Use of Bile Acid Binding Resins to Decrease PFAS Levels Via Colesevalem in Veterans Study (PAVERS)

May 11, 2026 updated by: University of Rhode Island

Use of Bile Acid Binding Resins to Decrease Systemic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Levels and Improve Serum Lipid Profiles in Veterans: PFAS Reduction in Veterans Via Colesevalem Study (PAVERS) Study

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy and feasibility of Colesevelam administration (50% of the recommended dose) to reduce serum PFAS concentration in the Veteran population who have serum PFAS levels that exceed the National Academies Science criteria (PFASsix > 20 ng/ml) using a double blind-placebo controlled study. Based on PFAS prevalence in serum samples, we anticipate recruiting up to n=500 Veterans to meet the goal of n=50 study participants to receive intervention or placebo. The primary outcome will be initial and final PFAS content in serum (total and 7 individual PFAS). The secondary outcome will be initial and final serum biomarkers related to lipid metabolism. As an exploratory aspect to the proposal, we will also measure fecal PFAS, bile acids, and microbial diversity to examine associations between PFAS content and bile acid levels and microbiome. Fecal PFAS, bile acid content, and microbiome may also be measured.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This double-blind randomized controlled trial has a extended open phase to test the use of oral Colesevelam (3 x 625 mg tablets qd) for 12 weeks to lower total serum PFAS levels in individuals with >20 ng/ml PFAS. After 12 weeks, participants assigned to placebo will have an opportunity to participate in the intervention of 12 weeks. Participants on the intervention will remain on the intervention for another 24 weeks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Kentucky
      • Louisville, Kentucky, United States, 40245
        • Robley Rex VA Medical Center
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Matthew Cave, MD
        • Contact:
    • Maine
      • Augusta, Maine, United States, 04330
        • VA Maine Healthcare System
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rodney Sparks, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Angela Slitt, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion:

  • Male or female Veterans aged 25- 65 who have serum PFAS >20 ng/ml exceeding National Academy of Science guidance.
  • Written informed consent will be obtained.
  • Outpatient.
  • Agreeable to participate in sharable data and biorepository.

Exclusion:

  • Under the age of 25 years
  • Unable or unwilling to sign the informed consent statement and HIPAA Authorization form
  • Females who are pregnant (confirmed by urine pregnancy test), nursing or planned pregnancy within study period.
  • Patients with hypertriglyceridemia, vitamin deficient patients, hyperthyroidism and diabetic, pancreatitis and intestinal and bowel obstruction
  • Be receiving any investigational drug other than Colesevelam or participating in any other investigational study.
  • Significant medical illnesses that may limit the subject's ability to complete follow-up visits, in the opinion of the investigator.
  • Be receiving any non-standard immunosuppression protocol or other non-standard treatment that could affect interpretation of the study results.
  • Those with significant cardiovascular disease including treatment with inotropes.
  • Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
  • Active substance abuse if this, in the opinion of the investigator, will interfere with the subject's ability to adhere to the study protocol.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Colesevelam
Oral Colesevelam (3 x 625 mg tablets daily) for 12 weeks
Drug: Colesevelam
A double-blind randomized controlled trial with an extended open phase to test the use of oral Colesevelam (3 x 625 mg tablets daily) for 12 weeks
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Oral placebo (3 x 250 mg once daily) for 12 weeks
Drug: Placebo
A double-blind randomized controlled trial with an extended open phase to test the use of oral Colesevelam

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
PFAS content
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Reduction PFAS content in serum (total and 7 individual PFAS).
24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Serum biomarkers
Time Frame: 24 weeks
The secondary outcome will be initial and final serum biomarkers related to lipid metabolism.
24 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exploratory
Time Frame: 24 weeks
As an exploratory aspect to the proposal, we will also measure fecal PFAS, bile acids, and microbial diversity to examine associations between PFAS content and bile acid levels and microbiome.
24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Rhode Island

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Louisville
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
Louisville VA Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Angela Slitt, PhD, The University of Rhode Island

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 29, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • AWD
  • CDMRP-TX240390 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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