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Does GLP-1RA Prevent Deterioration of Metabolic State in Prediabetic and Diabetic Patients Treated With Antipsychotic Medication?

Does the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Semaglutide Prevent Deterioration of Metabolic State in Prediabetic or Diabetic Patients With Schizophrenia Treated With the Antipsychotic Compounds Clozapine or Olanzapine?

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04892199
Enrollment
104
Registered
2021-05-19
Start date
2021-09-01
Completion date
2026-08-01
Last updated
2024-09-25

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

Conditions

Metabolic Disturbance, Schizophrenia, Type 2 Diabetes, Clozapine, GLP-1, Olanzapine

Brief summary

Background and objective: Clozapine and olanzapine are some of the most effective antipsychotic drugs, but unfortunately, both drugs induce weight gain and conveys a high degree of metabolic disturbances. The antipsychotic-induced side-effects cause a major clinical problem among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotic treatment. Limited effects have been demonstrated for counteracting the side-effects by the switch of antipsychotic therapy, non-pharmacological/behavioural interventions or adjunct pharmacological treatments. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA,) is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes worldwide. The objective of the study is to investigate effects of semaglutide once-weekly vs. semaglutide placebo once-weekly on the metabolic state in prediabetic or diabetic patients with schizophrenia, who have initiated treatment with clozapine or olanzapine. Methods and analysis: Trial design, intervention and participants: The study is a 26-week, double-blinded, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, good clinical practice (GCP)-monitored, clinical trial. 104 prediabetic or diabetic patients diagnosed with a schizophrenia, age 18 years and 65 years, who have initiated of clozapine- or olanzapine-treatment within 5 years will be included in the study. The patients will be randomized to receive blinded treatment in one of the two study arms; semaglutide once-weekly vs. semaglutide placebo. All participants who complete the 26 weeks of intervention, will be invited for a follow up visit 1.5 yeras after study completion. The primary endpoint is the change from baseline in glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Secondary endpoints include change in body weight, hip and waist circumference, vitals, and plasma levels of insulin, glucose, C-peptid, insulin sensitivity, beta cell function, glucagon, liver function, lipid profile, incretin hormones, lipid profile, bone makers, body composition, bone density and proteomic analyses. Additional endpoints include alcohol, tobacco and drug use, food preferences, psychopathology, activity and quality of life.

Interventions

Semaglutide 1.34 mg/ml, 1.5 ml pre-filled pen-injector is supplied in pens for injection containing 2.0 mg of the GLP-1RA semaglutide in 1.5 ml sterile water with disodiumphosphate and propylenglycol, and phenol for conservation (pH 8.15). Direction for use will be given together with trial products.The possible doses of semaglutide are 0.25 mg, 0.50 mg and 1.0 mg. The initial weekly dose will be 0.25 mg for four weeks, then 0.5 mg for four weeks and then 1.0 mg for the remaining treatment period. Patients who, due to adverse events, do not tolerate up-titration to 1.0 mg semaglutide will remain on 0.5 mg once-weekly. The injection is administered subcutaneously once-weekly.

DRUGSemaglutide-placebo

The semaglutide placebo pens contain XX-vehicle (no active drug) and are administered in the same way and volume as semaglutide. The semaglutide placebo is specially packed for this study and will be used in the study only. The initial weekly dose will be 0.25 mg for four weeks, then 0.5 mg for four weeks and then 1.0 mg for the remaining treatment period. Patients who, due to adverse events, do not tolerate up-titration to 1.0 mg semaglutide placebo will remain on 0.5 mg once-weekly. The injection is administered once-weekly. If the lowest tolerated dose is less than 0.5 mg of semaglutide placebo once-weekly, the patient will be excluded from the study.

Sponsors

Anders Fink-Jensen, MD, DMSci
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Intervention model description

Randomised, Double-blinded, Parallel, Placebo-controlled, clinical trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Informed oral and written consent 2. Diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the criteria of ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO)) or the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, the American Psychiatric Association) 3. Initiating current treatment with clozapine or olanzapine within 60 months (not PRN ordinations) 4. Age 18 years to 65 years (both included) 5. Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 6. Diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, after initiation of current treatment with clozapine- or olanzapine, with the following plasma levels: Prediabetes: HbA1c 35-47 mmol/mol or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 5.6-6.9 mM or 2-h during 75 mg OGGT 7.8-11.0 mM. The test result has to be confirmed on a different day. Type 2 diabetes: HbA1c 48-57 mmol/mol or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 6.9-9.9 mM or 2h OGTT \> 11 mM (although FPG and HbA1c might still be under the diagnostic range). The test result has to be confirmed on a different day.

