A Study of Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability of LXE408 in Participants With Chronic Chagas Disease.
Chagas Disease
What this study involves
The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Age range
- 18 years - 60 years
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 130 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
This study is to investigate the ability of LXE408 to clear or reduce the level of parasites in the blood of people with chronic Chagas disease. Participants must have chronic Chagas disease without severe organ dysfunction.
Read the full description
This is an interventional, phase 2, PoC (Proof of Concept) randomized, participant- and investigator-blinded, controlled, parallel group study, with 4 treatment arms. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy (anti-parasitological activity), safety, PK (pharmacokinetics), and PD (pharmacodynamics) of LXE408 in participants with CICD (chronic indeterminate Chagas disease) and chronic Chagas disease without severe cardiac or gastrointestinal dysfunction compared to placebo and to benznidazole.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female participants aged ≥ 18 years to ≤ 60 years old
- Confirmed diagnosis of T. cruzi infection
- History that participant has been determined to be in chronic phase of CD
- Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed, and participants should express understanding of the consent form and the study
- Participants must be considered by the investigator eligible for and able to comply with local prescribing information for benznidazole
- Ability and willingness to communicate well with the investigator/study site and comply with requirements of the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Signs (on physical examination) and/or symptoms of CD in the acute phase as determined by the investigator at screening
- History of CD treatment with benznidazole or nifurtimox at any time in the past
- History of and/or current (at screening) symptoms or signs (physical examination findings) of moderate or severe CD-related gastrointestinal disease
- Participants who weigh \< 50 kg or \>90kg at screening
- At sites conducting the MRI assessments, participants may participate in the overall study, but will be excluded from the MRI assessment if they have contraindications to MRI imaging
- Any clinically significant disease during screening that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the participant at risk through participating, or which would affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition exacerbated during the study, or would compromise participant compliance or preclude completion of the study
- Documented history or current findings at screening of clinically significant cardiovascular conditions such as, but not limited to: unstable ischemic heart disease; NYHA Class III/IV heart failure (due to Chagas disease or other conditions); arrhythmias
- Known or suspected ongoing, chronic or recurrent viral, bacterial or fungal infectious diseases including but not limited to: Tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, severe malaria, atypical mycobacterial infection, listeriosis, aspergillosis, or endemic mycoses, and/or documented positivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- Participants with controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy are eligible to participate if CD4 ≥ 500 at screening
- History of lymphoproliferative disease or any known malignancy or history of malignancy of any organ system within the past 5 years prior to screening (except for basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis that have been treated with no evidence of recurrence in the past 3 months, carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-invasive malignant colon polyps that have been removed)
- Any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs, or which may jeopardize the participant during the study period
- Pancreatic injury or pancreatitis: If any single parameter of amylase or lipase exceeds 1.5x ULN at screening Participants with known recurrent pancreatitis (more than 1 episode in lifetime, from any cause) are excluded
- Liver disease or liver injury as indicated by abnormal liver function tests (LFTs):
Any single parameter of ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase must not exceed 1.5x ULN at screening Serum bilirubin must not exceed the ULN at screening elevated serum bilirubin is not excluded if there is a documented history of Gilbert's Syndrome
- History of renal disease as indicated by creatinine level above 1.5x ULN or microalbuminuria at screening; Evidence of urinary obstruction, or difficulty in voiding at screening; evidence of congenital renal abnormalities with known effect on renal function; calculated eGFR \<60 mL/min (\<0.835 mL/s) using the CKD-EPI formula for adults
- Participants with screening hematology parameters outside of the thresholds
- Current use of medications prohibited by the protocol at screening and/or baseline visits, or expected use of any prohibited medication during the study treatment period
- Use of benznidazole in the blinded arms is prohibited until unblinding occurs after all participants complete Month 12.
