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Trial · Interventional

CompletedPhase 2Results postedRegistry data

A Research Study on How Semaglutide Works in People With Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Damage

NCTNCT03987451 (opens ClinicalTrials.gov in a new tab)Other idNN9931-4492Other idU1111-1224-4062Other id2018-004484-31Other id2018

Overview

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 2
Enrollment
71 participants (actual)
Sponsor
Novo Nordisk A/S · Industry
Design
Randomized · Quadruple masking
Countries
5 countries

United States, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom

Start
18 Jun 2019
Primary completion
22 Apr 2021
Completion
10 Jun 2021
First posted
17 Jun 2019
Last update posted
29 May 2024
Conditions
Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Timeline

1 trial · 1 completed · 1 with posted results

  • Completed
  • Ongoing
  • Not yet recruiting
  • Stopped
  • Estimated dates (est.)
  • Results posted
2019202020212022
  1. Ph 2

    A Research Study on How Semaglutide Works in People With Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Damage

    NCT03987451

    18 Jun 2019 to 10 Jun 2021

Registry summary

Text and fields below are the sponsor's entries at ClinicalTrials.gov, shown as posted.

Semaglutide is a medicine studied in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as it may improve liver damage. Participants will either get semaglutide or placebo (a dummy medicine) - which treatment participants get is decided by chance. The study will last for about 61 weeks in total. Participants will have 10 clinic visits and 3 phone calls with the study doctor or staff during the study. Some of the clinic visits may be spread over more days. Participants will need to inject themselves with medicine under the skin. Participants will have to do this once a week for 48 weeks. The study includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the liver, 1 or 2 liver tissue samples, ultrasound scans of the stomach and a possible examination of the food pipe. For some tests participants may need to remove some items of clothing. Participants will stop in the study if the doctor thinks that there are any risks for their health. The information collected from participants during the study may help them and other patients with NASH in the future. Women cannot take part if pregnant, breast-feeding or planning to become pregnant during the study period.

Interventions

  • SemaglutideDrug
  • Placebo (semaglutide)Drug

Arms2

  • Experimental

    Semaglutide

    Dose escalation to 2.4 mg of semaglutide once-weekly

  • Placebo comparator

    Placebo

    Semaglutide placebo once-weekly

Primary outcomes1

Outcomes the sponsor listed as primary.

  1. Percentage of Participants With At Least One Stage of Liver Fibrosis Improvement With No Worsening of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) After 48 Weeks

    Time frame · Week 48

    Registry description

    NASH resolution defined by NASH clinical research network (CRN) as lobular inflammation of 0 or 1; hepatocellular ballooning reduced to 0; both criteria were necessary conditions. Hepatocellular ballooning ranges from 0-2; lobular inflammation ranges from 0-3, higher scores indicating more severe hepatocellular ballooning/lobular inflammation. Worsening of NASH defined by NASH CRN as increase of at least 1 stage of either lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning or steatosis. Worsening of fibrosis defined by increase in fibrosis at least 1 stage of Kleiner fibrosis classification: fibrosis stages range from 0-4, higher scores indicating greater fibrosis (0=None, 4=Cirrhosis). Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

Secondary outcomes(20)
  1. Change From Baseline in Liver Fat Content Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF)-Ratio to Baseline

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Change in liver fat content (measured as percentage) from baseline to week 48 is presented as ratio to baseline. Liver fat content was assessed via MRI-PDFF technique and results were measured in percentage. MRI-PDFF utilized a gradient echo sequence with low flip angle to minimize T1 bias, corrected T2\* decay (due to iron overload) via modeling of the fat signal as a superposition of multiple frequency components from 5 different lipid types, and was applied in each of the 9 Couinaud segments. This technique improved fat quantification accuracy for the entire liver permitting quantification of small differences/changes following pharmacological intervention. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  2. Change From Baseline in Liver Stiffness Measured by Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE)-Ratio to Baseline

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Change in Liver Stiffness from baseline to week 48 is presented as ratio to baseline. Liver stiffness was measured in kilopascal using MRE. MRE is a technology that uses MRI imaging with low-frequency vibrations to create a visual map (elastogram) that shows stiffness of the liver. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  3. Percentage of Participants With NASH Resolution After 48 Weeks

    Time frame · Week 48

    Registry description

    NASH resolution defined by NASH clinical research network as lobular inflammation of 0 or 1 and hepatocellular ballooning reduced to 0; both criteria were necessary conditions. Hepatocellular ballooning ranges from 0-2; lobular inflammation ranges from 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe hepatocellular ballooning or lobular inflammation. Worsening of fibrosis defined by an increase in fibrosis at least one stage of Kleiner fibrosis classification: fibrosis stages range from 0-4, with higher scores indicating greater fibrosis (0=None, 4=Cirrhosis). Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  4. Change From Baseline in Fibrosis-4 Score-Ratio to Baseline

