AzTrials
AzTrials

Heart FailurePhase 3VICTORIANCT02861534

A Study of Vericiguat in Participants With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) (MK-1242-001)

A Phase 3 study testing Vericiguat in people with Heart Failure and Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center, double-blind, event driven study of vericiguat (MK-1242) in participants with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Vericiguat
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
5,050 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
20 Sep 2016to 2 Sep 2019
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • History of chronic HF (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class II-IV) on standard therapy before qualifying HF decompensation
  • Previous HF hospitalization within 6 months prior to randomization or intravenous (IV) diuretic treatment for HF (without hospitalization) within 3 months.
  • Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels: sinus rhythm-≥ 300 pg/mL; atrial fibrillation-≥ 500 pg/mL and N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) levels: sinus rhythm- ≥ 1000 pg/mL; atrial fibrillation - ≥ 1600 pg/mL within 30 days prior to randomization
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of <45% assessed within 12 months prior to randomization by any method
  • If female, is not of reproductive potential or agrees to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving study drug and for 14 days after the last dose of study drug by complying with one of the following: practice abstinence from heterosexual activity or use (or have her partner use) acceptable contraception during heterosexual activity.

Who cannot join

  • Clinically unstable at the time of randomization as defined by either the administration of any IV treatment within 24 hours prior to randomization, and/or systolic blood pressure (SBP) <100 mmHg or symptomatic hypotension
  • Current or anticipated use of long-acting nitrates or nitric oxide (NO) donors including isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide 5-mononitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, nicorandil or transdermal nitroglycerin (NTG) patch, and molsidomine
  • Current or anticipated use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors such as vardenafil, tadalafil, and sildenafil
  • Current use or anticipated use of a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator such as riociguat
  • Known allergy or sensitivity to any sGC stimulator
  • Awaiting heart transplantation (United Network for Organ Sharing Class 1A / 1B or equivalent), receiving continuous IV infusion of an inotrope, or has/anticipates receiving an implanted ventricular assist device
Show all 25Show fewer
  • Primary valvular heart disease requiring surgery or intervention, or is within 3 months after valvular surgery or intervention
  • Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
  • Acute myocarditis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
  • Post-heart transplant cardiomyopathy
  • Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy and/or uncontrolled tachyarrhythmia
  • Acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI], or ST elevation myocardial infarction [(STEMI]) or coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) within 60 days, or indication for coronary revascularization at time of randomization
  • Symptomatic carotid stenosis, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke within 60 days
  • Complex congenital heart disease
  • Active endocarditis or constrictive pericarditis
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or chronic dialysis
  • Severe hepatic insufficiency such as with hepatic encephalopathy
  • Malignancy or other non-cardiac condition limiting life expectancy to <3 years
  • Require continuous home oxygen for severe pulmonary disease
  • Current alcohol and/or drug abuse
  • Participated in another interventional clinical study and treatment with another investigational product ≤30 days prior to randomization or plans to participate in any other trial/investigation during the duration of this study
  • Mental or legal incapacitation and is unable to provide informed consent
  • Immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling or child) who is involved with this study
  • Interstitial Lung Disease
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding or plans to become pregnant or to breastfeed during the course of the study

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Event-Driven, Multi-Center Pivotal Phase III Clinical Outcome Trial of Efficacy and Safety of the Oral sGC Stimulator Vericiguat in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) - VerICiguaT GlObal Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced EjectIon FrAction (VICTORIA)

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center, double-blind, event driven study of vericiguat (MK-1242) in participants with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The primary hypothesis is vericiguat (MK-1242) is superior to placebo in increasing the time to first occurrence of the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization in participants with HFrEF.

Being tested
Vericiguat, Placebo for vericiguat
Medical subject headings
Heart Failure

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • VericiguatDrug

    Also called MK-1242

    2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg orally once daily

  • Placebo for vericiguatDrug

    2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg orally once daily

Study groups in NCT02861534
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
VericiguatExperimentalParticipants receive a starting dose of 2.5 mg of vericiguat taken orally once daily with food, on a background of HF standard of care. The vericiguat dose will be uptitrated to 5 mg and to 10 mg.
Receives: Drug: Vericiguat
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorParticipants receive a starting matching placebo dose of 2.5 mg taken orally once daily with food, on a background of HF standard of care. The matching placebo dose will be uptitrated to 5 mg and to 10 mg.
Receives: Drug: Placebo for vericiguat

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Time to First Occurrence of Composite Endpoint of Cardiovascular (CV) Death or Heart Failure (HF) Hospitalization

    Time to First Occurrence of Composite Endpoint of CV Death or HF Hospitalization was analyzed using a one-sided stratified log-rank test. Randomized participants without any HF hospitalization or CV death event at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information, the date of their non-CV death, or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A clinical events committee (CEC) reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results; the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years at risk) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Time to the First Occurrence of CV Death

    Time to First Occurrence of CV Death was analyzed using a one-sided stratified log-rank test. Randomized participants without a CV death at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information, the date of their non-CV death, or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A CEC reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results; the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years at risk) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  2. Time to the First Occurrence of HF Hospitalization

