Alpelisib Challenge Test to measure insulin secretory capacity
Official title: Alpelisib Challenge Test (ACT) for Assessment of Pancreatic β-Cell Reserve, Pilot & Feasibility Study
Run by Columbia University · NCT07778524 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will test a new approach to measure how much insulin the body can produce in people at various weights and with or without insulin resistance, using alpelisib around a meal test.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Columbia University Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | prednisone |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 2, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 3, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07778524 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18-70 with BMI 18-45 kg/m2 (differentiated by lean, overweight, and obesity subgroups), able to understand English or Spanish, and willing to fast and stay in hospital for ~30 hours.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with uncontrolled blood pressure, significant cardiovascular instability, or inability to provide consent may not benefit from this approach.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This early-phase study tests whether giving alpelisib to temporarily induce insulin resistance can improve the assessment of beta-cell function during a mixed meal tolerance test. Participants undergo a standard hyperglycemic clamp as a reference measure, followed by meals and then a single dose of alpelisib, with a subsequent mixed-meal tolerance test to gauge insulin response under stress. The goal is to see if the oral-based test after alpelisib provides a practical proxy for beta-cell reserve compared with the hyperglycemic clamp. The study enrolls adults 18-70 across BMI ranges and includes lean, overweight, and obese groups, with English or Spanish language capabilities. It is conducted as an inpatient 30- to 30-plus-hour visit at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, with collaboration from NIDDK and University of Pisa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the ACT could offer a simpler, scalable way to gauge beta-cell reserve and progression risk in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous oral tests have limitations, but this study builds on converting oral measures into a more informative beta-cell reserve assessment using a pharmacologic challenge.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 18-70 years
* Able to understand wrifen and spoken English and/or Spanish
* Body mass index of 18-45 kg/m2 (or 18-42 kg/m2 for those of Asian ancestry)
* For Lean group: BMI 18.0-24.9 kg/m2 (or 18.0-22.9 kg/m2 for those of Asian ancestry)
* For Overweight group: BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 (or 23.0-27.4 kg/m2 for those of Asian ancestry)
* For Obesity group: BMI 30.0-45.0 kg/m2 (or 27.5-42 kg/m2 for those of Asian ancestry)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Inability to provide informed consent in English or Spanish
* Unwillingness to fast (except water) for up to 18 hours
* Unwillingness not to get out of bed and to use bedpan/urinal to void for up to 15 hours
* Documented weight change of ≥ 5.0% of baseline within the previous 3 months
* Abnormal blood pressure
* Systolic blood pressure \< 90 mm Hg or \> 160 mm Hg, and/or
* Diastolic blood pressure \< 55 mm Hg or \> 100 mm Hg
* Abnormal resting heart rate \< 55 bpm or ≥ 110 bpm
* Sinus tachycardia that has been extensively worked up and considered benign by the recruit's personal physician may be permitted at the PI's discretion
* Sinus bradycardia between heart rates of 45 and 54 bpm may be permitted at the PI's discretion if in a clinically appropriate setting (e.g., toned athlete, taking beta blockers)
* Abnormal (i.e., non-regular) heart rhythm detected on physical exam
* Abnormal screening serum electrolytes judged by the PI to be potentially clinically significant
* Liver function abnormalities (either of the following)
* Transaminases (AST or ALT) \> 3.0 x the upper limit of normal
* Total bilirubin \> 1.25 x the upper limit of normal
* Laboratory evidence of diabetes mellitus:
* Hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%, and/or
* Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg dL-1
* Positive qualitative β-hCG (i.e., pregnancy test) in women of childbearing potential
* Women currently pregnant
* Women currently breastfeeding
* History of having met any of the American Diabetes Association's definitions of diabetes mellitus (i.e., overt diabetes):
* Hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%, or rapid rise in documented HbA1c values causing clinical concern for evolving insulin deficiency
* Plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL after 8-h fast
* Plasma glucose of ≥ 200 mg/dL at 2 h after ingestion of a 75-g glucose load
