The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist exenatide represents an effective therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which also seems to have some important non-glycemic effects. Yet, these non-glycemic effects are still largely unknown. The effect of exenatide once weekly was investigated in controlled, blinded and open-label clinical studies in subjects with T2DM who were controlled on diet and exercise alone or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents, but also in multi-dose controlled studies and such studies resulted in significant reductions in glycemic parameters (mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting serum/plasma glucose as well as postprandial plasma glucose levels), but also in body weight, over 24 to 30 weeks. Meaningful reductions were observed as early as week 4 of treatment, and maintained through 6 years of treatment. The study investigating cardiovascular effects of exenatide once weekly is currently undergoing. The results available are not numerous (such as DURATION-2, DURATION-3, DURATION-4 studies) and cannot lead to definitive conclusions. In this study the investigators will evaluate the effect of exenatide once-weekly on multiple cardiovascular risk markers. These markers are related to subclinical atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and atherogenic lipoproteins. The investigators will perform an open label, single-arm, prospective, intervention study using exenatide once weekly for a period of 8 months on 60 patients with T2DM.
The research hypothesis is to assess whether exenatide once weekly can reduce subclinical atherosclerosis (as measured by carotid-intima media thickness \[cIMT\]) in patients with T2DM. The primary objective is to assess whether exenatide once weekly can reduce subclinical atherosclerosis (as measured by cIMT) in patients with T2DM. Primary endpoint: Reduction in cIMT. The secondary objective is to assess whether exenatide once weekly can reduce atherogenic lipoproteins, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in patients with T2DM. Secondary endpoint: Reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins, oxidative stress and improvement of endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of the present 8 months study is to elucidate largely unknown non-glycemic effects of exenatide as add-on to metformin, including effects on cIMT, oxidative stress parameters and atherogenic lipoproteins, in addition to its benefit on glycemic control, weight loss and other efficacy parameters, as well as the safety profile of exenatide. The data for clinical and biochemical analyses, including collection of efficacy variables, ECG, pulse and physical examination, will be collected at baseline and after 8 months of therapy (at 6 months of the treatment, only the routine laboratory analyses, including HbA1c, will be performed). Clinical diagnostic tools will include the measurement of: 1. cIMT, that will be assessed by B-mode real-time ultrasound using a single sonographer (Medison SonoAce Pico, with a probe of 7.5-10.0 MHz) in a standardized manner with fixed angles of insonation; 2. Endothelial dysfunction, that will be assessed by flow mediated dilation of brachial artery. Biochemical analyses will include the analysis of: 1. Routine testing: blood testing, liver and kidney profile, plasma lipids, glucose metabolism parameters; 2. Oxidative stress parameters (plasma glutathione, serum lipid hydroperoxides, reactive oxygen species); 3. Atherogenic lipoproteins, e.g. the analysis of 11 distinct lipoproteins including very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), 3 intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) subclasses and 7 low density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Exenatide is considered investigational medicinal product (IMP) and will be prescribed to enrolled patients in accordance with local requirements. Exenatide will be available at a fixed dose of 2 mg and supplied as a kit. Exenatide should be injected subcutaneously (SC) in the thigh, upper arm (deltoid region) or abdomen. The injection site does not have to be consistent throughout the study. Injection can be done at any time of the day irrespective of meals. It is recommended that the time of injection is consistent throughout the study. Subjects will be instructed to perform an air shot before the first injection. Subjects will follow a fixed dose of 2 mg
University Hospital of Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Subclinical atherosclerosis (as measured by cIMT) in patients with T2DM treated with exenatide once weekly
Reduction in cIMT after 8 months of the treatment
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 months of the treatment
Atherogenic lipoproteins (as measured by the analysis of 11 distinct lipoprotein subclasses using the Lipoprint system®) in patients with T2DM treated with exenatide once weekly
Reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins including small dense LDL particles after 8 months of the treatment
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 months of the treatment
Oxidative stress (as measured by markers of oxidative stress) in patients with T2DM treated with exenatide once weekly
Reduction in oxidative stress after 8 months of the treatment
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 months of the treatment
Endothelial dysfunction (as measured by flow mediated dilation of brachial artery) in patients with T2DM treated with exenatide once weekly
Improvement of endothelial dysfunction as indicated by changes in flow mediated dilation of brachial artery after 8 months of the treatment
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 months of the treatment
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