Cardiol Therapeutics Enrolls First Patient in Pivotal Phase III MAVERIC Trial in Recurrent Pericarditis

Core Insights - Cardiol Therapeutics has initiated the pivotal Phase III MAVERIC trial to evaluate CardiolRx™ for preventing recurrent pericarditis, with the first patient enrolled at Northwestern University [3][4][6] - The trial is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy of CardiolRx™ in patients at high risk for disease relapse [3][5][8] - CardiolRx™ has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US FDA and targets the inflammasome pathway, which is crucial in the development of pericarditis [6][12] Company Overview - Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for heart disease [11] - The lead drug candidate, CardiolRx™, is an oral solution that aims to inhibit the inflammasome pathway, which is linked to inflammation and fibrosis in heart conditions [11][12] - The company has received FDA authorization for clinical studies evaluating CardiolRx™ in recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis [12] Trial Details - The MAVERIC trial aims to enroll 110 patients across approximately 20 clinical sites in the US, Canada, and Europe [8][9] - The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of CardiolRx™ on preventing new episodes of recurrent pericarditis at 24 weeks [8][9] - Previous Phase II data indicated significant reductions in pericarditis pain and inflammation, with a notable decrease in recurrence rates [6][9] Market Context - Recurrent pericarditis affects an estimated 38,000 patients annually in the US, with a significant portion experiencing multiple recurrences [10] - Current treatment options are limited, with the only FDA-approved therapy being costly and primarily used as a third-line intervention [10] - The trial addresses a critical need for new treatment options earlier in the care pathway for patients suffering from this debilitating condition [5][10]