Hs-CRP-Guided Colchicine Treatment Targets in Very-High-Risk Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After PCI (TARGET-CHD)

October 30, 2026 updated by: Wenbin Zhang, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital

Colchicine Titration Guided by Hs-CRP Targets on Cardiovascular Events in Very-High-Risk Coronary Heart Disease Patients After PCI: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Noninferiority Trial

This multicenter, randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial will compare two high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) target-guided colchicine strategies in 1,768 adults with very-high-risk coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention, LDL cholesterol ≤1.4 mmol/L, and residual inflammation (hs-CRP 2.0-10.0 mg/L). Participants will be assigned 1:1 to a standard target of 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L or an intensive target of <1.0 mg/L. Both groups will start colchicine 0.25 mg orally once daily, with dose adjustments guided by hs-CRP and tolerability. The primary outcome is the 18-month composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven revascularization. The noninferiority hypothesis compares the standard target strategy with the intensive target strategy, with a prespecified hazard-ratio margin of 1.30.

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

Adults with coronary artery disease after PCI who meet very-high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease criteria, have fasting LDL cholesterol ≤1.4 mmol/L within 1 month, and have fasting hs-CRP 2.0-10.0 mg/L within 7 days before enrollment will be randomized through a central system. Randomization is stratified by center, baseline hs-CRP (<5 vs ≥5 mg/L), and age (<65 vs ≥65 years). All participants continue standard coronary disease care and start colchicine 0.25 mg orally daily. At 1 month, the intensive group maintains the dose when hs-CRP is <1.0 mg/L or, if tolerated, increases to 0.5 mg daily otherwise. The standard group reduces to 0.25 mg every other day if hs-CRP is <1.0 mg/L, continues 0.25 mg daily if hs-CRP is 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L, or, if tolerated, increases to 0.5 mg daily if hs-CRP is ≥2.0 mg/L. Participants who increase to 0.5 mg daily undergo repeat assessment after another month. If the assigned target remains unmet after one month at 0.5 mg daily, protocol-directed colchicine is stopped while clinical and safety follow-up continues under the original randomized assignment. Doses may be reduced or treatment stopped for adverse reactions; interruptions may occur during acute infection or elective surgery. Follow-up assessments occur at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, with an additional 2-month assessment for participants whose dose was increased at 1 month. An independent blinded clinical events committee adjudicates events.

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.
1768

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.
  • Not Applicable

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

  • China
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
        • Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wenbin Zhang, Dr.

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

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥18 years.
  2. Diagnosed coronary artery disease and prior percutaneous coronary intervention.
  3. Very-high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, defined as at least two major ASCVD events or one major ASCVD event plus at least two high-risk conditions according to the 2023 Chinese lipid management guideline.
  4. Fasting LDL cholesterol ≤1.4 mmol/L measured within 1 month before enrollment.
  5. Fasting hs-CRP 2.0-10.0 mg/L measured within 7 days before enrollment, without a recent infection, surgery, trauma, or other acute inflammatory condition.
  6. Voluntary written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Contraindication or allergy to colchicine, or colchicine use within the prior 4 weeks.
  2. ALT or AST >3 times the upper limit of normal, or eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m².
  3. Acute gout flare, serious infection requiring intravenous antibiotics, major surgery, or major trauma within the preceding 3 months.
  4. Malignancy with expected survival <18 months, autoimmune disease, ongoing immunosuppressive treatment, or chronic active infection such as active tuberculosis or hepatitis.
  5. Critical illness, psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment affecting informed participation, or pregnancy, as specified among excluded vulnerable groups in the protocol.
  6. Strong CYP3A4/P-glycoprotein inhibitor (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole, cyclosporine, verapamil) or moderate inhibitor (e.g., erythromycin, fluconazole) within 1 month before enrollment.
  7. Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical study.
  8. Any other reason the investigator considers the participant unsuitable.

