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Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06956209

Akyva First In Human

The goal of this study is to check if the study device, the Akyva System, is safe to use and to find out if it has any possible side effects. Researchers will see if the study device can help you urinate without the need for catheterization, which involves passing a catheter (small tube) into the bladder, and if there is improvement in the leftover urine amount in your bladder after urinating or trying to urinate.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

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Key information

Age range

22 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

List of Eligibility Criteria apply to both Non-neurogenic and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Neurogenic underactive bladder study participants unless otherwise noted.

Inclusion criteria

  • Are male or female, as assigned at birth, aged ≥ 22 years of age. (SCI Only: 22 to 70 years of age)
  • Able to initiate at least three (3) volitional voiding episodes over the 7-day period based on review of their 7-day bladder diary collected between day of consent and before the implant procedure.
  • Currently performing clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) for urinary retention at a rate of ≥7 catheterization episodes over the 7-day period, as reflected in a 7-day bladder diary collected between day of consent and before the implant procedure.
  • Are medically fit to withstand abdominal-pelvic surgery under general anesthesia, as evaluated by standard-of-care pre-operative surgical clearance.
  • Females of childbearing potential must agree to the use of contraception for the duration of the study
  • Are able to understand the risks associated with the study, are willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to any study-related activity, willing and capable of participating in all follow up assessments and willing to undergo all study assessments as described at an approved clinical investigator site.
  • No neurologic cause
  • SCI Only: Chronic spinal cord injury (>= 6 months post-injury) with sacral/infrasacral (L1 or below) lesions, or mixed lesions associated with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).

Exclusion criteria

  • Have or are scheduled for implant of any active implantable medical device (e.g., pacemaker or intrathecal or infusion pump). Individuals with implanted but inactive SNM may participate. Individuals with implanted and inactive SNM devices may participate.
  • Have metallic implants/fragments in the abdomen or pelvis (e.g., piercings or hip replacement).
  • Have a documented allergy to tissue contacting Akyva System materials: tecothane, titanium, silicone, epoxy, stainless steel, nickel/cobalt/chromium/molybdenum, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), platinum, iridium, polymethylpentene (TPX), polycarbonate, polyester.
  • In the opinion of the Investigator(s), participants who need or are likely to need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of their routine care for the duration of the study. If MRI is clinically indicated, during or after the study, explant of the Akyva System may be required
  • Have active infection requiring treatment with antibiotics at Screening, unless cleared before Akyva System Surgical Implant (Visit 2).
  • Previous or planned major surgical procedures, including, but not exclusive to: prior mesh implant, augmentation cystoplasty, urinary diversion, bladder reconstruction, sacrocolpopexy, and any other procedure that increases the risk of device implantation.
  • Active medical conditions that could increase the risk of surgery or device implantation, including, but not exclusive to: ascites, severe inflammatory diseases, bleeding or clotting disorders, severe cardiopulmonary disease, etc.
  • Have a significant clinical finding that would, in the opinion of the Surgical Co-Investigator, increase the risk associated with the implant procedure (e.g. ascites, severe inflammatory disease, bleeding or clotting disorder, other interfering devices etc.).
  • Have complete urinary retention.
  • An acontractile detrusor.
  • Any evidence of current bladder outlet obstruction from any cause, including, but not exclusive to, bladder neck stenosis, prostatic hypertrophy, or urethral stricture. Participants with prior surgical treatment of BPH with no clinical evidence of obstruction and do not require routine MRI may be included.
  • Type I or Type II diabetes, with an HbA1C ≥ 7.0% within the last 60 days from consent.
  • Have documented renal dysfunction, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 50 mL/min/1.73 m² or
  • Evidence of moderate to severe hydronephrosis (grade 3 or 4 per Society for Fetal Urology [SFU] grading scale) on renal and bladder ultrasound within 60 days prior to implant.
  • Have any history of dialysis or kidney transplant.
  • Have a history of kidney or bladder stones within the last 5 years.
  • Have any history of bladder cancer.
  • Locally advanced or metastatic thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic malignancy other than bladder cancer unless disease-free for five (5) years or greater.
  • Have any history of radiation cystitis.
  • Have had botulinum toxin injection in the bladder or pelvic floor in the past 6 months measured from the day of consent.
  • Diagnosis of overactive bladder (OAB), with urge urinary incontinence (OAB-wet), whether treated or untreated.
  • In the opinion of the PI, an iatrogenic cause, e.g., prior pelvic surgery, multiple or complicated deliveries, and/or other potential events are the suspected cause of UAB symptoms.
  • Currently using an indwelling (e.g. Foley) catheter for bladder emptying, with an exception for nighttime-only use.
  • Currently using suprapubic catheters, unless the suprapubic catheter is removed at least 30 days prior to implant.
  • Participants who are unable to discontinue anticoagulant therapy for the implant procedure.
  • Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant, not using medical birth control or who are planning to become pregnant during the anticipated study period.
  • Predicted life expectancy of less than two years from the day of consent.
  • Any condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, would preclude participation in the study (e.g., have a medical condition that may interfere with interpretation of study results, inability to adhere to the visit schedule, poor cognitive abilities, poor compliance with treatment regimen, or poor dexterity to use the system etc.).
  • Previously (within 5.5x the terminal half-life (drug trial) or 8 weeks (device trial) of the screening visit) or currently enrolled in another investigational drug or device trial that targets lower urinary tract symptoms/function.
  • Vulnerable persons such as prisoners, mentally-disabled or cognitively impaired, homeless or economically disadvantaged, nursing home patients, or others requiring legally authorized representatives.
  • Participants that work in an environment with exposures to high levels of electromagnetic interference such as working with high powered electrical equipment.