    Time to the First Occurrence of HF Hospitalization was analyzed using a one-sided stratified log-rank test. Randomized participants without any HF hospitalization at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information, the date of their death, or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A CEC reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results; the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years at risk) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  3. Time to Total HF Hospitalizations (Including First and Recurrent Events)

    Time to Total HF Hospitalizations (including first and recurring) was analyzed using an Andersen-Gill model. Randomized participants without any HF hospitalization at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information, the date of their death, or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A CEC reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results; the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years of follow-up) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  4. Time to First Occurrence of Composite Endpoint of All-Cause Mortality or HF Hospitalization

    Time to First Occurrence of Composite Endpoint of All-Cause Mortality or HF Hospitalization was analyzed using a one-sided stratified log-rank test. Randomized participants without any all-cause mortality event or HF hospitalization at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A CEC reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results; the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years at risk) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  5. Time to All-Cause Mortality

    Time to All-Cause Mortality was analyzed using a one-sided stratified log-rank test. Randomized participants without any all-cause mortality event at the time of analysis were censored at their last available information or the primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019, whichever occurred first. A CEC reviewed and adjudicated the endpoint events. A time-to-event methodology was used to evaluate the results: the incidence rate of participants with an event (number of participants with an event per 100 participant-years at risk) is provided.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  6. Number of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events

    An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered a pharmaceutical product that does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not related to the medicinal product.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  7. Number of Participants Who Discontinued Treatment Due to an Adverse Event

    An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a study participant administered a pharmaceutical product that does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not related to the medicinal product.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  8. Percentage of Participants Who Experienced Symptomatic Hypotension

    Study participants were monitored for symptomatic hypotension, an event of clinical interest, and results were reported.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

  9. Percentage of Participants Who Experienced Syncope

    Study participants were monitored for syncope, an event of clinical interest, and results were reported.

    Measured: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Aug 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start20 Sep 2016
  3. Primary completion18 Jun 2019
  4. Study completion2 Sep 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
5,050 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02861534
Sponsor's protocol ID
1242-001
Other IDs
2016-000671-25, MK-1242-001, 2016
Acronym
VICTORIA
Status last verified
Nov 2021
First submitted
5 Aug 2016
Last updated
15 Nov 2021
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: https://thecvc.ca/victoria/data-sharing/

Publications

  • Pieske B, Patel MJ, Westerhout CM, Anstrom KJ, Butler J, Ezekowitz J, Hernandez AF, Koglin J, Lam CSP, Ponikowski P, Roessig L, Voors AA, O'Connor CM, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Baseline features of the VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial. Eur J Heart Fail. 2019 Dec;21(12):1596-1604. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.1664. Epub 2019 Dec 9.

    PubMed 31820546
  • Shah P, Zheng Y, Pieske B, Melenovsky V, Lam CSP, Sliwa K, Butler J, Ezekowitz JA, deFilippi CR, O'Connor CM, Sandhu RK, Roessig L, Tromp J, Westerhout CM, Voors AA, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Phenomapping in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction to Identify Subpopulations With High Residual Risk: A VICTORIA Substudy. Circ Heart Fail. 2026 Feb;19(2):e013166. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.125.013166. Epub 2025 Oct 8.

    PubMed 41058565
  • Khan MS, Butler J, Young R, Lewis BS, Escobedo J, Refsgaard J, Reyes E, Roessig L, Blaustein RO, Lam CSP, Voors AA, Ponikowski P, Anstrom KJ, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Vericiguat and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Heart Failure by Baseline Diabetes Status: Insights From the VICTORIA Trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2024 Oct;12(10):1750-1759. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2024.05.007. Epub 2024 Jun 26.

    PubMed 38934967
  • Mentz RJ, Stebbins A, Butler J, Chiang CE, Ezekowitz JA, Hernandez AF, Hilkert R, Lam CSP, McDonald K, O'Connor CM, Pieske B, Ponikowski P, Roessig L, Sweitzer NK, Voors AA, Anstrom KJ, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Recurrent Hospitalizations and Response to Vericiguat in Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. JACC Heart Fail. 2024 May;12(5):839-846. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2023.12.005. Epub 2024 Feb 14.

    PubMed 38363272
  • Chew DS, Li Y, Bigelow R, Cowper PA, Anstrom KJ, Daniels MR, Davidson-Ray L, Hernandez AF, O'Connor CM, Armstrong PW, Mark DB; VICTORIA Study Group. Cost-Effectiveness of Vericiguat in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: The VICTORIA Randomized Clinical Trial. Circulation. 2023 Oct 3;148(14):1087-1098. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.063602. Epub 2023 Sep 6.

    PubMed 37671551
  • Lam CSP, Pina IL, Zheng Y, Bonderman D, Pouleur AC, Saldarriaga C, Pieske B, Blaustein RO, Nkulikiyinka R, Westerhout CM, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Age, Sex, and Outcomes in Heart Failure With Reduced EF: Insights From the VICTORIA Trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2023 Sep;11(9):1246-1257. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2023.06.020. Epub 2023 Aug 9.

