MedPath

Effect of Glucagon and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Co-agonism on Cardiac Function and Metabolism in Overweight Participants With Type 2 Diabetes

Phase 4
Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity
Registration Number
NCT04307797
Lead Sponsor
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

The study seeks to explore the cardiovascular effects of co-agonism at the glucagon and (glucagon-like peptide-1) GLP-1 receptor. Glucagon and exenatide will be intravenously infused into participants with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Overall, the aim of the study is to further the investigator's understanding on the role these endogenous substances have on normal cardiac physiology, myocardial energetics and myocardial glucose uptake through a series of PET and MRI imaging studies

Detailed Description

This is a single-centre, single-blinded pilot study designed to understand the role the GLP-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, and glucagon receptor co-agonism has on normal cardiac physiology, myocardial energetics and myocardial glucose utilisation.

Part A - Overweight participants with type 2 diabetes will act as their own control and will undergo a series of three imaging studies (in a randomised order) as detailed below:

1. Cardiac positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) with placebo (0.9% saline) infusion

2. Cardiac PET-MRI with 18F-FDG with co-infusion of exenatide and glucagon

3. Cardiac PET-MRI with 18F-FDG with infusion of glucagon

Part B - Overweight participants with type 2 diabetes will act as their own control and will undergo a series of two imaging studies (in a randomised order), followed by one optional visit as detailed below:

1. 7T Phosphorus (P) 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) (31P-MRS) with placebo (0.9% saline) infusion

2. 7T 31P-MRS with co-infusion of glucagon and exenatide 3 (optional) 7T 31P-MRS with infusion of glucagon

Study outcome measures are detailed below

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
16
Inclusion Criteria
  • Written informed consent to participate
  • Aged >18 years
  • Clinical diagnosis of T2DM, either diet controlled or treated with metformin (to be withheld on the morning of the imaging visit)
  • BMI ≥25kg/m2
  • Current non-smoker
Exclusion Criteria
  • Females of childbearing potential (Part A only) / current pregnancy (all parts)
  • Sustained Hypertension (sustained BP >160/100mmHg) or hypotension (systolic BP below 90 mmHg)
  • Clinically significant heart disease
  • Implanted heart pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
  • Known active malignancy other than skin cancer
  • Known renal failure (creatinine >150µmol/L)
  • Known type one diabetes mellitus / known or clinically suspected diagnosis of a monogenic form of diabetes
  • Poorly controlled blood glucose
  • Current daily use of anti-diabetic medication including Insulin, GLP-1 based agonists, DPP4i or any other medication known to interact with either of the study drugs (exenatide or glucagon)
  • Current involvement in the active treatment phase of other research studies, (excluding observational/non-interventional).
  • Contraindication for MRI/PET scan, i.e. any reason which precludes MRI imaging according to local policy (ie internal pacemaker/defibrillator, metal fragments, claustrophobia)
  • Participation in research studies in the last 3 years involving radiation (if the effective dose exceeded 10mSv). This does not include any diagnostic or therapeutic exposures which were clinically justified.
  • Any other clinical reason which may preclude entry in the opinion of the investigator

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part A - Ejection fractionComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in ejection fraction between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - Stroke volumeComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in stroke volume between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - Global longitudinal strain / global circumferential strain / global radial strainComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in global longitudinal strain / global circumferential strain / global radial strain between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - Myocardial glucose uptakeComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in myocardial glucose uptake between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by 18F-FDG

Part B - Changes in phosphocreatine/adenosine (PCr/ATP) radioComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Changes in PCr/ATP radio between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon (optional) in the mid-interventricular septum as a measure of cardiac energy status as measured by 7T phosphorus (P) 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

Part B - Changes in absolute concentrations of PCr and ATP defined by AHA 17- segment territory as a measure of cardiac energy status (determined by 31P-MRS)Comparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Changes in absolute concentrations of PCr and ATP between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon (optional) as defined by AHA 17-segment territory as a measure of cardiac energy status (determined by 7T 31P-MRS)

Part A - Cardiac outputComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in cardiac output between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part A - Radial strainComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in radial strain between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - Relationship between early and late filling (from mitral flow)Comparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in early and late filling (from mitral flow) between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - End systolic/diastolic ventricular/atrial volumesComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in end systolic/diastolic ventricular/atrial volumes between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A - Global systolic/diastolic longitudinal/circumferential/radial strain rateComparison between scans over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in global systolic/diastolic longitudinal/circumferential/radial strain rate between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon scan as measured by CMR

Part A/B - GlucagonComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in glucagon between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - Heart rateComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in heart rate between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - Blood pressureComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in blood pressure between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - GlucoseComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in glucose between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - InsulinComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in insulin between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - C-peptideComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in C-peptide between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - fatty acidsComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in fatty acids between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - exenatideComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in exenatide between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - Total GLP-1 and total active GLP-1Comparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in GLP-1 between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Part A/B - gastric inhibitory polypeptideComparison between infusions (placebo vs drug) over a maximum period of 16 weeks

Difference in gastric inhibitory polypeptide between 0.9% saline, glucagon:exenatide and glucagon

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Cambridge

🇬🇧

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath