Implementation of Metformin theraPy to Ease Decline of Kidney Function in Polycystic Kidney Disease (IMPEDE-PKD)

Last updated: May 7, 2025
Sponsor: The University of Queensland
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

3

Condition

Kidney Failure

Treatment

Control

Metformin XR

Clinical Study ID

NCT04939935
AKTN16.01
  • Ages 18-70
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This study will investigate if a medication (metformin) widely used in the treatment of diabetes could be re-purposed for the treatment of patients with a diagnosis of early stage ADPKD to slow the rate of kidney function decline, reducing morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life for ADPKD patients.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible to participate in this trial, patients must satisfy all of the following inclusion criteria:

  1. Willing to participate and provide informed consent

  2. Aged 18-70 years

  3. Diagnosis of ADPKD based on radiological +/- genetic criteria as per Kidney HealthAustralia - Caring for Australians and New Zealanders with Kidney Impairment (KHA-CARI) Guidelines

  4. eGFR equal to or greater than 38 mL/min/1.73m2 and <90 mL/min/1.73m2

And have either:

5(a) One or more risk factors of progression from the following:

  • Bilateral kidney length equal to or greater than16.5 cm, or

  • Total Kidney Volume (TKV) equal to or greater than 750 mL or height-adjusted TKV (htTKV) equal to or greater than 600 mL/m2, or

  • Mayo class IC/D/E or Pro-PKD score equal to or greater than 6 OR 5(b) Evidence ofActive progression

  • Decline in eGFR equal to or greater than 5 mL/min/1.73m2 in one year, or

  • Decline in eGFR equal to or greater than 3 mL/min/1.73m2 per year over five years ormore. or

  • Increase in htTKV/TKV of equal to or greater than 5% per year on at least 2measurements in the past year, excluding any initial eGFR effect over the initial 3months of tolvaptan commencement (if applicable) Note: Tolvaptan therapy must havebeen in place for at least 6 months with stable dose for at least 3 months.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Diabetes mellitus (as per American Diabetes Association definition), or othersystemic conditions that may cause CKD independent of PKD (excluding hypertension)

  2. Uncontrolled hypertension (Systolic BP >160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP >100 mmHg aftera period of rest)

  3. Clinically significant heart failure, including but not limited to New York HeartAssociation Class (NYHA) III or IV

  4. Non-polycystic liver disease, including but not limited to:

  5. Liver enzymes (ALT, AST or Total Bilirubin) >2 times the upper limit of normal,except when a diagnosis of Gilbert Syndrome exists and/or,

  6. Child-Pugh classification score equal to or greater than 5

  7. Any contraindication to metformin including abnormal liver function tests oruntreated Vitamin B12 deficiency

  8. Currently taking metformin

  9. Pregnancy or breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant in the next three years.

  10. Comorbidities with potential to contaminate trial outcomes, specifically activecancer, history of other solid organ transplantations, active chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), active inflammatory bowel disease, and the presence ofstoma.

  11. History of dialysis.

Study Design

Total Participants: 1174
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Control
Phase: 3
Study Start date:
November 29, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
May 31, 2027

Study Description

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) affects 12.5 million people worldwide and is the 4th leading cause of kidney failure. Cyst growth begins in childhood, and over decades leads to painful kidneys, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. ADPKD patients also have a high prevalence of anxiety, depression and poor quality of life. Despite this enormous burden, there is a lack of evidence for therapies and affordable, effective treatment options. To date, only one disease modifying therapy is licensed for use in ADPKD (tolvaptan), but it is limited by its restricted availability, side effects and high cost. Metformin, an inexpensive and familiar drug, has been shown in previous studies to target cyst-forming signals, thereby slowing the cyst growth rate. IMPEDE-PKD is an Australian-led global Phase III randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of metformin on ADPKD disease progression. The study will recruit a total of 1,174 adult ADPKD patients from around the world (250 from Australia). The outcomes of this research will identify effective and targeted therapies for ADPKD that will slow kidney function decline, reduce the impact of the illness and likelihood of death, and improve the quality of life for ADPKD patients and families.

Connect with a study center

  • Renal Research

    Gosford, New South Wales 2250
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal North Shore Hospital

    Sydney, New South Wales 2065
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

    Sydney, New South Wales 2050
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Western Sydney Local Health District

    Sydney, New South Wales 2145
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Westmead Hospital - Western Sydney Local Health District

    Sydney, New South Wales 2145
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Bundaberg Hospital

    Bundaberg, Queensland 4670
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Townsville University Hospital

    Douglas, Queensland 4814
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

    Herston, Queensland 4006
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Princess Alexandra Hospital

    Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal Adelaide Hospital

    Adelaide, South Australia 5000
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Austin Health

    Melbourne, Victoria 3084
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Monash Health

    Melbourne, Victoria 3168
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Monash Medical Centre

    Melbourne, Victoria 3168
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal Melbourne Hospital

    Melbourne, Victoria 3052
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital

    Perth, Western Australia 6009
    Australia

    Active - Recruiting

  • Te Whatu Ora - Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty

    Tauranga, Bay Of Plenty 3112
    New Zealand

    Active - Recruiting

  • Te Whatu Ora - Te Tai Tokerau

    Whangārei, Northland 0110
    New Zealand

    Active - Recruiting

  • Te Whatu Ora - Southern

    Dunedin, Otago 9016
    New Zealand

    Active - Recruiting

  • Te Whatu Ora - Taranaki

    New Plymouth, Taranaki 4310
    New Zealand

    Active - Recruiting

  • Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital

    Exeter, Devon EX2 5DW
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Nottingham Renal Unit, Nottingham City Hospital

    Nottingham, East Midlands NG5 1PB
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Raigmore Hospital

    Inverness, Inverness Shire IV2 3UJ
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Preston Hospital

    Preston, Lancashire PR2 9HT
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Salford Royal Hospital

    Salford, Lancashire M6 8HD
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Leicester General Hospital

    Leicester, Leicestershire LE5 4PW
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • St Helier Hospital

    Carshalton, London SM5 1AA
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Aintree University Hospital

    Liverpool, Merseyside L9 7AL
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

    Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7UY
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Antrim Area Hospital

    Antrim, Northern Ireland BT41 2RL
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Ulster Hospital

    Belfast, Northern Ireland BT16 1RH
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Altnagelvin Hospital

    Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT47 6SB
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Daisy Hill Hospital

    Newry, Northern Ireland BT35 8DR
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Oxford Kidney Unit, Churchill Hospital,

    Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7LE
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Doncaster Royal Infirmary

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN2 5LT
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Sheffield Kidney Institute

    Sheffield, South Yorkshire S5 7AU
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Stoke University Hospital

    Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6QG
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Freeman Hospital

    Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear NE7 7DN
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

    Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2GW
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Bradford Renal Unit, St Luke's Hospital

    Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 0NA
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • King's College Hospital

    London, SE5 9RS
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Free Hospital

    London, NW3 2QG
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

  • The Royal London Hospital

    London, E1 1FR
    United Kingdom

    Site Not Available

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