Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 120 million adults. Treatment has evolved from managing symptoms to preventing events, with statin drugs, blood pressure medications, and newer SGLT2 inhibitors now keeping many people alive decades longer. Research is shifting toward personalized prevention and repairing damaged heart muscle.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing gene therapies for inherited heart conditions, RNA-based drugs to lower cholesterol beyond what statins achieve, anti-inflammatory medications to prevent heart attacks, and stem cell approaches to regenerate heart tissue after damage. Researchers are also studying whether GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide protect the heart through mechanisms beyond weight loss.
RNA-targeted therapies
Drugs like inclisiran use RNA interference to shut down cholesterol production in the liver, requiring injections only twice a year. FDA-approved in 2021, this approach may help people who can't tolerate statins or need additional LDL lowering.
Heart regeneration
Researchers are testing whether stem cells, cardiac patches, or proteins can stimulate the heart to repair muscle damaged by heart attacks. Unlike other organs, the heart has limited natural repair capacity.
Inflammation targeting
Studies suggest that inflammation drives atherosclerosis as much as cholesterol does. Drugs targeting specific inflammatory pathways, including colchicine and monoclonal antibodies, are being tested to prevent recurrent heart attacks.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on specific heart condition, cholesterol or blood pressure levels, prior heart events, current medications, and kidney function.
What types of trials are currently open
- Prevention trials — Testing medications, lifestyle interventions, or supplements to prevent first or recurrent heart attacks and strokes in people at risk.
- Heart failure trials — Testing drugs or devices to improve symptoms and survival in people whose hearts can't pump effectively, including SGLT2 inhibitors and newer combinations.
- Cholesterol trials — Testing drugs that lower LDL cholesterol through new mechanisms, often in people who don't respond adequately to statins.
- Device trials — Testing implantable devices like improved pacemakers, defibrillators, or ventricular assist devices for heart failure.
- Imaging studies — Following people over time with advanced imaging to understand how atherosclerosis develops and which plaques are most dangerous.
Recently added Heart Diseases trials
Take a weekly injection to test a new diabetes treatment
This study is being conducted to find out how well zenagamtide works and how safe it is compared to insulin glargine in participants with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems and are already taking 1 to 3 diabetes medications. There are 2 study treatments in this study taken as injections under the skin once a week. Participants will either get zenagamtide, (the treatment being tested) or insulin glargine (a comparator) and which treatment participants get is decided by chance.
Precision TOF-Guided Sugammadex Versus Spontaneous Recovery for Early Extubation in Minimally Invasive Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
This prospective observational cohort study evaluates a precision neuromuscular management strategy in pediatric patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Integrating MICS with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways has transformed perioperative management of congenital heart disease by enabling earlier recovery and reducing dependence on intensive care resources. A key component of these fast-track protocols is early tracheal extubation, preferably in the operating room (OR). Successful OR extubation promotes rapid return to spontaneous ventilation, decreases ICU utilization, and reduces the respiratory and hemodynamic risks associated with prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation. To address critical perioperative challenges, including improving recovery outcomes and optimizing resource utilization in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) children's hospitals, this study compares the clinical efficacy, safety, and resource outcomes of quantitative train-of-four (TOF)-guided sugammadex administration with actively monitored spontaneous recovery.
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