Combining teplizumab and GLP-1 medicines to protect early type 1 diabetes

Optimizing Stage 2 T1DM Management: Assessing the Impact of GLP-1Ra on Metabolic Outcomes in Patients Receiving Teplizumab

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11311864

This research tests whether adding GLP‑1 diabetes medicines to teplizumab helps people with stage 2 type 1 diabetes keep their insulin-producing beta cells working longer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11311864 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have stage 2 type 1 diabetes (positive autoantibodies and early metabolic changes but not yet on insulin), researchers will give teplizumab alongside a GLP‑1 receptor agonist to see how your metabolism and beta-cell function respond. The team will measure blood sugar patterns, C‑peptide levels, glucagon, and other metabolic markers and may perform glucose tolerance tests and laboratory assays. They will compare those results over time to learn whether the combination stabilizes insulin production and corrects metabolic problems. Clinic visits will include blood draws, monitoring, and follow-up at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with stage 2 type 1 diabetes — autoantibody positive with early dysglycemia who are not yet dependent on insulin.

Not a fit: People with long-standing type 1 diabetes who are already using insulin or those without stage 2 disease are unlikely to benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could help preserve insulin-producing cells and delay the need for insulin in early type 1 diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Teplizumab has delayed diabetes onset in prior trials and GLP‑1 drugs have shown metabolic benefits in other diabetes settings, but combining them in stage 2 type 1 diabetes is largely untested.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes MellitusBrittle Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.