Exclusion criteria

1. Acute worsening of psychosis based on a clinical evaluation (score of 6 or 7 on the CGI-S scale) 2. Coercive measures 3. Females of child-bearing potential who are pregnant, breast-feeding or have intention of becoming pregnant. 4. Women who are not willing to use adequate contraceptive during the full length of the study 5. Patients treated with corticosteroids or other hormone therapy (except oestrogens) 6. Any active substance abuse or dependence for the past six months (except for nicotine) 7. Impaired hepatic function (plasma liver transaminases \>3 times upper normal limit) 8. Impaired renal function (serum creatinine \>150 μmol/l and/or macroalbuminuria) 9. Impaired pancreatic function (acute or chronic pancreatitis and/or plasma amylase \>2 times upper normal limit) 10. Cardiac problems defined as decompensated heart failure (NYHA class III/IV), unstable angina pectoris and/or myocardial infarction within the last 12 months 11. Hypertension with systolic blood pressure \>180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg 12. Any condition that the investigator feels would interfere with trial participation 13. Receiving any experimental or pre-marketing drug within the last 3 months 14. Use of weight-lowering pharmacotherapy within the preceding 3 month 15. Known type 1 diabetes 16. Suicidal behavior as judged by the investigator and based on clinical evaluation. At all contact with patient attendance possible suicidality will be evaluated according to the guidelines. If the patient is evaluated as suicidal, the person will be excluded from the study and evaluated by a senior consultant in psychiatry, who will take further action. 17. Plasma HbA1c \> 57 mmol/mol (tested twice) in which case the patient will be excluded from the study and transferred to general practitioner or hospital for diabetic treatment. No diabetic medication is allowed except for the trial medicin. 18. Any known contraindication towards the treatment with semaglutide.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
The primary endpoint is the change from baseline in glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).26 weeks

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Body weight (Kg)26 weeks
Hip and Waist circumference (Cm)26 weeks
Incretin hormones (Blood sampling)26 weeksGLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP
Bone Markers (Blood sampling)26 weeksCalcitonin, Vit-D, Ca, Phosphate, Mg, PTH, PINP, CTX, OC
Lipid Profile (Blood sampling)26 weeksLDL, HDL, triglycerider, total kolesterol,
Hormones (blood sampling)26 weeksInsulin, glucagon and C-peptide
Android to Gynoid fat ratio26 weeksDXA scanning
Total body fat26 weeksDXA scanning
Bone density26 weeksDXA scanning
Psychopathology26 weeksPANSS-6 interview
Registration of body movements/level of activity with a sensor26 weeksActivity measurements (approximate for sleep, inactivity, energy expenditure and steps taken by the patient) will be collected continuously by the use of a wearable activity device worn by the patient for 1 week from inclusion day and 1 week at the end of the study
Visceral fat26 weeksDXA scanning
Alcohol use26 weeksQuestionnaires: AUDIT
Tobacco use26 weeksQuestionnaires: FNTD
Drug use26 weeksQuestionnaires: DUDIT
Schizophrenia quality of life scale26 weeksQuestionnaire: SQLS
Psychosocial disability26 weeksRating GAPD
Liver function (blood sampling)26 weeksALT, ALP, AST, trombocytes and bilirubin
Proteomic analyses (Blood sampling)26 weeksInflammatory biomarkers and cytokines: IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, MDA, plasma antioxidants uric acid and, vitaminC
Proteomic analyses (Urine sampling)26 weeksbiomarkers for measurement of systemic oxidative stress on DNA and RNA: 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro2´-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo
FIB-4 score26 weeksA non-invasive scoring system for Liver Fibrosis is a non-invasive scoring system based on several laboratory tests (ALT, AST, trombocytes) and age
Vitals26 weeksBlood pressure and pulse
Insulin sensitivity and beta cell function26 weeksevaluated by homeostatic model assessment
Reward value of sweet and fatty candy26 weeksClicker test

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

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