A Phase 2 interventional study of LXE408 and Placebo in Chagas Disease, sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Recruiting at 22 sites in 4 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals (part of Novartis) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This study is to investigate the ability of LXE408 to clear or reduce the level of parasites in the blood of people with chronic Chagas disease. Participants must have chronic Chagas disease without severe organ dysfunction.
This is an interventional, phase 2, PoC (Proof of Concept) randomized, participant- and investigator-blinded, controlled, parallel group study, with 4 treatment arms. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy (anti-parasitological activity), safety, PK (pharmacokinetics), and PD (pharmacodynamics) of LXE408 in participants with CICD (chronic indeterminate Chagas disease) and chronic Chagas disease without severe cardiac or gastrointestinal dysfunction compared to placebo and to benznidazole.
73 studies on the registry are indexed under Chagas Disease; 5 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 130 is above the median of 87 across 49 interventional studies indexed under Chagas Disease.
Browse Chagas Disease studies →Novartis Pharmaceuticals is the lead sponsor of 2,718 studies on the registry; 221 are open to participants now.
Of its 585 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 438 (75%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Known or suspected ongoing, chronic or recurrent viral, bacterial or fungal infectious diseases including but not limited to: Tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, severe malaria, atypical mycobacterial infection, listeriosis, aspergillosis, or endemic mycoses, and/or documented positivity for (HIV) infection.
Any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs, or which may jeopardize the participant during the study period
Any single parameter of , AST, alkaline phosphatase must not exceed 1.5x ULN at screening Serum must not exceed the ULN at screening elevated serum bilirubin is not excluded if there is a documented history of Gilbert's Syndrome
History of renal disease as indicated by creatinine level above 1.5x ULN or microalbuminuria at screening; Evidence of urinary obstruction, or difficulty in voiding at screening; evidence of congenital renal abnormalities with known effect on renal function; calculated \<60 mL/min (\<0.835 mL/s) using the CKD-EPI formula for adults
Use of benznidazole in the blinded arms is prohibited until unblinding occurs after all participants complete Month 12.
Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
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.
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.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
The number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a given amount of blood. It is used to follow how well the immune system is doing in HIV.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
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.
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.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
CD4 count
The number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a given amount of blood. It is used to follow how well the immune system is doing in HIV.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
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.
LXE408 administered by oral route
LXE408 administered by oral route, followed by Placebo administered by oral route
Drug: LXE408 · Drug: Placebo
Placebo administered by oral route
Drug: Placebo
Benznidazole administered by oral route
Drug: Benznidazole
LXE408 administered by oral route
Placebo administered by oral route
Benznidazole administered by oral route (administered as standard of care)
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months - LXE408 28 days versus placebo.
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months - LXE408 -14 days versus placebo
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results over 6 months-LXE408 - 28 days and 14 days versus benznidazone
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 months, 4 months, and at 6 months. At each timepoint, multiple samples are evaluated. The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all 3 visits.
Time frame: At Months 2, 4, and 6
Presence or absence of early parasitological clearance
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample.
Time frame: At Day 7, 14 and 28
Presence or absence of sustained parasitological clearance over 12 months by PCR testing
The parasitological load will be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The participant will be considered negative at a visit if the parasite is not detectable in all samples at a visit and positive if the parasite level is detectable in at least one sample. Sustained parasitological clearance is achieved if participant is negative at all subsequent visits.
Time frame: 12 Months
Time to parasitological clearance based on serial PCR testing
Time to parasitological clearance based on PCR by treatment will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier approach.
Time frame: 12 Months
Presence or absence of seroreversion using conventional serology
Seroreversion as measured by conventional serology will be evaluated at 6 and 12-month study visits. Seroreversion is determined by the proportion of participants achieving serology changes from positive at baseline to negative at each time point.
Time frame: At Month 6 and Month 12
Occurrence and severity of treatment emergent adverse events during the study
Incidence and severity of AEs by treatment group, including changes in the vital signs, electrocardiogram and laboratory results qualifying and reported as AEs.
Time frame: Up to 12 Months
Occurrence of adverse events resulting in treatment discontinuation
Incidence of AEs that result in treatment discontinuation.
Time frame: Up to 12 Months
Occurrence of all-cause mortality through end of study visit
Incidence of death through the end of study visit.
Time frame: Up to 48 Months
Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of LXE408
Cmax is defined as the maximum (peak) observed concentration following a dose.
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
Time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) of LXE408
Tmax is defined as the time to reach maximum (peak) concentration following a dose.
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
Area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 8 hours post-dose (AUC0-8)
AUC0-8 will be calculated by non-compartmental methods based on LXE408 plasma concentration data.
Time frame: At Day 1, 7, 14, 28
Pre-dose concentration
Pre-dose concentration is the observed plasma concentration that is just prior to the beginning of, or at the end of a dosing interval.
Time frame: At Day 14 and Day 28
Not enrolling at this site — choose another above.
Plan to share: Yes — Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations. This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com.
Data sharing details ↗ · www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Studies of the drug tested here: LXE408