Combined Active Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes With NASH

German Diabetes Center192 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this multicentre, prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, 3-arm parallel group, interventional study is to assess for the first time the effects of either a combined therapy with the antihyperglycemic drugs semaglutide and empagliflozin or empagliflozin monotherapy compared to placebo as potential treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are tightly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which in turn predicts the development of T2D and cardiovascular disease. Up to 80% of NAFLD patients with T2D have NASH and the presence of T2D is an independent risk factor for more-advanced fibrosis, higher rate of fibrosis progression, and increased mortality. Liver-related mortality is increased 10-fold in NASH patients compared with the general population. In addition, people with NASH are at an excessive risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are no established pharmacotherapies for NASH patients with T2D. The aim of this trial is to evaluate efficacy of a combined treatment with semaglutide 1 mg/week (GLP1RA) and empagliflozin 10 mg/d (SGLT2I) or ii) empagliflozin 10 mg/d monotherapy by means of histological resolution of NASH in T2D patients without progression of fibrosis after 48 weeks treatment. To confirm a histological diagnosis of NASH and proof efficacy of treatment, a liver biopsy will be performed prior to screening as well as at the end of treatment phase.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

192

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Interventions

Empagliflozin 10mg oral tablet / Semaglutide 1mg pen injectorDRUG

Measurement of the effect of the combined treatment with semaglutide 1mg/week and empagliflozin 10 mg/d compared to matching placebo after 48-week treatment.

Empagliflozin 10mg oral tablet and placebo pen injector matching semaglutideDRUG

Measurement of the effect of empagliflozin monotherapy 10mg/d compared to matching placebo after 48-week treatment.

Placebo matching empagliflozin and placebo pen injector matching semaglutideDRUG

Measurement of the effect of the combined treatment with semaglutide 1mg/week and empagliflozin 10 mg/d OR empagliflozin monotherapy 10mg/d compared to matching placebo after 48-week treatment.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 25 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of T2D and NASH with fibrosis stage F1-F3 * Age between 25 and 75 years * HbA1c ≤ 9.5% * obtained written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications on liver biopsy * Evidence of cirrhosis on liver biopsy * Liver disease of other etiology including chronic viral hepatitis (B or C), alcohol abuse, hemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson's disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis or primary biliary cirrhosis, or liver cirrhosis of any etiology * History of ketoacidosis * Alcohol consumption \>30 g/d for males and \>20 g/d for females * Past (≥5 years) or current history of alcohol or drug abuse and/or psychiatric disease including severe depression necessitating pharmacological treatment * Medications that may induce steatosis:tamoxifen, raloxifene, oral glucocorticoids or chloroquine * Planned pregnancy, pregnant or lactating women, positive pregnancy test, and woman of childbearing potential not using two adequate methods of contraception, including a barrier method and a highly efficacious non-barrier method

Locations (26)

Medizinische Universität Graz

Graz, Austria

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Histological resolution of NASH without worsening of fibrosis

NAFLD status will be assessed by histologic evaluation of liver biopsy samples based on NAFLD activity score. NASH resolution is defined by disappearance of ballooning (score 0), together with either disappearance of lobular inflammation or the persistence of mild lobular inflammation only (score 0 or 1) and resulting in an overall pathologic diagnosis of either steatosis alone or steatosis with mild inflammation; with no worsening of fibrosis. Worsening of fibrosis is defined by an increase of at least one stage of the Kleiner fibrosis classification.