- Use of other investigational drugs at the time of study drug dosing
- History of multiple and recurring allergies or allergy to the investigational compound/compound class being used in this study or to benznidazole
- History of drug abuse or unhealthy alcohol use within the 12 months prior to dosing
- Pregnant or nursing (lactating/breast-feeding) women
- Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using highly effective methods of contraception during dosing and for 5 days after stopping of investigational drug and benznidazole
- Participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, will not be able to comply with study procedures or visits, adhere to dosing schedule, or other otherwise be in compliance with study requirements
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Understand screeningTreatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- Quadruple masked
LXE408 28 days
LXE408 administered by oral route
LXE408 14 days and Placebo 14 days
LXE408 administered by oral route, followed by Placebo administered by oral route
Drug: LXE408 · Drug: Placebo
Placebo 28 days
Placebo administered by oral route
Drug: Placebo
Benznidazole 60 days
Benznidazole administered by oral route
Drug: Benznidazole
LXE408 DRUG
LXE408 administered by oral route
Placebo DRUG
Placebo administered by oral route
Benznidazole DRUG
Benznidazole administered by oral route (administered as standard of care)
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months - LXE408 28 days versus placebo.
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Secondary measures
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months - LXE408 -14 days versus placebo
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months-LXE408 - 28 days and 14 days versus benznidazone
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Presence or absence of early parasitological clearance
Time frame: At Day 7, 14 and 28
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample.
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance over 12 months by PCR testing
Time frame: 12 Months
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all subsequent visits.
Time to parasitological clearance based on serial PCR testing
Time frame: 12 Months
Time to parasitological clearance based on PCR by treatment will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier approach.
Presence or absence of seroreversion using conventional serology
Time frame: At Month 6 and Month 12
Seroreversion as measured by conventional serology will be evaluated at 6 and 12-month study visits. Seroreversion is determined by the proportion of participants achieving serology changes from positive at baseline to negative at each time point.
Occurrence and severity of treatment emergent adverse events during the study
Time frame: Up to 12 Months
Incidence and severity of AEs by treatment group, including changes in the vital signs, electrocardiogram and laboratory results qualifying and reported as AEs.
Occurrence of adverse events resulting in treatment discontinuation
Time frame: Up to 12 Months
Incidence of AEs that result in treatment discontinuation.
Occurrence of all-cause mortality through end of study visit
Time frame: Up to 48 Months
Incidence of death through the end of study visit.
Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of LXE408
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
Cmax is defined as the maximum (peak) observed concentration following a dose.
Time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) of LXE408
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
Tmax is defined as the time to reach maximum (peak) concentration following a dose.
Area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 8 hours post-dose (AUC0-8)
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
AUC0-8 will be calculated by non-compartmental methods based on LXE408 plasma concentration data.
Pre-dose concentration
Time frame: At Day 14 and Day 28
Pre-dose concentration is the observed plasma concentration that is just prior to the beginning of, or at the end of a dosing interval.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (22)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
22 locations
Olive View UCLA Educ and Res InsSylmar, California, United StatesRecruiting
University of Florida ShandsGainesville, Florida, United StatesRecruiting
Boston Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesRecruiting
Baylor College of MedicineHouston, Texas, United StatesRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteCABA, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteCABA, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteCórdoba, Córdoba Province, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteCaba, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteCorrientes, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteFormosa, ArgentinaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteMontes Claros, Minas Gerais, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteRecife, Pernambuco, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteRio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SitePorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteSão Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteSão Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteBarranquilla, Atlántico, ColombiaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteYopal, Casanare Department, ColombiaActive, not recruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteBogotá, ColombiaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteBogotá, ColombiaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteFloridablanca, ColombiaRecruiting
Novartis Investigative SiteSan Gil, ColombiaRecruiting
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals
- Study start
- Apr 28, 2025 Actual
- Primary completion
- Jul 22, 2027 Estimated
- Study completion
- Jan 21, 2031 Estimated
- First posted
- Oct 9, 2024 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
A Randomized, Participant- and Investigator-blinded, Controlled, Parallel Group Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of LXE408 in Participants With Chronic Chagas Disease Without Severe Organ Dysfunction.
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026
