Phase 3 · Liraglutide

SAXAPCOS trial results

A Randomized Placebo-controlled Double Blind Trial of Liraglutide 3 mg [Saxenda] on Weight, Body Composition, Hormonal and Metabolic Parameters in Obese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Absolute Body Weight (BW) (kilogram), 32 weeks of treatment. Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda): 104.7; Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injector: 117.9.

Participants
88
Status
completed
Completed
2021-05-19
Sponsor
Woman's

As posted on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03480022), updated at source Jun 7, 2021. Read again whenever the registry updates it. Registry figures can differ from a published paper, which may use another analysis.

Primary outcome

What SAXAPCOS measured first

Absolute Body Weight (BW)kilogram · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
104.7(2.9)117.9(5)
Free Androgen Index (FAI)index score · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
5.98(0.6)6.4(.75)
Side effects by arm

Side effects in SAXAPCOS

Percent of participants affected, 36 weeks. The most common events the registry lists.

EventLiraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injector
Any serious event0%0%
Nausea25.5%11.1%
Vomiting9.1%0%
Diarrhea7.3%0%
Constipation5.5%3.7%
Injection site reaction5.5%0%
prolonged menstrual bleeding5.5%3.7%
Heartburn3.6%3.7%
no menses0%3.7%
COVID-190%3.7%
Pregnancy3.6%0%
Reflux3.6%0%
Indigestion3.6%0%
Secondary outcomes

What else it measured

Body Mass Index (BMI)kilogram/meter squared · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
39.1(1.1)43.4(1.8)
Change in Percent Body Weightpercentage loss in body weight · Change from baseline (time 0) to study end (32 weeks) · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
5.7(0.75)1.4(1.09)
5% Weight Loss From BaselineParticipants · 32 weeks of treatment · count of participants
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
255
10% Body Weight Loss From BaselineParticipants · 32 weeks of treatment · count of participants
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
132
Abdominal Adiposity (Waist Circumference [WC]centimeters · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
100.9(2.0)109.9(3.3)
Waist-to-Hip Ratioratio · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
0.81(0.009)0.85(0.015)
Waist-to Height Ratio [WHtR])ratio · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
0.62(0.014)0.67(0.02)
Total Fat Mass Evaluated by DEXAkilogram · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
49.3(2.1)56.8(3.3)
Total Body Fat (%) by DXApercent fat mass · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
46.0(0.9)47.9(0.96)
Android-Gynoid Ratio (AGR) by DXAratio · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
1.05(0.01)1.08(0.03)
Trunk/Leg Fat Ratio (TLR) by DXAratio · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
1.02(0.03)1.07(0.04)
Menstrual Cycle Frequencymenses per year · 32 weeks of treatment · mean
Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda)n=44Placebo Liraglutide Pen Injectorn=23
8.65(0.4)4.8(0.65)
The trial

How SAXAPCOS was run

There is a growing need to develop pharmacologic interventions to improve metabolic function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Given that PCOS is a frequent condition and weight loss is essential but difficult to achieve, it is important to study if the effect on body weight reported in other studies can be confirmed in a selected population of hyperandrogenic patients, especially with medications currently approved for weight reduction. High dose liraglutide alone results in significant weight reduction in obese women without PCOS. There is limited data on weight loss with high dose liraglutide in non-diabetic females with PCOS treated with this agent . Studies on the effect of anti-obesity medication combined with lifestyle changes on body weight and composition and androgen excess in obese women diagnosed with PCOS are lacking. The investigators aim to elucidate the most efficacious weight reduction regime in obese PCOS women. The investigators further hope to determine which treatment(s) addressing the multifaceted disturbances of this disorder in patients with PCOS and obesity emerges as the preferable therapy.

  • Liraglutide Pen Injector (Saxenda): Start injection liraglutide 0.6 mg subcutaneously (SC) 1week daily (QD), step up to 1.2 mg SC QD for 1week, to 1.8 mg SC QD for 1 week, 2.4 mg SC QD for 1week, to a final dose of 3.0 mg liraglutide SQ daily
  • Placebo liraglutide pen injector: Start injection of placebo liraglutide 0.6 mg subcutaneously (SC) 1week daily (QD), step up to 1.2 mg SC QD for 1week, to 1.8 mg SC QD for 1 week, 2.4 mg SC QD for 1week, to a final dose of 3.0 mg placebo liraglutide SQ daily
Who could join the trial

Inclusion Criteria: * Female gender * 18-45 years of age * BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or BMI ≥27 kg/m2 with one or more obesity-associated co-morbid conditions (e.g. hypertension, and dyslipidemia) * PCOS- NIH criteria hyperandrogenism and irregular menstrual cyclicity * Non-diabetic as determined by a 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and hemoglobin A1C. Non-diabetic is inclusive of women with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or both (IFG/IGT). Participants with diabetes will be excluded * Willing to use effective contraception consistently during therapy which is defined as: * an intrauterine device, tubal sterilization, or male partner vasectomy, or * combination of two barrier methods with one being male condom. * Written consent for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of significant systemic disease, cerebrovascular disease, clinically significant cardiac abnormalities or heart problems including congestive heart failure, unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction, current infectious liver disease, acute stroke or transient ischemic attacks, history of pancreatitis, or diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or 2) * Any hepatic diseases in the past (infectious liver disease, viral hepatitis, toxic hepatic damage, jaundice of unknown etiology) or severe hepatic insufficiency and/or significant abnormal liver function tests defined as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>3x upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>3x ULN * Renal impairment (e.g., serum creatinine levels ≥1.4 mg/dL for women, or eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or history of unstable or rapidly progressing renal disease or end stage renal disease. * Uncontrolled thyroid disease (documented normal TSH), Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or clinically significant elevations in prolactin levels. The clinical significance of prolactin levels will be determined by the treating physician * Significantly elevated triglyceride levels (fasting triglyceride \> 400 mg %) * Untreated or poorly controlled hypertension (sitting blood pressure \> 160/95 mm Hg) * Use of hormonal medications, the use of medications that cause clinically significant weight gain or loss (prescription or OTC) and medications known to exacerbate glucose tolerance (such as isotretinoin, hormonal contraceptives, GnRH analogues, glucocorticoids, anabolic steroids, C-19 progestins) including herbal medicines for at least 8 weeks. Use of anti-androgens that act peripherally to reduce hirsutism such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride, spironolactone, flutamide) for at least 4 weeks * Prior history of a malignant disease requiring chemotherapy * Family or personal history of familial medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 * Known hypersensitivity or contraindications to use GLP1 receptor agonists * Use of metformin, thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)...

Published papers

Papers from SAXAPCOS

Trial averages do not predict what one person will experience. Results are shown as the registry posts them, without interpretation.

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