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Change in fibrosis-4 score from baseline to week 48 is presented as ratio to baseline. Fibrosis-4 is the ratio of age in years and aminotransferase to platelet count. It is a non-invasive hepatic fibrosis index score combining standard biochemical values, platelets, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and age that was calculated using formula: Fibrosis-4 = (Age \[years\] x AST \[units per liter (U/L)\]) / (platelets \[10\^9 cells/L\] x (square root of ALT \[U/L\])). A Fibrosis-4 index of \< 1.45 indicated no or moderate fibrosis and an index of \> 3.25 indicated extensive fibrosis/cirrhosis. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  5. Percentage of Participants With Change in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Activity Score (NAS)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had worsened, improved or had no change in total NAS from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. Worsening was defined as an increase of at least 1 in the NAS; Improvement was defined as a decrease of at least 1 in the NAS; while no change corresponds to no change in NAS and missing refers to participants with missing outcomes for NAS from baseline to week 48. NAS was calculated as the sum of scores for steatosis (0 to 3), lobular inflammation (0 to 3), and hepatocyte ballooning (0 to 2). Therefore, it is assessed on a scale of 0-8, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  6. Percentage of Participants With Change in The Fibrosis Stage According to The Kleiner Fibrosis Classification

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in fibrosis stage from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. The degree of fibrosis was described by the Kleiner fibrosis staging system, ranging from F0 (absence of fibrosis), F1 (portal/perisinusoidal fibrosis), F2 (perisinusoidal and portal/periportal fibrosis), F3 (septal or bridging fibrosis) through F4 (cirrhosis). Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  7. Percentage of Participants With Change in Hepatocyte Ballooning

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in hepatocyte ballooning from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. Hepatocyte ballooning was assessed on a scale of 0-2, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  8. Percentage of Participants With Change in Lobular Inflammation

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in lobular inflammation from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. Lobular inflammation was assessed on a scale of 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe lobular inflammation. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  9. Percentage of Participants With Change in Steatosis

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in steatosis from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. Steatosis was assessed on a scale of 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe steatosis. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  10. Percentage of Participants With Change in The Steatosis-Activity-Fibrosis (SAF) Activity Component Score

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in the activity component of the SAF score from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. SAF score was assessed on a scale of 0-4, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  11. Percentage of Participants With Change in The Ishak Fibrosis Score

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Percentage of participants who had improved, worsened, or had no change in the Ishak fibrosis score from baseline to week 48 or missing data is presented. Ishak fibrosis score was assessed on a scale of 0-6, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  12. Change From Baseline in Hepatic Collagen

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Change in hepatic collagen from baseline to week 48 was analysed. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  13. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in Fibrosis Stage According to The Kleiner Fibrosis Classification (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in Kleiner fibrosis classification. The degree of fibrosis was described by the Kleiner fibrosis staging system, ranging from F0 (absence of fibrosis), F1 (portal/perisinusoidal fibrosis), F2 (perisinusoidal and portal/periportal fibrosis), F3 (septal or bridging fibrosis) through F4 (cirrhosis). Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  14. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in Hepatocyte Ballooning (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in hepatocyte ballooning clinical research network (CRN) score. Hepatocyte ballooning was assessed on a scale of 0-2, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  15. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in Lobular Inflammation (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in lobular inflammation CRN score. Lobular inflammation was assessed on a scale of 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe lobular inflammation. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  16. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in Steatosis (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in steatosis CRN score. Steatosis was assessed on a scale of 0-3, with higher scores indicating more severe steatosis. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  17. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in NAS (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in NAS. NAS was calculated as the sum of scores for steatosis (0 to 3), lobular inflammation (0 to 3), and hepatocyte ballooning (0 to 2). Therefore, it is assessed on a scale of 0-8, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  18. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in SAF Activity Component Score (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in SAF score. SAF score was assessed on a scale of 0-4, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  19. Percentage of Participants With Improvement in Ishak Fibrosis Score (Yes/No)

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Improvement is defined as at least one stage decrease from baseline to week 48 in Ishak fibrosis score. Ishak fibrosis score was assessed on a scale of 0-6, with higher scores indicating more severe disease. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

  20. Change From Baseline in Body Weight

    Time frame · Baseline (week 0), Week 48

    Registry description

    Change in body weight from baseline to week 48 is presented. Outcome measure was evaluated based on data from in-trial period which started on date of randomisation visit and ended on first of following dates (both inclusive):1) follow-up visit (week 55); 2) withdrawal of consent; 3) last contact with participant (for participants lost to follow-up); 4) death.

Posted results

Values are shown as posted at ClinicalTrials.gov, with their units. PepBank has not converted, pooled or compared them.

