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Pilot Study of the Effect of Liraglutide on Weight Loss and Gastric Functions in Obesity

Pilot Study of the Effect of Liraglutide on Weight Loss and Gastric Functions in Obesity

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02647944
Enrollment
40
Registered
2016-01-06
Start date
2015-12-18
Completion date
2016-12-30
Last updated
2017-10-27

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

Conditions

Obesity

Brief summary

This study was being done to assess the stomach emptying effect of a maximum dose of 3 mg Liraglutide compared to placebo in subjects who are overweight or obese. Liraglutide is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for routine clinical use.

Detailed description

The objective of this study was to compare effects of liraglutide and placebo over 16 weeks on gastric motor functions, satiation, satiety and weight in obese patients. Subjects were randomized to liraglutide or placebo. Liraglutide or placebo was escalated by 0.6mg/day each week for 5 weeks and continued until week 16. At baseline and after 16 weeks' treatment, the investigators measured weight, gastric emptying of solids (GES), gastric volumes, satiation (maximum tolerated volume of liquid nutrient drink), and satiety. GES was also measured at 5 weeks. During the study, the subjects received standardized dietetic and behavioral advice for weight reduction therapy. All subjects were given a standard text for information and met with a behavioral psychologist who has expertise in obesity treatment at the baseline visit and at visits at weeks 4,8, and 12. Additionally, the subjects had brief contact with a member of the study team every 4 weeks to inquire about their adherence to study protocol, any difficulties they were experiencing, whether they were reading their text assignments, and to answer any additional questions.

Interventions

DRUGLiraglutide

Initiate at 0.6mg S.C. daily for 1 week; subjects will return to the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) each week until an increase by 0.6mg/day in weekly intervals to a dose of 3.0 mg/day is achieved (\ 4 weeks). Once maintenance dose of 3.0 mg is achieved, subjects will return approximately every 4 weeks to obtain new supply of study medication.

DRUGPlacebo

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
Novo Nordisk A/S
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Overweight and obese adults (≥30 kg/m\^2 or ≥27 kg/m\^2 with an obesity-related co-morbidity). * Subjects residing within 125 miles of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. * Healthy individuals with no unstable psychiatric disease and not currently on treatment for cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, hematological, neurological, or endocrine (other than hyperglycemia type 2 diabetes mellitus on metformin) disorders. * Women of childbearing potential will be using an effective form of contraception, and have negative pregnancy tests within 48 hours of enrolment and before each radiation exposure. * Subjects must have the ability to provide informed consent before any trial-related activities.

