy but still exhibit signs and symptoms of RA will enter the Treat-to-target period (Period 3); others will proceed to Period 4 (Long-term Follow-up). During the Treat-to-Target period, participants will be treated with dual therapy (stimulation in combination with the market-approved RA drug) for up to 24 weeks. Period 4 provides long term safety follow up for all study participants for a period of 5 years. Participants may receive stimulation in combination with other approved and standard of care therapies, subject to a favorable benefit-risk assessment in the judgement of the treating rheumatologist.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.