Stanford to Partner with VUMC on Metformin Trials

Stanford's Division of Vascular Surgery is partnering with Vrije Universteit Medische Centra (VUMC) in Amsterdam to study potential mechanisms by which metformin may suppress abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease, a leading cause of premature death in adults.

Division Chief Dr. Ron Dalman and VUMC's Dr. Kak Khee Yeung spoke about metformin and its relation to AAA in a recent interview with VIETHtv.

"[Stanford] identified metformin as a possibly effective agent in preventing progression of [AAA] disease," said Dr. Dalman said in the interview. "Since we made this initial observation, it has been confirmed in several different populations worldwide and we've gotten to the point now where we need to know more about exactly in what circumstances does it work and more importantly how does it work."

The Department has a clinical trial proposal pending before the NIH, with a decision expected later this year.