A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Programmable Hypertension Control (BackBeat Moderato) and Pacing (BackBeat Moderato) in Hypertension,Essential and Systolic Hypertension, sponsored by BackBeat Medical Inc. Completed at 6 sites in 3 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-22.
Sponsored by BackBeat Medical Inc · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Basic science
This washout protocol is structured as a sub-study for patients willing to participate after finishing the double blind randomised phase of the clinical trial, NCT02837445. Devices will be turned off for a week approximately. Patients will have their PHC programmed to automatically turn off 24 hr after a medical and technical visit and remain in regular pacing. Ambulatory recording of the BP will start at the end of the visit, and continue for 24 hr after the turn off time (48 hr recording). Conversely, patients will return at the end of the first week, when a second 48 hr recording will be initiated, this time, the PHC will be programmed to turn on 24 hr later. The recordings therefore will provide data of the ON to OFF transition for the evaluation of the residual effect of PHC after 24 h and after week.
As detailed in protocol CS-03, the BackBeat Moderato system applies standard pacing signals according to a specially timed, alternating sequence short and longer atrioventricular (AV) delays, to reduce blood pressure as a treatment for hypertension. The algorithm that governs the delivery of these pacing signals is referred to as Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) and the signals are referred to as Programable Hypertension Control (PHC) signals, (refer to Clinical Evaluation of Safety and Effectiveness of the BackBeat Medical Moderato System in Patients With Hypertension: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial, NCT02837445) As currently used, CNT requires continuous right ventricle (RV) pacing. However, due to potentially long-term effects of CNT on baroceptor function, intermittent deactivation of CNT could reduce the overall amount of pacing without loss of efficacy. Support for this hypothesis comes from a preclinical testing of CNT that was detailed in "Chapter II - Pre-Clinical Testing" of the approved Investigator Brochure. BackBeat Medical conducted a chronic feasibility study in 4 dogs with hypertension induced by renal artery banding which were implanted with a Moderato IPG for 4 months. Results from this study showed that when CNT was turned off after 30 days of continuous CNT, there was a very slow increase in systolic pressure, approaching pre-therapy levels only several weeks later. A 50% residual effect remained at 20 days, with a total washout period of approximately 30 days.
One possible explanation for this observation is that the signal beneficially changes the pressure"set point" of the baroceptor reflexes. Changes in the set point could result from changes at the level of either the pressure sensor in the carotid sinus or within the pressure regulatory region of the central nervous system; namely the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the medulla oblongata.
This sub-study aims to evaluate whether and for how long the blood-pressure lowering effect of CNT persists following its cessation in patients who have been treated with CNT for a prolonged period of time.
478 studies on the registry are indexed under Essential Hypertension; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 28 is below the median of 144 across 406 interventional studies indexed under Essential Hypertension.
Browse Essential Hypertension studies →BackBeat Medical Inc is the lead sponsor of 12 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
TIA (transient ischaemic attack)
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Programmable Hypertension Control can be turned OFF without affecting regular pacing
Programmable Hypertension Control can be turned OFF without affecting regular pacing
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) between baseline (PHC ON) and PHC OFF at two consecutive time points: (a) after one day and (b) after a week of PHC OFF
The first 24 hr of the first recording will be used to obtain the average for the baseline SBP value. As PHC is automatically turned OFF while the recording continues for another 24 hrs, the latter 24 hr will be used to obtain the average SBP of the first day with PHC OFF. A week later, the first 24 hr of the second recording will be used to obtain the average change in SBP to compare to the baseline (PHC ON).
Time frame: one week
This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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BackBeat Medical Inc