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: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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: Standard hs-CRP Target (1.0 to <2.0 mg/L)

Colchicine 0.25 mg orally once daily at initiation, with hs-CRP-guided adjustments to target 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L. At 1 month, reduce to 0.25 mg every other day if hs-CRP <1.0 mg/L; maintain 0.25 mg daily if 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L; or, if tolerated, increase to 0.5 mg daily if ≥2.0 mg/L. If the target remains unmet after one month at 0.5 mg daily, stop protocol-directed colchicine and continue endpoint/safety follow-up. Dose reduction or discontinuation is permitted for adverse reactions.
Drug: Colchicine (Colcrys®)

Oral colchicine 0.25 mg daily initially, titrated or reduced according to hs-CRP target 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L and tolerability, with a maximum of 0.5 mg daily

Drug: Colchicine (Colcrys®)

Oral colchicine 0.25 mg daily initially, titrated according to hs-CRP target <1.0 mg/L and tolerability, with a maximum of 0.5 mg daily
Active Comparator: Intensive hs-CRP Target (<1.0 mg/L)

Colchicine 0.25 mg orally once daily at initiation, with hs-CRP-guided adjustments to target <1.0 mg/L. At 1 month, maintain 0.25 mg daily if hs-CRP <1.0 mg/L; otherwise, if tolerated, increase to 0.5 mg daily. If the target remains unmet after one month at 0.5 mg daily, stop protocol-directed colchicine and continue endpoint/safety follow-up. Dose reduction or discontinuation is permitted for adverse reactions.
Drug: Colchicine (Colcrys®)

Oral colchicine 0.25 mg daily initially, titrated or reduced according to hs-CRP target 1.0 to <2.0 mg/L and tolerability, with a maximum of 0.5 mg daily

Drug: Colchicine (Colcrys®)

Oral colchicine 0.25 mg daily initially, titrated according to hs-CRP target <1.0 mg/L and tolerability, with a maximum of 0.5 mg daily

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
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven coronary revascularization. The primary noninferiority comparison is the hazard ratio for the standard hs-CRP target strategy versus the intensive hs-CRP target strategy, with a prespecified margin of 1.30; events are adjudicated by an independent blinded clinical events committee.
From randomization through 18 months

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
Key Safety Composite Event Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to first occurrence of CTCAE grade ≥3 gastrointestinal adverse reaction, symptomatic creatine kinase elevation or rhabdomyolysis, ≥30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate, or drug-related serious adverse event. A superiority comparison of the two randomized strategies is prespecified; the direction and multiplicity sequence must match the final protocol
From randomization through 18 months
Cardiovascular Death Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to cardiovascular death, as adjudicated by the blinded clinical events committee.

Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months
From randomization through 18 months
Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to nonfatal myocardial infarction as defined in the protocol and adjudicated by the blinded clinical events committee.
From randomization through 18 months
Nonfatal Ischemic Stroke Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to nonfatal ischemic stroke as defined in the protocol and adjudicated by the blinded clinical events committee.
From randomization through 18 months
Ischemia-Driven Revascularization Through 18 Months
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Time to PCI or coronary bypass surgery performed because of ischemic symptoms or objective evidence of myocardial ischemia
From randomization through 18 months
Change in hs-CRP From Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months

Change in fasting hs-CRP concentration from baseline, expressed in mg/L, at each scheduled follow-up assessment.
Baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months
Proportion With hs-CRP <1.0 mg/L
Time Frame: 3, 6, 12, and 18 months

Proportion of evaluated participants with fasting hs-CRP <1.0 mg/L at each scheduled assessment.
3, 6, 12, and 18 months
Proportion With hs-CRP <2.0 mg/L
Time Frame: 3, 6, 12, and 18 months

Proportion of evaluated participants with fasting hs-CRP <2.0 mg/L at each scheduled assessment.
3, 6, 12, and 18 months
Average Daily Colchicine Dose
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Average administered daily colchicine dose in milligrams over the treatment period; exact denominator and handling of interruptions to be specified in the statistical analysis plan.
From randomization through 18 months
Colchicine Dose Reduction
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Proportion of participants with at least one protocol-directed reduction in colchicine dose.
From randomization through 18 months
Colchicine Discontinuation
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Proportion of participants who permanently discontinue protocol-directed colchicine, with reasons recorded
From randomization through 18 months
Cumulative Colchicine Exposure Duration
Time Frame: From randomization through 18 months

Total number of days taking colchicine during study follow-up; interruptions and discontinuations are recorded.
From randomization through 18 months

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.
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital

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.
December 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.
December 31, 2028

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.
December 31, 2032

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).
October 30, 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.
October 30, 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.
November 5, 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.
November 5, 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.
October 30, 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.
October 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.
  • TARGET-CHD

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

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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