Primary outcome results

Primary outcomeNumber· Week 48

Percentage of Participants With At Least One Stage of Liver Fibrosis Improvement With No Worsening of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) After 48 Weeks

GroupValue (Percentage of participants)
Semaglutide 2.4 mg10.6
Placebo29.2
Secondary and other outcome results(7)
Secondary outcomeGeometric mean· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Change From Baseline in Liver Fat Content Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF)-Ratio to Baseline

GroupValue (Ratio of liver fat content)Spread
Semaglutide 2.4 mg0.6263.38
Placebo1.0134.46
Secondary outcomeGeometric mean· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Change From Baseline in Liver Stiffness Measured by Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE)-Ratio to Baseline

GroupValue (Ratio of liver stiffness)Spread
Semaglutide 2.4 mg0.8722.24
Placebo0.9828.51
Secondary outcomeNumber· Week 48

Percentage of Participants With NASH Resolution After 48 Weeks

GroupValue (Percentage of participants)
Semaglutide 2.4 mg34.0
Placebo20.8
Secondary outcomeGeometric mean· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Change From Baseline in Fibrosis-4 Score-Ratio to Baseline

GroupValue (Ratio of fibrosis-4 score)Spread
Semaglutide 2.4 mg0.930.7
Placebo1.038.0
Secondary outcomeNumber· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Percentage of Participants With Change in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Activity Score (NAS)

GroupValue (Percentage of participants)
Semaglutide 2.4 mg61.7
Placebo58.3
Secondary outcomeNumber· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Percentage of Participants With Change in The Fibrosis Stage According to The Kleiner Fibrosis Classification

GroupValue (Percentage of participants)
Semaglutide 2.4 mg12.8
Placebo33.3
Secondary outcomeNumber· Baseline (week 0), Week 48

Percentage of Participants With Change in Hepatocyte Ballooning

GroupValue (Percentage of participants)
Semaglutide 2.4 mg55.3
Placebo33.3

Adverse events, as posted

Adverse events as posted: participants affected out of participants at risk, by group
GroupDeathsSerious eventsOther events
Semaglutide 2.4 mgParticipants were to receive once weekly subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of semaglutide for 48 weeks. Participants initially received 0.24 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide and the dose was then escalated once in 4 weeks until the target dose of 2.4 mg was reached: 0.24 mg (week 1 to week 4), 0.5 mg (week 5 to week 8), 1.0 mg (week 9 to week 12), 1.7 mg (week 13 to week 16), 2.4 mg (week 16 to week 48).0 / 476 / 4738 / 47
PlaceboParticipants were to receive once weekly s.c. injection of placebo matched to semaglutide (0.24 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) for 48 weeks.0 / 242 / 2415 / 24

Each cell reads participants affected / participants at risk, as the registry posted them.

Registry data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Study results come from studies, not from the registry. How PepBank works

Studies1

Studies that cite this trial.

Studies with results

1 study on this page

Indexing hint: Randomized controlled trial · 2023

9 results

Semaglutide 2·4 mg once weekly in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related cirrhosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.

Loomba et al. 2023The lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatologycited by 429

PMID 36934740PMC10792518DOI 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00068-7PUB-36934740

Free to read · publisher termsCC BY-NC-ND9 results

Eligibility

Who could join, as posted.

Sex
All
Age
from 18 Years up to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Inclusion and exclusion criteria, as posted
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female, aged 18-75 years (both inclusive) at the time of signing informed consent. * Histologic evidence of NASH and fibrosis stage 4 according to the NASH CRN classification based on central pathologist evaluation of a liver biopsy obtained within 360 days prior to screening. In subjects who have never had a liver biopsy showing NASH and F4, liver stiffness above 14 kPa by FibroScan® at screening must be documented before subjects can have a trial-related liver biopsy * A histological NAFLD activity score (NAS) equal to or above 3 with a score of 1 or more in lobular inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning based on central pathologist evaluation * Body mass index equal to or above 27 kg/m\^2 Exclusion Criteria: * Presence or history of hepatic decompensation (e.g. ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) or liver transplantation * Presence or history of gastroesophageal varices within the past 360 days prior to screening. For subjects with no known history of gastroesophageal varices and with a Fibroscan® equal to or above 20 kPa and thrombocytes equal to or below 150,000, a esophagogastroduodenoscopy must be performed to evaluate presence of gastroesophageal varices * Presence or history of hepatocellular carcinoma * Treatment with vitamin E (at doses equal to or above 800 IU/day) or pioglitazone which has not been at a stable dose in the opinion of the investigator in the period from 90 days prior to screening * Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in the period from 90 days prior to screening * Treatment with other glucose lowering agent(s) (apart from what is listed in the exclusion criterion above) or weight loss medication not stable in the opinion of the investigator in the period from 28 days prior to screening

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