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Recruiting Phase 2 NCT05821556

NCT05821556 Valproic Acid/Simvastatin Plus Gemcitabine/Nab-paclitaxel Based Regimens in Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Patients

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05821556
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor National Cancer Institute, Naples
Condition Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 240 participants
Start Date 2023-06-12
Primary Completion 2026-08

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Valproic acidSimvastatin 20mgGemcitabine 1000 mg

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 240 participants in total. It began in 2023-06-12 with a primary completion date of 2026-08.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

This is a proof-of-concept, Open label, randomized, multicentric, superiority phase-2 study.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Written informed consent to study procedures and to correlative studies. 2. Histologically or cytologically proven metastatic PDAC. 3. No prior treatments (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery) for PDAC 4. Either sex aged ≥ 18 years. 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1 at study entry. 6. Imaging-documented measurable disease, according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. 7. Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity is mandatory for patients enrolled in PAXG scheme. 8. Adequate bone marrow haematological function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L AND platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L AND haemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL. 9. Adequate liver function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 2 in case of biliary stent) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5 X ULN. 10. Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min in males and ≥50 mL/min in females (calculated according to Cockroft-Gault formula). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior malignancy within one year. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer. 2. Prior chemotherapy or any other medical treatment for metastatic PDAC (previous adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed if terminated \> 6 months previously). 3. Patients who have had prior treatment with an HDAC inhibitor and patients who have received compounds with HDAC inhibitor-like activity, such as valproic acid. 4. Current use of statins or fibrates or any medication for hypercholesterolemia for any time during the 3 months before the study. 5. Proven hypersensitivity to statins and to any component of the other medications used in the trial. 6. Major surgical intervention within 4 weeks prior to enrollment; 7. Pregnancy and breast-feeding. 8. Brain metastasis. 9. Hepatitis or any severe liver disorder. 10. Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease or any concurrent condition which in the investigator's opinion makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study, or which would jeopardize compliance with the protocol, or would interfere with the results of the study. 11. Patients with long QT-syndrome or QTc interval duration \> 480 msec or concomitant medication with drugs prolonging QTc (see list in the appendix). 12. History of poor co-operation, non-compliance with medical treatment, unreliability or any condition that may impair the patient's understanding of the Informed consent form. 13. Participation in any interventional drug or medical device study within 30 days prior to treatment start. 14. Patients who cannot take oral medication, who require intravenous alimentation, have had prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, or have active peptic ulcer disease. 15. Sexually active males and females (of childbearing potential) unwilling to practice contraception during the study and until 6 months after the last trial treatment.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Antonio Avallone

✉ a.avallone@istitutotumori.na.it

📞 08117770357

Principal Investigator

Alfredo Budillon

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

IRCCS I.N.T. "G. Pascale

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05821556 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT05821556 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT05821556 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05821556 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at a.avallone@istitutotumori.na.it for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05821556 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Naples, Italy, Milan, Italy, Roma, Italy, Verona, Italy and 1 additional location.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05821556 clinical trial?

NCT05821556 is sponsored by National Cancer Institute, Naples. The principal investigator is Alfredo Budillon at IRCCS I.N.T. "G. Pascale. The trial plans to enroll 240 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology