SARASOTA, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2025) – People who experience a sudden cardiac event related to a genetic or inherited heart condition may be eligible to participate in a new clinical trial offered by Sarasota Memorial's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute.
Led locally by SMH cardiologist and principal investigator Jeffrey Rossi, MD, the research study is evaluating whether the investigational drug dalcetrapib can reduce mortality and heart attacks in heart patients with a recent sudden cardiac event who test positive for an AA genotype, a specific genetic variant in the ADCY9 gene. Based on the results of a previous research study, these patients with the ADCY9 AA genotype may benefit from treatment with dalcetrapib in terms of a potential reduction in future cardiac events.
The phase 3, multi-center trial sponsored by DalCor Pharmaceuticals will enroll up to 2000 people at more than 200 research sites across North America. Enrollment may be offered in the hospital following a cardiac event or after a patient is released from the hospital up to 12 weeks following a cardiac event. The study is placebo-controlled and randomized, meaning half the enrolled patients will receive a placebo and half will receive the study medication. Participants will be monitored at regular intervals throughout the study period.
To be eligible, patients must be over the age 45 and recently hospitalized for a sudden cardiac event or within 3 months following a cardiac-related hospitalization, and test positive for the specified AA genotype.
For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact the research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com. For information about the national trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov.
About the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
Located on the flagship Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota campus, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute serves as a premier hub for medical research and clinical innovation. With dedicated space for research, clinical innovation and graduate medical education, the Kolschowsky Institute provides a collaborative learning environment for physicians, nurses, researchers and students studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care. Through state-of-the-art simulation labs, hands-on training programs, and a robust portfolio of clinical studies, Sarasota Memorial and the Kolschowsky Institute play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare in the region. For more information, click here.