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Incretin Microdosing for Cardiometabolic Health in People With HIV

Incretin Microdosing for Cardiometabolic Health in People With HIV: The REINFORCE Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07325500
Acronym
REINFORCE
Enrollment
30
Registered
2026-01-08
Start date
2026-02-12
Completion date
2029-06-30
Last updated
2026-02-18

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

Conditions

Weight Gain

Keywords

semaglutide, HIV, obesity

Brief summary

The objectives of this study are as follows: Primary Objective * To determine the rate of weight regain in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) receiving semaglutide microdosing vs. no additional drug following induction therapy. Secondary Objectives * To evaluate the tolerability of semaglutide microdosing in adults with HIV. * To evaluate changes in weight, waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) over 12 weeks (W) of semaglutide weight loss induction and 48 W of semaglutide microdosing therapy.

Interventions

DRUGDose escalation to 2 mg semaglutide weekly then semaglutide microdosing at 0.5 mg weekly

Participants will initiate semaglutide at 0.25 milligrams (mg) subcutaneously per week with dose titration up to 2.0 mg subcutaneously per week, over a total of 12 weeks. Dose titration will occur as follows: 0.25 mg weekly for 2 weeks, then 0.5 mg weekly for 2 weeks, then 1 mg weekly for 4 weeks, then 2.0 mg weekly for 4 weeks. Then, participants in this arm will receive microdosing with semaglutide at 0.5 mg subcutaneously every week during weeks 13-60.

DRUGDose escalation to 2 mg semaglutide weekly then no semaglutide

Participants will initiate semaglutide at 0.25 milligrams (mg) subcutaneously per week with dose titration up to 2.0 mg subcutaneously per week, over a total of 12 weeks. Dose titration will occur as follows: 0.25 mg weekly for 2 weeks, then 0.5 mg weekly for 2 weeks, then 1 mg weekly for 4 weeks, then 2.0 mg weekly for 4 weeks. Then, participants in this arm will receive no semaglutide during weeks 13-60.

Sponsors

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus (UCD-AMC)
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Confirmed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) * On antiretroviral therapy (ART) for greater than or equal to 24 weeks prior to entry and no change in regimen in the 12 weeks prior to entry or planned change for the study duration * HIV-1 ribonucleic acid (RNA) \<200 copies/mL at screening * BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 or greater than or equal to 27 kg/m2 if also with greater than or equal to 1 weight-related comorbidity * If taking anti-inflammatory or blood-pressure-/lipid-/glucose-lowering medications, no change in dose for greater than or equal to 12 weeks prior to entry and no plans to dose escalate for the study duration * All participants must be willing and able to provide written informed consent and undergo all required study procedures

Exclusion criteria

* Weight greater than or equal to 400 pounds \[due to dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine limitations\] or unexplained weight change greater than or equal to 5% in the 12 weeks prior to entry * Diagnosis of or on treatment for diabetes mellitus (stable metformin dosing for pre-diabetes not excluded) * Current or planned use of medications for the treatment of obesity, or medications likely to cause significant changes in weight, during the study period * Plans to newly engage in formal, intensive physical activity or diet (such as ketogenic or very low carbohydrate) programs during the study period * Active eating disorder * Use of human growth hormone, tesamorelin or anabolic steroids \<12 weeks prior to entry, unless on a stable dose for \>24 weeks prior to entry, or plans to start any of these medications while on study * Active, severe delayed gastric emptying * Prior bariatric surgery or major gastric surgery or plans for weight reduction surgery while on study * Known retinopathy * Personal or first-degree relative history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 * Untreated, poorly controlled or previously undiagnosed thyroid disease * Chronic pancreatitis * Known allergy/sensitivity to Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1RA) * Poorly controlled or previously undiagnosed thyroid disease, defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) \<0.5 or \>10 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L) at screening * Active drug or alcohol use that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements * Pregnancy, nursing or plans for either during the study period * Use of planned use of any immunomodulatory therapy HIV vaccine, investigational therapy or tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) therapy during the study period * Current serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization, in the opinion of site investigator

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percent weight regain from weeks 12-60 (microdosing period)from week 12 to week 60The percent weight regain from weeks 12-60 (microdosing period), calculated as the median within-person: change in weight (kg) from weeks 60-12 (microdosing period) divided by the change in weight (kg) from weeks 12-0 (dose escalation period).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tolerability of semaglutide microdosing in participants as indicated by total number of serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse events (AEs)From baseline through week 60Total number of serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse events (AEs) will be reported.
Absolute change in weightBaseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks
Percent change in weightBaseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks
Absolute change in body mass index (BMI)Baseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks
Percent change in body mass index (BMI)Baseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks
Absolute change in minimum waist circumferenceBaseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks
Percent change in minimum waist circumferenceBaseline, 12 weeks, 60 weeks

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTJordan E Lake, MD, MSc
Jordan.E.Lake@uth.tmc.edu713-500-6767
CONTACTArezou S Akha
arezou.sadighiakha@uth.tmc.edu713-500-5541
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJordan Lake, MD, MSc

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 19, 2026