* Random plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL associated with typical hyperglycemic symptoms, diabetic ketoacidosis, or hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state
* History of gestational diabetes mellitus within the previous 5 years
* Use of most antidiabetic medications within the 90 days prior to screening
* Exceptions: thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, DPP4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, amylin mimetics, acarbose, insulin
* Metformin is acceptable provided that recruits meet all of the inclusion criteria at screening
* Clinical concern for absolute insulin deficiency (e.g., type 1 diabetes, pancreatic disease)
* Cardiovascular diseases (N.B. uncomplicated hypertension is not exclusionary)
* Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
* Stable or unstable angina
* Myocardial infarction
* Ischaemic or hemorrhagic stroke
* Peripheral arterial disease (claudication)
* Use of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + P2Y12 inhibitor)
* History of percutaneous coronary intervention
* Congestive heart failure (NYHA Class ≥ 2)
* Severe valvular heart disease (e.g., aortic stenosis)
* Pulmonary hypertension
* Advanced or severe liver disease, including but not limited to:
* Advanced liver fibrosis, as determined by non-invasive testing
* Cirrhosis of any etiology
* Autoimmune hepatitis or other rheumatologic disorder affecting the liver
* Biliopathy (e.g., progressive sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis)
* Chronic liver infection (e.g., viral hepatitis, parasitic infestation)
* Hepatocellular carcinoma
* Infiltrative disorders (e.g., sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease)
* Psychiatric diseases causing functional impairment that:
* Are or have been decompensated within 1 year of screening, and/or
* Require use of anti-dopaminergic antipsychotic drugs associated with significant weight gain/metabolic dysfunction (e.g., clozapine, olanzapine)
* Venous thromboembolic disease (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) or any required use of therapeutic anticoagulation
* Bleeding disorders, including due to anticoagulation, or significant anemia (see above)
* Active malignancy, or hormonally active benign neoplasm, except allowances for:
* Non-melanoma skin cancer
* Differentiated thyroid cancer (AJCC Stage I only)
* Clinical concern for increased risk of volume overload, including due to medications and/or heart/liver/kidney problems, as listed above
* Use of certain medications currently or within 30 days prior to screening:
* Prescribed medications used for any of the indications in the preceding list of excluded conditions, or their use within 30 d prior to screening, except allowances for:
* Use of drugs prescribed for indications other than the exclusionary diagnoses/purposes listed above (e.g., ACEi/ARB used for uncomplicated hypertension rather than for congestive heart failure, etc.)
* Note, as above, that antidiabetic drugs except metformin within 30 d of screening are excluded
* Oral or parenteral corticosteroids (at greater than prednisone 5 mg daily, or equivalent) for more than 3 days within the previous 30 days; topical and inhaled formulations are permitted
* History of certain weight-loss (bariatric) surgery, including:
* Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
* Biliopancreatic diversion
* Restrictive procedures (lap band, sleeve gastrectomy) performed within the past 6 months
* Clinical concern for alcohol overuse based on chart review and/or by recruit's report of more than 14 standard drinks per week for males or more than 7 standard drinks per week for females
* Regular tobacco use (smoking more than 1 cigarette per week) or regular nicotine vaping (daily)
* Clinical concern for use of illicit drugs other than marijuana or lawfully prescribed medications based on recruit's report, chart review, and point-of-care urine drug test at screening
* History of or ongoing febrile illness within 14 days of screening
* Any other disease or condition or laboratory value that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the participant at an unacceptable risk and/or interfere with the analysis of study data.
* Known allergy/hypersensitivity to any component of the medicinal product formulations (including soy, cow dairy, or gluten), other biologics, venipuncture materials, plastics, adhesive or silicone, or ongoing clinically important allergy/hypersensitivity as judged by the investigator.
* Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study of any investigational drug/biologic therapy within 5 half-lives of an investigational agent or biologic.
Where it's running
-
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Joshua R Cook, MD, PhD — Columbia University
- Study coordinator: Joshua R Cook, MD, PhD
- Email: jrc2175@cumc.columbia.edu
- Phone: 2123052663
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.