    PubMed 37565973
  • Armstrong PW, Zheng Y, Lund LH, Butler J, Troughton RW, Emdin M, Lam CSP, Ponikowski P, Blaustein RO, O'Connor CM, Roessig L, Voors AA, Ezekowitz JA, Westerhout CM; VICTORIA Study Group. Evolution of NT-proBNP During Prerandomization Screening in VICTORIA: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Efficacy of Vericiguat. Circ Heart Fail. 2023 Oct;16(10):e010661. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.123.010661. Epub 2023 Jul 28.

    PubMed 37503602
  • Ezekowitz JA, McMullan CJ, Westerhout CM, Pina IL, Lopez-Sendon J, Anstrom KJ, Hernandez AF, Lam CSP, O'Connor CM, Pieske B, Ponikowski P, Roessig L, Voors AA, Koglin J, Armstrong PW, Butler J; VICTORIA Study Group. Background Medical Therapy and Clinical Outcomes From the VICTORIA Trial. Circ Heart Fail. 2023 Sep;16(9):e010599. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.123.010599. Epub 2023 Jul 7.

    PubMed 37417824
  • Felker GM, North R, Mulder H, Jones WS, Anstrom KJ, Patel MJ, Butler J, Ezekowitz JA, Lam CSP, O'Connor CM, Roessig L, Hernandez AF, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Classification of Heart Failure Events by Severity: Insights From the VICTORIA Trial. J Card Fail. 2023 Aug;29(8):1113-1120. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2023.04.015. Epub 2023 Jun 17.

    PubMed 37331690
  • Butler J, Zheng Y, Khan MS, Bonderman D, Lund LH, deFilippi CR, Blaustein RO, Ezekowitz JA, Freitas C, Hernandez AF, O'Connor CM, Voors AA, Westerhout CM, Lam CSP, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Ejection Fraction, Biomarkers, and Outcomes and Impact of Vericiguat on Outcomes Across EF in VICTORIA. JACC Heart Fail. 2023 May;11(5):583-592. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2022.12.014. Epub 2023 Apr 12.

    PubMed 37137660
  • Armstrong PW, Zheng Y, Troughton RW, Lund LH, Zhang J, Lam CSP, Westerhout CM, Blaustein RO, Butler J, Hernandez AF, Roessig L, O'Connor CM, Voors AA, Ezekowitz JA; VICTORIA Study Group. Sequential Evaluation of NT-proBNP in Heart Failure: Insights Into Clinical Outcomes and Efficacy of Vericiguat. JACC Heart Fail. 2022 Sep;10(9):677-688. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2022.04.015. Epub 2022 Jul 6.

    PubMed 36049817
  • Senni M, Lopez-Sendon J, Cohen-Solal A, Ponikowski P, Nkulikiyinka R, Freitas C, Vlajnic VM, Roessig L, Pieske B. Vericiguat and NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: analyses from the VICTORIA trial. ESC Heart Fail. 2022 Dec;9(6):3791-3803. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.14050. Epub 2022 Jul 26.

    PubMed 35880474
  • Senni M, Alemayehu WG, Sim D, Edelmann F, Butler J, Ezekowitz J, Hernandez AF, Lam CSP, O'Connor CM, Pieske B, Ponikowski P, Roessig L, Voors AA, Westerhout CM, McMullan C, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Efficacy and safety of vericiguat in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction treated with sacubitril/valsartan: insights from the VICTORIA trial. Eur J Heart Fail. 2022 Sep;24(9):1614-1622. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2608. Epub 2022 Jul 20.

    PubMed 35791083
  • Butler J, Stebbins A, Melenovsky V, Sweitzer NK, Cowie MR, Stehlik J, Khan MS, Blaustein RO, Ezekowitz JA, Hernandez AF, Lam CSP, Nkulikiyinka R, O'Connor CM, Pieske BM, Ponikowski P, Spertus JA, Voors AA, Anstrom KJ, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Vericiguat and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From the VICTORIA Trial. Circ Heart Fail. 2022 Jun;15(6):e009337. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.121.009337. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

    PubMed 35656822
  • Lam CSP, Mulder H, Lopatin Y, Vazquez-Tanus JB, Siu D, Ezekowitz J, Pieske B, O'Connor CM, Roessig L, Patel MJ, Anstrom KJ, Hernandez AF, Armstrong PW; VICTORIA Study Group. Blood Pressure and Safety Events With Vericiguat in the VICTORIA Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Nov 16;10(22):e021094. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.021094. Epub 2021 Nov 6.

    PubMed 34743540

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Vericiguat in people with Heart Failure and Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 25 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Nov 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 29 Jun 2020). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Time to First Occurrence of Composite Endpoint of Cardiovascular (CV) Death or Heart Failure (HF) Hospitalization (time frame: Up to approximately 33 months (through primary analysis database cutoff date of 18-June-2019)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02861534, which also lists 22 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Nov 2021.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in