Exclusion criteria

* Weight exceeding 137 kilograms (safety limit of camera for measuring gastric volumes). * Abdominal surgery other than appendectomy, Caesarian section or tubal ligation. * Positive history of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, systemic disease that could affect gastrointestinal motility, or use of medications that may alter gastrointestinal motility, appetite or absorption, e.g., orlistat. * Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia-type 2. * Patients with a personal history of pancreatitis (acute or chronic) * Significant untreated psychiatric dysfunction based upon screening with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Inventory, a self-administered alcoholism screening test (AUDIT-C), and the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns (binge eating disorders and bulimia). If such a dysfunction is identified by a Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) score \>8 or difficulties with substance or eating disorders, the participant will be excluded and given a referral letter to his/her primary care doctor for further appraisal and follow-up. * Intake of medication, whether prescribed or over the counter (except multivitamins), within 7 days of the study. Exceptions are birth control pill, estrogen replacement therapy, thyroxin replacement therapy and any medication administered for co-morbidities as long as they do not alter gastrointestinal motility including gastric emptying (GE) and gastric accommodation. For example, statins for hyperlipidemia, diuretics, β-adrenergic blockers,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin antagonists for hypertension, and metformin for type 2 diabetes mellitus or prediabetes are permissible. In contrast, resin sequestrants for hyperlipidemia \[which may reduce GE and reduce appetite, α2-adrenergic agonists for hypertension, or other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) receptor agonists (exenatide) or amylin analogs (pramlintide) are not permissible because they significantly affect GE and/or gastric accommodation. * Hypersensitivity to the study medication, liraglutide.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Gastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 5 Weeks5 weeksGastric emptying of solids was assessed by scintigraphy using a 320 Kcal 99mTc-radiolabeled egg, solid-liquid meal. Gastric Emptying Half-time was the linear interpretation of time to when 50% of radiolabeled meal emptied from the stomach.
Gastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 16 Weeks16 weeksGastric emptying of solids was assessed by scintigraphy using a 320 Kcal 99mTc-radiolabeled egg, solid-liquid meal. Gastric Emptying Half-time was the linear interpretation of time to when 50% of radiolabeled meal emptied from the stomach.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Satiety by Buffet Meal, Total Calories Ingested at 16 Weeks16 weeksSatiety (a measure of appetite) was appraised by free feeding buffet meal consisting of standard foods of known nutrient composition. The total amount of food consumed was analyzed by the study dietitian.
Satiation Volume to Fullness at 16 Weeks16 weeksAfter drinking Ensure, participants recorded their sensations every 5 minutes using a numerical scale from 0 to 5, with level 0 being no symptoms, level 3 corresponding to fullness sensation after a typical meal and level 5 corresponding to the maximal tolerated volume (maximum or unbearable fullness/satiation).
Satiation Maximum Tolerated Volume at 16 Weeks16 weeksAfter drinking Ensure, participants recorded their sensations every 5 minutes using a numerical scale from 0 to 5, with level 0 being no symptoms, level 3 corresponding to fullness sensation after a typical meal and level 5 corresponding to the maximal tolerated volume (maximum or unbearable fullness/satiation).
Weight Change at 5 Weeksbaseline, 5 weeksBody weight in kg was measured at 5 weeks and compared to baseline.
Gastric Postprandial Volume at 16 Weeks16 weeksGastric fasting volume was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the stomach after intravenous injection of 99mTC-pertechnetate, which is taken up by the gastric mucosa.
Gastric Accommodation Volume at 16 Weeks16 weeks (approximately 1 hour after 99mTC injection)Change between postprandial and fasting whole gastric volume by 99mTc-SPECT Imaging. A noninvasive SPECT method was used to measure gastric volume during fasting and 32 min after a liquid nutritional supplement meal. Subjects reported to the clinic after an overnight fast. 99mTC was given by an intravenous injection in the forearm. The first fasting scan was obtained, and the study medication was given s.c. After 10 min, a 2nd fasting post medication scan was obtained, and the meal consumed; then two serial postprandial scans were obtained. Each scan required 9-12 min. Tomographic images of the gastric wall were obtained throughout the long axis of the stomach using a dual-head gamma camera that rotates around the body. This allows assessment of the radiolabeled circumference of the gastric wall, rather than the intragastric content.
Gastric Fasting Volume at 16 Weeks16 weeksGastric fasting volume was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the stomach after intravenous injection of 99mTC-pertechnetate, which is taken up by the gastric mucosa.
Weight Change at 16 Weeksbaseline, 16 weeksBody weight in kg was measured at 16 weeks and compared to baseline.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were enrolled between December 18, 2015 and September 1, 2016 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Liraglutide
Saxenda initiated at 0.6mg S.C. daily for 1 week; subjects will return to the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) each week until an increase by 0.6 mg/day in weekly intervals to a dose of 3.0 mg/day is achieved. Once maintenance dose of 3.0 mg is achieved, subjects will return approximately every 4 weeks to obtain new supply of study medication.
19
Placebo
Placebo initiated at 0.6mg S.C. daily for 1 week; subjects will return to the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) each week until an increase by 0.6 mg/day in weekly intervals to a dose of 3.0 mg/day is achieved. Once maintenance dose of 3.0 mg is achieved, subjects will return approximately every 4 weeks to obtain new supply of study medication.
21
Total40

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event20
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject03

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboTotalLiraglutide
Age, Continuous37.81 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.14
39.30 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.61
40.95 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.08
Body Mass Index (BMI)34.6 kg/m^236.65 kg/m^237.2 kg/m^2
Body Weight99.1 kg103 kg103.7 kg
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants2 Participants0 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White Non-Hispanic
19 Participants36 Participants17 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
21 Participants40 Participants19 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
18 Participants35 Participants17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants5 Participants2 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 190 / 21
other
Total, other adverse events
17 / 1914 / 21
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 190 / 21

Outcome results

Primary

Gastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 16 Weeks

Gastric emptying of solids was assessed by scintigraphy using a 320 Kcal 99mTc-radiolabeled egg, solid-liquid meal. Gastric Emptying Half-time was the linear interpretation of time to when 50% of radiolabeled meal emptied from the stomach.

