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Trial of Leptin Administration After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Effects of Leptin on Body Weight and Neuroendocrine Axes After Gastric Bypass

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00710814
Enrollment
31
Registered
2008-07-04
Start date
2008-04-30
Completion date
2014-07-31
Last updated
2015-11-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Overweight

Keywords

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Leptin, Bariatric surgery, Overweight after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

Brief summary

This is a pilot and feasibility study to examine a novel intervention using leptin in weight-reduced individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery but still remain obese. Leptin, a peptide hormone secreted from adipose tissue, is a regulator of food intake and energy expenditure. Administration of leptin resulted in profound weight reduction in the few reported cases of obese individuals with genetic leptin deficiency. However, most obese people have increased leptin levels. Such individuals are said to be in a leptin-resistant state, whereby administration of physiological concentrations of leptin are ineffective at producing significant weight reduction. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGBP) is more effective than diet alone in producing long-term reduction of body weight. Yet even after surgery there is a plateau in weight loss though the individual may still be obese and have or be at risk for obesity related morbidities. The investigators have shown that plasma leptin levels are significantly lower in women after RYGBP compared with BMI-matched controls. This state of relative hypoleptinemia or leptin insufficiency suggests that post-RYGBP individuals may be in a leptin-sensitive state and, thus, would undergo further weight loss when administered doses of leptin that would not normally result in significant weight reduction. This study will examine the effects of leptin administered by self-injection twice per day on body weight and endocrine function. All individuals will received leptin and placebo and different times during the 34 week study period.

Detailed description

Metreleptin will be self-administered by subcutaneous injection at 0.05 mg/kg body weight twice per day (i.e. at 8 am and 8 pm). This dose was chosen because it would not be expected to cause substantial weight loss in an obese non-surgical population, nor should it incur any substantial injection site reactions. Subjects will receive a demonstration of dose preparation and injection in addition to written instructions with visual aides. After the run-in period, subjects will demonstrate their preparation and injection technique. Placebo injections will consist of sterile water equal in volume to that of the metreleptin dose calculated for each individual. Subjects will be instructed to continue with their current level of physical activity. At week 16, each subject will cross-over to the alternate treatment for an additional 16 weeks.

Interventions

DRUGLeptin

Leptin self-administered subcutaneously at 0.05 mg/kg body weight twice each day

OTHERPlacebo

Sterile water equal in volume to that of the metreleptin dose calculated for each individual self-administered subcutaneously twice each day

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
CollaboratorNIH
Columbia University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Women ages 25-65 years who are 18 months to 15 years Roux-en-Y gastric bypass * Current BMI of 28-50 kg/m2 and a percent total body weight loss from highest pre-surgical weight of \>20% and \<45% * Must live in the vicinity of New York City to comply with 11 study visits over 34 weeks * Must be willing to self-inject study drug twice per day

Exclusion criteria

* Diabetes * History of plastic surgery

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Weight Change (in kg.) After Each Intervention0 weeks, 16 weeks and 32 weeksFor the Leptin Intervention, 16 week values were compared to baseline for those who received Leptin in the first period, and 32 week values were compared to 16 week values in those who received Leptin in the second period. For the Placebo Intervention, 16 week values were compared to baseline for those who received Placebo in the first period, and 32 week values were compared to 16 week values in those who received Placebo in the second period.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Leptin - Placebo
Leptin self-administered subcutaneously twice each day for 16 weeks, then Placebo for 16 weeks.
15
Placebo - Leptin
Placebo self-administered subcutaneously twice each day for 16 weeks, then Leptin for 16 weeks.
16
Total31

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlacebo - LeptinLeptin - PlaceboTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
16 Participants15 Participants31 Participants
Age, Continuous42.76 Years50.93 Years47 Years
Region of Enrollment
United States
16 participants15 participants31 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants15 Participants31 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
9 / 274 / 27
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 270 / 27

Outcome results

Primary

Weight Change (in kg.) After Each Intervention

For the Leptin Intervention, 16 week values were compared to baseline for those who received Leptin in the first period, and 32 week values were compared to 16 week values in those who received Leptin in the second period. For the Placebo Intervention, 16 week values were compared to baseline for those who received Placebo in the first period, and 32 week values were compared to 16 week values in those who received Placebo in the second period.

Time frame: 0 weeks, 16 weeks and 32 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Leptin InterventionWeight Change (in kg.) After Each Intervention-0.39 kg weight change
Placebo InterventionWeight Change (in kg.) After Each Intervention0.02 kg weight change

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026