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Empagliflozin and Anakinra for the Treatment of Postprandial Hypoglycemia in Patients With Prediabetes

Empagliflozin and Anakinra for the Treatment of Postprandial Hypoglycemia in Patients With Prediabetes: a Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05174507
Acronym
Hypo-PrEA
Enrollment
0
Registered
2021-12-30
Start date
2022-06-24
Completion date
2026-05-01
Last updated
2026-02-20

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

Conditions

Postprandial Hypoglycemia

Keywords

SGLT2-inhibitor empagliflozin, IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra, prediabetes, insulin clearance, proinsulin

Brief summary

This study is to analyze whether the SGLT2-inhibitor empagliflozin or the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra may improve postprandial hypoglycemia in subjects with prediabetes.

Detailed description

Subjects with prediabetes may develop postprandial hypoglycemia. This is probably due to a dysfunction of the insulin producing β-cell characterized by a delayed and exaggerated insulin secretion leading to an initial peak in glycaemia followed by a rapid fall and eventually resulting in hypoglycemia. The latter occurring typically within 1 to 3 hours after food intake. In patients with gastric bypass surgery and postprandial hypoglycemia the SGLT2-inhibitor empagliflozin and the IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra reduced postprandial insulin release and prevented hypoglycemia. This study is to analyze whether a similar therapeutic approach using empagliflozin and anakinra may also improve postprandial hypoglycemia in subjects with prediabetes.

Interventions

DRUGempagliflozin

Empagliflozin (Jardiance®; Boehringer Ingelheim (Schweiz) GmbH) is a highly selective, reversible inhibitor of the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). Treatment consists of a single oral tablet of 25 mg of empagliflozin (Jardiance®) two hours before ingestion of the mixed-meal (Ensure plus® 375 ml, 75 g carbohydrates, 562 kcal, drinking time 5 minutes).

DRUGanakinra

Anakinra (Kineret®; r-metHuIL-1ra, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB) is a recombinant, non-glycosylated form of the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in a 100 mg/0.67ml solution for SC injection. Treatment consists of a single subcutaneous injection of 100 mg Anakinra (Kineret®) three hours before ingestion of the mixed-meal (Ensure plus® 375 ml, 75 g carbohydrates, 562 kcal, drinking time 5 minutes).

OTHERsaline subcutaneous (s.c.) (placebo)

Placebo for anakinra is 0.67 ml of sterile 0.9 % saline solution s. c. Treatment consists of a single subcutaneous injection of matched placebo (0.67 ml of 0.9 % saline) three hours before ingestion of the mixed-meal (Ensure plus® 375 ml, 75 g carbohydrates, 562 kcal, drinking time 5 minutes).

OTHERtablet per oral (p.o.) (placebo)

Placebo for empagliflozin is Winthrop P® (Zentiva, Frankfurt/Main) lactose tablet. Treatment consists of a single oral tablet of matched placebo two hours before ingestion of the mixed-meal (Ensure plus® 375 ml, 75 g carbohydrates, 562 kcal, drinking time 5 minutes).

Sponsors

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Participants, investigators and study nurses will be blinded to the study drug.

Intervention model description

Placebo controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over proof-of-concept study. Subjects will be randomized to either group 1-6 (ratio 1:1, in blocks of 4 participants).

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Subjects with prediabetes defined by Glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.7-6.4 % or fasting plasma glucose 6.1-6.9 mmol/l) or plasma glucose 2 h following 75 glucose ingestion of 7.8-11.0 mmol/l. * Hypoglycemia occuring 1 to 3 h following ingestion of a standardized liquid mixed-meal (75 g carbohydrates) and fulfilling the Whipple's triad (glucose below 3.0 mmol/l). * Age ≥ 18 years * For subjects with reproductive potential, willingness to use contraceptive measures adequate to prevent the subject from becoming pregnant during the study

Exclusion criteria

* Upper gastrointestinal surgery * Diagnosis of any type of diabetes mellitus * Signs of current infection * Use of investigational drug up to one week prior to start of treatment phase * Glucocorticoid therapy * Neutropenia (leukocyte count \< 1.5 × 109/L or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 0.5 × 109/L) * Anemia (hemoglobin \< 11 g/dL for males, \< 10 g/dL for females) * Clinically significant kidney or liver disease (creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT \> 2 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase \> 2 × ULN, or total bilirubin \[tBili\] \> 1.5 × ULN) * Uncontrolled disease * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding * No subjects meeting the criteria for vulnerability * Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of symptomatic hypoglycemiaup to 3 hours after ingestion of the liquid mixed-mealIncidence of symptomatic hypoglycemia following a standardized mixed-meal test defined by appearance of typical symptoms, blood glucose level below 3.0 mmol/l and relief of symptoms when the glucose level is raised (Whipple's triad).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Severity of symptoms of hypoglycemia according to the Edinburgh Hypoglycemia Scaleup to 3 hours after ingestion of the liquid mixed-mealThe Edinburgh Hypoglycemia Scale is a classification of the 11 most common symptoms of hypoglycemia. Subjective intensity-grading: * no symptoms 0 * light symptoms 1 * moderate symptoms 2 * severe symptoms 3
Nadir plasma glucose (mmol/l)up to 3 hours after ingestion of the liquid mixed-mealNadir plasma glucose (mmol/l)
Change in proinsulin to insulin ratio in serumat baseline and 60 min after ingestion of the mixed mealChange in proinsulin to insulin ratio in serum
Change in inflammatory stateat baseline and 60 min after ingestion of the mixed mealChange in inflammatory laboratory parameters (Interleukin (IL)1ß, IL6, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, IL-10, IL-1Ra) in supernatants of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
Change in RNA sequencing (RNAseq) in peripheral PBMCat baseline and 60 min after ingestion of the mixed mealChange in RNAseq in peripheral PBMC

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMarc Y. Donath, Prof. Dr. med.

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 21, 2026