Treatment and study plan

Direct Bladder Wall Stimulation

Device

The Akyva System is an implantable device intended to electrically stimulate the bladder muscle that controls bladder emptying or urination

Primary outcomes

  1. To characterize the safety of implantation and use of the Akyva System

    Time frame: From enrollment to 6 and 18 months

    Justification of Endpoint: As this is a first-in-human study, the primary objective is to assess the safety of the implantation and use of the Akyva System for bladder wall stimulation.

    Treatment-emergent incidence rates of ADEs, SADEs, and UADEs

Secondary outcomes

  1. To assess the effect of bladder wall stimulation on bladder emptying

    Time frame: From enrollment through 18 months

    Justification of Endpoint: This would be assessed by decrease in residual urine/increase in voiding efficiency or decreases in catheter reliance.

    • Mean number of daily volitional, satisfactory voiding episodes pre- and post-implant as recorded in the bladder diary over a 3-day or 7-day period
    • Mean daily voiding efficiency pre- and post- implant as recorded in the bladder diary over a 3-day or 7-day period
    • Mean number of daily catheterizations pre- and post-implant as recorded in the bladder diary over a 3-day or 7-day period
  2. To assess the surgical feasibility of the Akyva system implantation procedure based on clinical usability survey data

    Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural

    Justification of Endpoint: Although the surgical approach to accessing the anterior-lateral bladder wall is common in practice, the placement and use of the Akyva IPG and Leads is unique. This endpoint aims to analyze the feasibility of the Akyva implantation.

    • Two Akyva Leads sutured to the anterior-lateral bladder wall connected to the Akyva IPG, and an Akyva systems check demonstrating functionality verified with no non-compliance errors.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Akyva Study Team

CONTACT

[email protected]

+1 925-788-5929

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Iota Biosciences, Inc

Industry

Collaborators

  • Astellas Pharma Inc
  • H&A LifeSciences Pty Ltd

Registry information

Official study title

A First-in-Human, Open-Label, Multicenter Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of an Implantable Device for Direct Bladder Wall Stimulation in Participants With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms of Underactive Bladder

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 15, 2026

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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