129 Participants Needed

Efinopegdutide for Fatty Liver Disease

Recruiting at 39 trial locations
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Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Phase 2
Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Must be taking: Oral antihyperglycemics
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Prior Safety DataThis treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will evaluate the effect of efinopegdutide administration once every 2 weeks (Q2W) versus once weekly (Q1W) on mean relative reduction from baseline in liver fat content (LFC) after 28 weeks, as well as the safety and tolerability of the different regimens of efinopegdutide.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, your condition must be controlled by diet or stable doses of oral medications.

Is efinopegdutide safe for humans?

Efinopegdutide has been studied for its safety in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and its safety profile was found to be comparable to other similar treatments. While specific safety data for efinopegdutide is limited, related treatments in the same class have shown a generally acceptable safety profile in clinical trials.12345

What makes the drug Efinopegdutide unique for treating fatty liver disease?

Efinopegdutide is unique because it targets both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, potentially offering more comprehensive benefits for fatty liver disease by reducing liver fat content and improving liver function, unlike treatments that target only one receptor.12356

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Efinopegdutide for treating fatty liver disease?

Research shows that drugs similar to Efinopegdutide, which target the same receptors, have been effective in reducing liver fat and improving liver health in patients with fatty liver disease. Specifically, studies on GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide have shown significant reductions in liver fat content and improvements in liver enzyme levels.12578

Who Is on the Research Team?

MD

Medical Director

Principal Investigator

Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which includes conditions like fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Participants should have a certain level of fat in their livers but otherwise be generally healthy.

Inclusion Criteria

I either don't have type 2 diabetes, or if I do, it's well-controlled with diet or medication.
Has body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m^2 (≥23 kg/m^2 for Asian participants) AND has stable weight, defined as ≤5% gain or loss of body weight for at least 3 months before screening

Exclusion Criteria

I haven't had major heart or stroke issues in the last 6 months.
I have had pancreatitis before.
I have a history of type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetes due to pancreas surgery.
See 6 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive efinopegdutide via subcutaneous injection in a dose-escalating regimen for 28 weeks

28 weeks
Bi-weekly or weekly visits depending on dosing regimen

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Efinopegdutide
Trial Overview The study is testing the drug efinopegdutide, given as an injection. It will compare two dosing schedules: once every two weeks (Q2W) versus once weekly (Q1W). The focus is on how well each schedule reduces liver fat content over 28 weeks and how safe and tolerable they are.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Efinopegdutide Q2W 15 mgExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Efinopegdutide Q2W 10 mgExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group III: Efinopegdutide Q1W 10 mgActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials
4,096
Recruited
5,232,000+
Chirfi Guindo profile image

Chirfi Guindo

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Marketing Officer since 2022

Degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business

Robert M. Davis profile image

Robert M. Davis

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2021

JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a phase IIa study involving 145 participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), efinopegdutide (10 mg weekly) resulted in a significantly greater reduction in liver fat content (LFC) compared to semaglutide (1 mg weekly), with reductions of 72.7% and 42.3% respectively after 24 weeks (p < 0.001).
Both treatments led to weight loss, with efinopegdutide showing an 8.5% reduction compared to 7.1% for semaglutide, although efinopegdutide was associated with slightly higher gastrointestinal adverse events.
A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efinopegdutide in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Romero-Gómez, M., Lawitz, E., Shankar, RR., et al.[2023]
In a study involving 10 non-diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and 10 matched controls, GLP-1 infusion effectively suppressed glucagon levels in both groups, indicating that the glucagon-suppressive effect of GLP-1 is preserved in NAFLD patients.
Despite the presence of fasting hyperglucagonaemia in NAFLD patients, GLP-1 did not affect endogenous glucose production, suggesting that while GLP-1 enhances insulin secretion in these patients, it does not alter glucose output from the liver.
Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on glucagon secretion in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Junker, AE., Gluud, LL., van Hall, G., et al.[2018]
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) significantly reduce liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), based on a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 677 subjects.
However, GLP-1RA treatment does not significantly affect the lipid profile, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), indicating that while they help with liver health, they do not improve lipid levels.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Effects on Lipid and Liver Profiles in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Rezaei, S., Tabrizi, R., Nowrouzi-Sohrabi, P., et al.[2021]

Citations

A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efinopegdutide in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [2023]
Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on glucagon secretion in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [2018]
GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Effects on Lipid and Liver Profiles in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2021]
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2021]
Cotadutide promotes glycogenolysis in people with overweight or obesity diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. [2023]
GLP-1 analogue prevents NAFLD in ApoE KO mice with diet and Acrp30 knockdown by inhibiting c-JNK. [2015]
Liraglutide with Lifestyle Intervention in Adolescents with Overweight/Obesity, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus. [2023]
Resolution of NASH and hepatic fibrosis by the GLP-1R/GcgR dual-agonist Cotadutide via modulating mitochondrial function and lipogenesis. [2021]
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