A Trial of Bardoxolone Methyl in Patients With CKD at Risk of Rapid Progression (MERLIN)

This multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial will study the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of bardoxolone methyl in qualified patients with CKD due to multiple etiologies at risk of rapid disease progression. Approximately 70 patients will be enrolled and randomized 1:1 to either bardoxolone methyl or placebo. Patients with CKD secondary to varying etiologies will be enrolled from age 18-70 years with eGFR ≥ 20 to < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and other risk factors for rapid progression of kidney disease.

The maximum target dose will be determined by baseline proteinuria status. Patients with baseline urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) ≤ 300 mg/g will be titrated to a maximum dose of 20 mg, and patients with baseline UACR > 300 mg/g will be titrated to a maximum dose of 30 mg. Qualified patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either bardoxolone methyl or placebo once daily (preferably in the morning) throughout a 12-week dosing period.

Patients in the study will follow the same visit and assessment schedule. Patients will be assessed during treatment at Day 1, Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 and by telephone contact on Days 3, 10, 21, 31, 35, and 45. Date of last dose and the end-of-treatment assessments mark the end of the treatment period. Patients will not receive study drug during a 5-week off-treatment period between Weeks 12 and 17. The off-treatment (OT) period includes 5 visits requiring various assessments to characterize eGFR from the time of study drug discontinuation through Day 35 off-treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Diseases Chronic Disease Disease Attributes Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Kidney Diseases Male Urogenital Diseases Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Renal Insufficiency Renal Insufficiency, Chronic Urogenital Diseases Urologic Diseases

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

California Institute of Renal Research, La Mesa, California, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of CKD with screening eGFR (average of Screen A and Screen B eGFR values) ≥ 20 to < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2
Patient must meet at least one of the following criteria:

UACR ≥ 300 mg/g; OR
eGFR decline at a rate of ≥ 4 mL/min/1.73 m2 in prior year; OR
Hematuria defined as > 5-10 red blood cells (RBCs) per high power field (HPF, manual method), or documented history of positive urinary dipstick for blood in prior year, or macroscopic hematuria in prior 3 years;
Systolic blood pressure ≤ 150 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mmHg at Screen A visit after a period of rest (≥ 5 minutes);
Treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and/or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) at the maximally tolerated labeled daily dose for at least 6 weeks prior to the Screen A visit and with no anticipated changes to dose(s) during study participation.
Able to swallow capsules -

Exclusion criteria

Prior exposure to bardoxolone methyl;
CKD secondary to or associated with any of the following:

History of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)
Glomerulonephritis requiring immunosuppression in the last 6 months prior to Screen A;
Concomitant use of tolvaptan.
Systemic immunosuppression for more than 2 weeks, cumulatively, within the 12 weeks prior to Day 1 or anticipated need for immunosuppression during the study;
Patients currently taking a sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), requiring dose adjustments within 12 weeks prior to Day 1 or if dose is anticipated to change during study participation;
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level > 200 pg/mL at Screen A visit;
Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c > 11.0%) at Screen A visit;
Serum albumin < 3 g/dL at Screen A visit;
Kidney or any other solid organ transplant recipient or a planned transplant during the study;
Acute dialysis or acute kidney injury within 12 weeks prior to Screen A visit or during Screening;
History of clinically significant cardiac disease;
Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg at Screen A visit after a period of rest;
Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 at the Screen A visit;
History of malignancy within 5 years prior to Screen A visit, with the exception of localized skin or cervical carcinomas;
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis within 3 months prior to Screen A or have ever required COVID-19 related hospitalization;
Participation in other interventional clinical studies within 3 months (or if relevant 5 half-lives of that study medication, whichever is the longer) prior to Screen B;
Unwilling to practice acceptable methods of birth control;
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Treatment and study plan

Bardoxolone methyl oral capsule

Drug

Bardoxolone methyl capsules dose escalated from 5 mg to a maximum of 20 or 30 mg, depending on baseline proteinuria status

Other names: RTA 402

Placebo oral capsule

Drug

Capsule containing an inert placebo

Primary outcomes

Change From Baseline in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) at Week 12

Time frame: Baseline through 12 weeks after participant receives the first dose

To assess the change in eGFR from baseline to week 12. eGFR is a measure of kidney function assessed through blood/serum. Higher eGFRs represent better/improved kidney function. Lower eGFRs represent poorer/decreased kidney function.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Biogen

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 2 Trial to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Bardoxolone Methyl in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease at Risk of Rapid Progression

Acronym: MERLIN

Important dates

Study start: 2021
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2021
First posted: Jan 11, 2021
Registry last updated: Jun 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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