Canakinumab treatment for low blood sugar after weight loss surgery

Canakinumab for the Treatment of Postprandial Hypoglycemia - CanpHy Study

Phase 3 Interventional University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · NCT05401578

This study is testing if a medication called canakinumab can help people who have had weight loss surgery manage low blood sugar after meals.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment56 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Basel, Switzerland Academic / other
Drugs / interventionscanakinumab
Locations2 sites (Basel and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05401578 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of canakinumab, an IL-1 receptor antagonist, in treating postprandial hypoglycemia in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Participants will be monitored using a continuous glucose monitoring system to assess their hypoglycemic episodes over a 28-day treatment period compared to a placebo group. The study will also measure improvements in health-related quality of life, both mentally and physically, as a primary outcome. The total duration of participation for each subject is expected to be four months, including screening and follow-up visits.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients who have undergone bariatric surgery and experience frequent hypoglycemic episodes despite dietary modifications.

Not a fit: Patients with any type of diabetes mellitus or those currently on immunosuppressive medications may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from postprandial hypoglycemia after bariatric surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that IL-1 receptor antagonists like Anakinra can reduce symptomatic hypoglycemia, suggesting potential success for this similar approach with canakinumab.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients after bariatric surgery (i.e. sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, omega-loop bypass, biliopancreatic diversion) with documented hypoglycemia, i. e. \< 3.0 mmol/l and at least 5 hypoglycemic episodes per week despite dietary modification
* For women with child-bearing potential, willingness to use contraceptive measures adequate to prevent pregnancy during the study
* Informed Consent as documented by signature

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any type of diabetes mellitus according to ADA criteria
* Intolerance to the study drug
* Signs of current infection
* Any use of immunosuppressive medication
* Use of any drug therapy for postbariatric hypoglycemia apart from acarbose (all remaining drugs have to be discontinued four half-life times before screening phase)
* Neutropenia (leukocyte count \< 1.5 × 109/L or ANC \< 0.5 × 109/L)
* Anemia (hemoglobin \< 11 g/dL for males, \< 10 g/dL for females)
* Clinically significant kidney or liver disease (creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dL, AST/ALT \> 2 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase \> 2 × ULN, or total bilirubin \[tBili\] \> 1.5 × ULN)
* Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
* Uncontrolled malignant disease
* Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
* Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse
* Meeting the criteria for vulnerability (e.g. participants incapable of judgment or participants under tutelage)
* Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc.
* Participation in another clinical trial using investigational drugs in the last 30 days or planned participation in the next 60 days
* Previous enrolment into the current study,
* Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons

Where this trial is running

Basel and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Postprandial Hypoglycemiabariatric surgeryIL-1 receptor antagonistpostbariatric hypoglycemiacanakinumabquality of life
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.