Cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease can look different for everyone.

Learn more about ongoing research study opportunities.

Have you or a loved one

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suffered a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular health problems?

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been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease?

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or are you or a loved one living with risk factors that may increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease?

If so, consider joining a clinical research study for people at risk or with established cardiovascular disease and/or chronic kidney disease.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) affects the heart and blood vessels in your body. It is often associated with a buildup of plaques in your arteries. These plaques cause a hardening and thickening of the arteries, reducing blood flow or causing blockages in vital organs like the heart, brain, kidneys and lungs. This is referred to as Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). ASCVD is often considered a heart problem but can affect arteries anywhere in the body and include stroke, heart attack and damage to peripheral arteries (in the legs).

You often don’t experience any symptoms until the artery is very narrow or blocked and many people don’t know that they have plaque buildup until they have a medical emergency.

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What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when the kidneys do not work as well as they should and cannot filter blood properly. It is a long-term condition. Treating the cause and making lifestyle changes often play a big part in managing this condition.

Sometimes treatments like dialysis which helps filter your blood instead of your kidneys doing it, or kidney transplants are needed. Some causes of CKD include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and family history.

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Am I at risk of developing cardiovascular disease?

The exact cause of cardiovascular disease isn’t clear, but there are different things that can increase your risk of getting it. These are called “risk factors” and include:

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High blood pressure

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High Lp(a) levels*

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High cholesterol

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Diabetes

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Obesity

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Smoking

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Family history of heart disease

*High Lp(a), also called lipoprotein (a), levels are a risk factor for heart disease, affecting approximately 1 in 5 people worldwide. Many people don’t have symptoms and you could have a high Lp(a) level even if you have a healthy lifestyle. High Lp(a) levels can run in families, so if you have a family history of high Lp(a) you may also be at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease can look very different:

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Have you experienced a heart attack or stroke?

Have you had a coronary artery bypass?

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Do you have several of the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease?

…joining a clinical research study may be a good option for you.

Ongoing clinical research studies

Lilly is currently conducting two clinical research studies for people with cardiovascular disease or those at risk of developing it, and/ or chronic kidney disease. The purpose of these clinical research studies is to evaluate whether an investigational medicine can reduce the risk of major heart related events (such as heart attack or stroke) and/or reduce worsening in kidney function in those with kidney disease. If you are interested in learning more about these clinical research studies and to find out if you are eligible to participate, click here to complete our short questionnaire.

What happens if I participate in one of the studies?

If you are eligible and decide to take part in one of the clinical research studies, you will be randomly assigned to get either the investigational medicine or placebo (a substance that looks like the investigational medicine but contains no active ingredients). You and your study doctor will not know which study medicine you are getting. 

Your health will be closely monitored throughout the clinical research study. You will visit the study site and during your visits some tests will be performed, such as blood and urine tests, ECGs (a test that records the electrical activity of your heart) and physical exams. Some visits may also be carried out remotely, via a phone/video call.

Whether or not you decide to join the clinical research study is completely up to you and you can withdraw consent at any time and for any reason.

You may be reimbursed for any travel costs to the study site.

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ACCLAIM-Lp(a) Study

Who can participate in the clinical research study?

Participants with high Lp(a)* value and one of the following:

  • Are age 18 years or older and have already had a heart attack or stroke
  • Are age 55 years or older and have certain risk factors for heart disease or stroke

Duration

Up to 20 visits over 4 years (some visits after the first year can be conducted remotely).

Maintenance period

Continued follow-up visits every 3 months.

Investigational medicine

The investigational medicine or placebo is given as an injection under the skin in the abdomen.

Phase: 3

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TRIUMPH-Outcomes Study

Who can participate in the clinical research study?

Participants at least 45 years of age with at least one of the following:

  • A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease
  • A diagnosis of ASCVD
  • Participants with and without type 2 diabetes

Duration

Up to 27 visits over 5 years (some visits can be conducted remotely throughout the study).

Maintenance period

Continued follow-up visits every 3 months.

Investigational medicine

You will take the investigational medicine or placebo as an injection using an autoinjector (a device like an epi-pen).

Phase: 3

How do I Participate?

  1. Complete the online questions to see if you pre-qualify
  2. Submit your contact information
  3. Answer our call to answer more questions to help us determine which of the clinical research studies you may be eligible for
  4. Confirm your interest and study site location
  5. Speak with the study site about the next steps to participate
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Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know which clinical research study I might be eligible for, and can I participate in more than one?

After completing the short questionnaire, we will assess if you are potentially eligible for either of the two clinical research studies. If you are eligible for one or both of the clinical research studies, you will be contacted for a telephone assessment. During the telephone assessment, you will be asked more questions to help us identify which one of the two clinical research studies may be the best fit for you. You will only be able to participate in one of the clinical research studies.

What is a clinical research study?

A clinical research study is a medical study that helps to answer important questions about investigational medicines, such as:

  • Is it safe?
  • Does it work?
  • Are there side effects?

Why is clinical research important?

All medicines must be tested in clinical research studies before they can be approved for doctors to give to patients. Without people taking part in these clinical research studies, we would not have new medicines.

Who runs clinical research studies?

Clinical research studies can be sponsored, or funded, by pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, academic medical centres, voluntary groups, or health care providers. These studies are funded by Lilly.

Every study site is led by a study doctor, who is a medical doctor. Clinical research studies also have a research team that may include doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals.

What are the phases of clinical research studies?

Clinical research studies are conducted in different phases. Below is a short description of these phases.

  • Phase 1 clinical research studies: Researchers test a medicine or therapy in a small group of people for the first time to assess its safety and identify side effects.
  • Phase 2 and 3 clinical research studies: The medicine or therapy is given to a larger group of people to see if it works and to further check its safety.
  • Phase 4 clinical research studies: This involves use of the medicine in real-world experience over a long period of time. This provides more information on the benefits and risks of the medicine.