ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07524101Updated Jun 16, 2026

Moderate-Intensity Statin Plus Ezetimibe in CKD and ASCVD

An interventional study of Moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination therapy and High-intensity statin monotherapy in Renal Insufficiency, Atherosclerosis and Dyslipidemia, sponsored by Yonsei University. Recruiting at 1 site in South Korea. Open to participants aged 19 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-16.

Sponsored by Yonsei University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started May 2026; still recruiting 5 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
1,952
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
19 Years to 85 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The ULTRA-CKD trial is a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial designed to compare the efficacy and safety of moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe combination therapy versus high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and concomitant atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Patients with CKD are at very high risk for ASCVD. In this population, it is important to establish a lipid-lowering strategy that optimizes cardiovascular outcomes while ensuring long-term safety. While high-intensity statins are generally considered as initial treatment option for secondary prevention, the optimal strategy for CKD patients remains to be clinicaly defined. This study aims to evaluate whether the combination of moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe is non-inferior to high-intensity statin monotherapy in terms of 3-year composite of major adverse cardiovascular events.

Read the detailed description

All eligible patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and concomitant atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) will be enrolled according to inclusion/exclusion criteria after voluntary agreement with informed consent.

At the time of enrollment, we will stratify the patients according to diabetes mellitus and dialysis status, and randomly assign them in two groups according to lipid-lowering regimen with a 1:1 ratio: "Moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe group" vs. "High-intensity statin monotherapy group".

In this study, the combination therapy strategy will utilize Pitavastatin 1-4 mg plus Ezetimibe 10 mg once daily or Atorvastatin 10-20 mg plus Ezetimibe 10 mg once daily. The monotherapy strategy will utilize Atorvastatin 40 mg once daily.

Study visits are scheduled at 4 weeks and at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months. The primary outcome is the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization. The key secondary outcome is CKD progression defined as a ≥40% decline in eGFR confirmed on at least two consecutive measurements

02

Conditions studied

  • Renal Insufficiency
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
03

In context

Renal Insufficiency

1,409 studies on the registry are indexed under Renal Insufficiency; 143 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 1,952 is above the median of 40 across 1,058 interventional studies indexed under Renal Insufficiency.

Browse Renal Insufficiency studies →

Lead sponsor

Yonsei University is the lead sponsor of 1,418 studies on the registry; 241 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years to 85 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

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.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age 19-85 years.
  2. Chronic kidney disease stage III, IV, or V ( eGFR \<60 / \<30 / \<15 mL/min/1.73 m² or on dialysis).
  3. Established ASCVD, meeting at least one of the following:

    • Prior acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction or unstable angina).
    • Stable angina confirmed by imaging studies.
    • History of coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting).
    • Peripheral artery disease.
    • Ischemic stroke or .

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Baseline LDL cholesterol \<55 mg/dL in the absence of statin therapy.
  2. Acute liver disease or persistently unexplained serum /ALT ≥2 × the .
  3. Allergy or to statins.
  4. \<1 year.
  5. Expected inability to complete at least 1 year of follow-up.
  6. Inability to read or understand the form.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(7)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
1,952 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination therapy

    Participants will receive moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe (pitavastatin 1-4 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg once daily or atorvastatin 10-20 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg once daily), with 36-month follow-up.

    Drug: Moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination therapy

  • Active comparator
    High-intensity statin monotherapy

    Participants will receive high-intensity statin monotherapy (atorvastatin 40 mg once daily), with 36-month follow-up.

    Drug: High-intensity statin monotherapy

Interventions

  • DrugModerate-intensity statin and ezetimibe combination therapy

    Participants will receive moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe (pitavastatin 1-4 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg once daily or atorvastatin 10-20 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg once daily), with 36-month follow-up.

  • DrugHigh-intensity statin monotherapy

    Participants will receive high-intensity statin monotherapy (atorvastatin 40 mg once daily), with 36-month follow-up.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Major adverse cardiovascular events

    Composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. CKD progression

    CKD progression: ≥40% decline in eGFR from baseline, confirmed on at least two consecutive measurements during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  2. Cardiovascular death.

    Death due to cardiovascular causes during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  3. Myocardial infarction.

    Occurrence of myocardial infarction during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  4. Stroke.

    Occurrence of stroke during follow-up

    Time frame: 3 years

  5. Hospitalization for unstable angina.

    Hospitalization due to unstable angina during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  6. Coronary revascularization.

    Any coronary revascularization procedure, including percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  7. Composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

    First occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  8. Composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization for unstable angina

    First occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina during follow-up

    Time frame: 3 years

  9. Composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization.

    First occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  10. Composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, and coronary revascularization.

    First occurrence of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  11. Proportion of participants achieving the LDL-C <70 mg/dL in each group.

    Proportion of participants achieving a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level below 70 mg/dL in each treatment group during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  12. Proportion of participants achieving LDL-C <55 mg/dL in each group.

    Proportion of participants achieving a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level below 55 mg/dL in each treatment group during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  13. Proportion of participants crossing over to the non-assigned treatment group in each group.

    Proportion of participants who crossed over from the assigned treatment group to the non-assigned treatment group during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  14. New-onset diabetes mellitus.

    Occurrence of new-onset diabetes mellitus during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  15. New-onset diabetes mellitus requiring initiation of antidiabetic medication.

    Occurrence of new-onset diabetes mellitus requiring initiation of antidiabetic medication during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  16. Worsening glycemic control.

    Occurrence of worsening glycemic control during follow-up

    Time frame: 3 years

  17. Marked decline in kidney function

    eGFR \<10 mL/min/1.73 m², confirmed on at least two consecutive measurements during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  18. Initiation of dialysis or kidney transplantation.

    Initiation of maintenance dialysis or receipt of kidney transplantation during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  19. Statin-associated muscle symptoms requiring a change in regimen or dose.

    Occurrence of statin-associated muscle symptoms requiring a change in statin regimen or dose during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  20. Rhabdomyolysis.

    Occurrence of rhabdomyolysis during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  21. Elevated creatine phosphokinase (CK >4 × the upper limit of normal)

    Elevation of creatine phosphokinase greater than 4 times the upper limit of normal during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  22. Elevated liver enzymes (AST and/or ALT ≥3 × the upper limit of normal)

    Elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) equal to or more than 3 times the upper limit of normal during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  23. Cancer diagnosis

    New diagnosis of cancer during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  24. Cataract surgery.

    Occurrence of cataract surgery during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  25. Hemorrhagic stroke.

    Occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke during follow-up.

    Time frame: 3 years

  26. Major bleeding (BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding), assessed among participants who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with new stent implantation at study enrollment.

    Major bleeding defined as BARC type 2, 3, or 5 bleeding, assessed among participants who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with new stent implantation at study enrollment.

    Time frame: 3 years

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started May 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2031, 55 months after the start.

Of 118 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Renal Insufficiency, half reached primary completion within 22 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 49. This study's planned 55 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 149 studies reached it within 22 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 48.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Apr 3, 2026
First posted
Apr 13, 2026
StartActual
May 28, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Jan 22, 2031
CompletionEst.
Jan 22, 2031
Last update
Jun 16, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 16, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07524101
Lead sponsor
Yonsei University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 13, 2026
Start date
May 28, 2026
Primary completion
Jan 22, 2031 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 22, 2031 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 16, 2026

Study contacts

Jung-Sun Kim, Professor
Contact
kjs1218@yuhs.ac
+82-2-2228-8460

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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