Clinical Trial Unit | MedUni Vienna

Our departments

Our Vision

Our Clinical Trial Unit is dedicated to advancing the treatment landscape for individuals with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. We are a highly skilled, multiprofessional team that collaborates seamlessly in a state-of-the-art facility designed for both clinical and translational research. With extensive experience in designing and conducting a variety of clinical trials—ranging from drug intervention studies to observational and strategic trials, we are committed to conduct our research with the highest standards and to provide innovative care and new treatment options to our patients. Our close partnerships with academic institutions and industry partners along with access to large patient cohorts enhance our ability to perform as a top-level study site or sponsor in multicentric & multinational trials.

What we offer:

Mutliprofessional team of clinicians, study coordinators, study nurses, biostatisticians, clinical and basic Researchers.
Multidisciplinary setting embedded in the Vienna General Hospital, one of the largest european hospitals with over 30 different clinical departments.
Top research facility of the medical university vienna with access to wet labs, biomedical imaging and other basic science core facilities.
Access to large patient cohorts of different rheumatic conditions visiting our outpatient clinics.
Experience in designing and conducting phase II - IV clinical trials, non-interventional trials, experimental trials & imaging trials.

Contact us:
E-mail: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at
Phone: 01 40400 54145

Current Clinical Trials

Updates (as of January 2026)

Addition of new clinical trials:
CYTB323K12201 (Systemic sclerosis)
SPA-EXPEDITE (Axial Spondyloarthritis)

Change of status for already entered clinical trials:
Horizon HZN-1116 (Sjögren Syndrome) > Recruitment & Study closed
DAISY (Systemic sclerosis) > Recruitment & Study closed
ARGNX (Myositis) > Recruitment & Study closed

Rheumatoide Arthritis (RA)

Arthralgia Suspicious for Progression to Rheumatoid Arthritis (ASPRA)
Description: Risk evaluation for the development of rheumatoid arthritis in seropositive and seronegative patients with arthralgia.
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Bio-Test (SQUEEZE)
Description: This study aims to establish a correlation between the expression levels of target molecules in the tissue (synovial tissue) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the response to treatment with targeted DMARDs (modes of action)..
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

MethMax (SQUEEZE)
Description: This study investigates the optimization of methotrexate therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis through dose escalation and subcutaneous administration. At the same time, innovative biomarkers and treatment adherence are being tested.
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: methmax@meduniwien.ac.at
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The Rheumatoid Arthritis therapeutic DRUg Monitoring trial (RA-DRUM) (SQUEEZE)
Description: The RA-DRUM study aims to determine whether measuring drug levels (therapeutic drug monitoring - TDM) followed by individual adjustment of dosing intervals can improve the effectiveness of adalimumab in maintaining disease control in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Stop-PsA
Description: Observational trial in Psoriasis patients with Arthralgia to identify risk factors and molecular mechanisms for the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

PsABIOnd
Description: Assessments of guselkumab(Tremfya®) and IL 17 inhibitor therapies in patients with psoriatic arthritis in routine clinical practice; a prospective observational study in cohorts.
Status: Recruitment closed.
Contact: CTU_rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)

SPA-EXPEDITE
Description: Observational study investigating the impact of bimekizumab on disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis in routine clinical practice.
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Myositis

IVIG SPARE
Description: A randomized, double-blind, Placebo-controlled pilot study evaluating efficacy and safety of Upadacitinib in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies after withdrawal of intravenous immunoglobulins
Status: Ongoing recruitement.
Contact: CTU_rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

JASMINE
Description: A phase III study to determine the efficacy and safety of anifrolumab in myositis.
Status: Ongoing recruitement.
Contact: CTU_rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Systemic sclerosis

CYTB323K12201
Description: Phase-II-Study to evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the CAR-T-Cell-Therapy Rapcabtagene Autoleucel following Lymphodepletion in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Sjögren Syndrome

DAFFODIL
Description: Phase-III-Study to assess the Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab in Adults with Moderate to Severe Sjögren's Disease.
Status: Ongoing recruitment.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

CYTB323J12201
Description: Phase-II-Study to evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the CAR-T-Cell-Therapy Rapcabtagene Autoleucel following Lymphodepletion in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Active, Refractory Lupus Nephritis.
Status: Ongoing recruitement.
Contact: CTU_Rheuma@meduniwien.ac.at