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A Research Study to Look at How Semaglutide Compared to Placebo Affects Diabetic Eye Disease in People With Type 2 Diabetes

Long-term Effects of Semaglutide on Diabetic Retinopathy in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03811561
Acronym
FOCUS
Enrollment
1500
Registered
2019-01-22
Start date
2019-05-08
Completion date
2027-11-07
Last updated
2026-09-09

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

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Brief summary

This study will look at the long-term effects of semaglutide (active medicine) on diabetic eye disease when compared to placebo (dummy medicine). The study will be performed in people with type 2 diabetes. Participants will either get semaglutide or placebo in addition to their diabetes medicines - which treatment the participant gets is decided by chance. Participants will inject the study medicine using a pen-injector. The medicine must be injected in a skin fold in the stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week. The study will last for 5 years.

Interventions

DRUGSemaglutide

Participants will get one dose of semaglutide once weekly in addition to their diabetes medicines - which treatment they get is decided by chance. Participants will inject the study medicine using a pre-filled PDS290 pen-injector. The medicine must be injected in a skin fold in the stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week. Participants will start with once-weekly doses of 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then the dose will be gradually increased to 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, and finally to 1.0 mg once weekly (maximum dose) up to 260 weeks (5 years).

DRUGPlacebo (semaglutide)

Participants will get one dose of placebo (semaglutide) once weekly in addition to their diabetes medicines - which treatment they get is decided by chance. Participants will inject the study medicine using a pre-filled PDS290 pen-injector. The medicine must be injected in a skin fold in the stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week. Participants will start with once-weekly doses of 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then the dose will be gradually increased to 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, and finally to 1.0 mg once weekly (maximum dose) up to 260 weeks (5 years).

Sponsors

Novo Nordisk A/S
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Sponsor staff involved in the clinical trial is masked according to company standard procedures.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female, age greater than or equal to 18 years at the time of signing informed consent * Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. * HbA1c of 7.0-10.0% (53-86 mmol/mol) (both inclusive). * Eye inclusion criteria (both eyes must meet all criteria): * Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) level of 10-75 (both inclusive) evaluated by fundus photography and confirmed by central reading centre * No ocular or intraocular treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema six months prior to the day of screening. * No anticipated need for ocular or intraocular treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema within three months after randomisation. * Best-corrected visual acuity greater than or equal to 30 letters using the ETDRS visual acuity protocol * No previous treatment with pan-retinal laser photocoagulation * No substantial non-diabetic ocular condition that, in the opinion of the ophthalmologist, would impact diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema progression during the trial * No substantial media opacities that would preclude successful imaging

Exclusion criteria

* Any of the following: myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris or transient ischaemic attack within the past 60 days prior to the day of screening * Planned coronary, carotid or peripheral artery revascularisation known on the day of screening * Subjects presently classified as being in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV * Renal impairment measured as estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) value of eGFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73 m\^2 * Personal or first degree relative(s) history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 or medullary thyroid carcinoma * Presence or history of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to the day of screening. Basal and squamous cell skin cancer and any carcinoma in-situ are allowed * Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential and not using highly effective contraceptive methods * Concurrent treatment with any GLP-1 receptor agonist or DPP-4 inhibitor from randomisation. * Receipt of any investigational medicinal product within 30 days before screening * Previous participation in this trial. Participation is defined as randomisation * Known or suspected hypersensitivity to trial products or related products * Any disorder, which in the investigator's opinion might jeopardise subject's safety or compliance with the protocol

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Presence of at least 3 steps Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subject level progression.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time from randomisation to first at least 3 steps ETDRS subject level progression or central involved diabetic macular oedema (ciDME) in either eye.Up to 5 yearsMeasured in months.
Change in visual acuity in the worse seeing eye.Week 0, Year 5Measured in number of letters using the ETDRS protocol.
Change in visual acuity in the better seeing eye.Week 0, Year 5Measured in number of letters using the ETDRS protocol.
Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with focal/grid laser photocoagulation.Week 0-Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with pan-retinal laser photocoagulation.Week 0-Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with intravitreal injection with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).Week 0-Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with intravitreal injection with steroid.Week 0-Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with vitrectomy.Week 0-Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of at least 3 steps ETDRS subject level improvement.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of at least 2 steps ETDRS subject level progression.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of at least 2 steps ETDRS subject level improvement.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of persistent visual acuity up to 38 ETDRS letters in either eye.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of persistent at least 2 lines (10 letters) ETDRS worsening in visual acuity in either eye from baseline.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of persistent at least 3 lines (15 letters) ETDRS worsening in visual acuity in either eye from baseline.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of persistent at least 2 lines (10 letters) ETDRS improvement in visual acuity in either eye from baseline.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Persistent at least 3 lines (15 letters) ETDRS improvement in visual acuity in either eye from baseline.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Presence of ciDME in either eye.Year 5Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
Change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).Week 0, Year 5Measured in %-points.
Change in body weight.Week 0, Year 5Measured in kg.
Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.Week 0, Year 5Measured in mmHg.
Change in Lipids: Total-cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides.Week 0, Year 5Measured in mmol/L

Countries

Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Latvia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORClinical Reporting Anchor and Disclosure (1452)

Novo Nordisk A/S

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 10, 2026