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideGastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 16 Weeks142 minutes
PlaceboGastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 16 Weeks113 minutes
Primary

Gastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 5 Weeks

Gastric emptying of solids was assessed by scintigraphy using a 320 Kcal 99mTc-radiolabeled egg, solid-liquid meal. Gastric Emptying Half-time was the linear interpretation of time to when 50% of radiolabeled meal emptied from the stomach.

Time frame: 5 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideGastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 5 Weeks180 minutes
PlaceboGastric Emptying of Solids Half-time (T1/2) at 5 Weeks117 minutes
Secondary

Gastric Accommodation Volume at 16 Weeks

Change between postprandial and fasting whole gastric volume by 99mTc-SPECT Imaging. A noninvasive SPECT method was used to measure gastric volume during fasting and 32 min after a liquid nutritional supplement meal. Subjects reported to the clinic after an overnight fast. 99mTC was given by an intravenous injection in the forearm. The first fasting scan was obtained, and the study medication was given s.c. After 10 min, a 2nd fasting post medication scan was obtained, and the meal consumed; then two serial postprandial scans were obtained. Each scan required 9-12 min. Tomographic images of the gastric wall were obtained throughout the long axis of the stomach using a dual-head gamma camera that rotates around the body. This allows assessment of the radiolabeled circumference of the gastric wall, rather than the intragastric content.

Time frame: 16 weeks (approximately 1 hour after 99mTC injection)

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideGastric Accommodation Volume at 16 Weeks453 mL
PlaceboGastric Accommodation Volume at 16 Weeks433 mL
p-value: 0.95Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Gastric Fasting Volume at 16 Weeks

Gastric fasting volume was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the stomach after intravenous injection of 99mTC-pertechnetate, which is taken up by the gastric mucosa.

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideGastric Fasting Volume at 16 Weeks231 mL
PlaceboGastric Fasting Volume at 16 Weeks192 mL
p-value: 0.13Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Gastric Postprandial Volume at 16 Weeks

Gastric fasting volume was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the stomach after intravenous injection of 99mTC-pertechnetate, which is taken up by the gastric mucosa.

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideGastric Postprandial Volume at 16 Weeks705 mL
PlaceboGastric Postprandial Volume at 16 Weeks668 mL
p-value: 0.68Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Satiation Maximum Tolerated Volume at 16 Weeks

After drinking Ensure, participants recorded their sensations every 5 minutes using a numerical scale from 0 to 5, with level 0 being no symptoms, level 3 corresponding to fullness sensation after a typical meal and level 5 corresponding to the maximal tolerated volume (maximum or unbearable fullness/satiation).

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideSatiation Maximum Tolerated Volume at 16 Weeks750 mL
PlaceboSatiation Maximum Tolerated Volume at 16 Weeks1126 mL
p-value: 0.054Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Satiation Volume to Fullness at 16 Weeks

After drinking Ensure, participants recorded their sensations every 5 minutes using a numerical scale from 0 to 5, with level 0 being no symptoms, level 3 corresponding to fullness sensation after a typical meal and level 5 corresponding to the maximal tolerated volume (maximum or unbearable fullness/satiation).

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideSatiation Volume to Fullness at 16 Weeks360 mL
PlaceboSatiation Volume to Fullness at 16 Weeks600 mL
p-value: 0.069Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Satiety by Buffet Meal, Total Calories Ingested at 16 Weeks

Satiety (a measure of appetite) was appraised by free feeding buffet meal consisting of standard foods of known nutrient composition. The total amount of food consumed was analyzed by the study dietitian.

Time frame: 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideSatiety by Buffet Meal, Total Calories Ingested at 16 Weeks554.0 kcal
PlaceboSatiety by Buffet Meal, Total Calories Ingested at 16 Weeks680.5 kcal
p-value: 0.27Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Weight Change at 16 Weeks

Body weight in kg was measured at 16 weeks and compared to baseline.

Time frame: baseline, 16 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideWeight Change at 16 Weeks5.30 kg
PlaceboWeight Change at 16 Weeks2.5 kg
p-value: <0.001Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Weight Change at 5 Weeks

Body weight in kg was measured at 5 weeks and compared to baseline.

Time frame: baseline, 5 weeks

Population: Intent to treat analysis; data were imputed for the 5 participants who dropped out.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
LiraglutideWeight Change at 5 Weeks3.70 kg
PlaceboWeight Change at 5 Weeks0.60 kg
p-value: <0.001Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)

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