Semaglutide to lose weight and reduce body fat to help atrial fibrillation

Semaglutide for Metabolic Intervention and Adipose Loss to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

This trial will see if adding semaglutide (a prescription weight-loss medicine) to usual care helps adults with obesity and atrial fibrillation have less severe AF or fewer recurrences after treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Chicago (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06499857 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial gives adults aged 18–75 with BMI ≥30 and paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation either semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo in addition to standard AF care. Participants are grouped by whether catheter ablation is expected within one year or not, and outcomes include AF severity, recurrence after standard treatments, and biological measures related to adipose tissue loss. People with type 2 diabetes on stable regimens (including basal insulin or oral agents) may be included with glucose monitoring and medication adjustments per protocol. The study is conducted at academic sites and includes regular follow-up to track weight, AF episodes, and mechanistic biomarkers.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 who have paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation and are willing to attend study visits at the trial sites are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with BMI under 30, permanent longstanding AF, or major uncontrolled medical conditions are unlikely to match the trial eligibility and may not receive benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, semaglutide could reduce AF burden and recurrence by promoting weight and fat loss, possibly improving symptoms and lowering the need for repeat procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows that significant weight loss from bariatric surgery or intensive lifestyle change can reduce AF burden, and semaglutide has proven weight-loss effects, but semaglutide has not been widely tested specifically for reducing AF recurrence in randomized Phase 3 trials.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-75 years
2. BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2
3. Paroxysmal AF or persistent AF, in whom catheter ablation (CA) for AF is expected within 1 year (A group) or in whom catheter ablation is NOT expected within 1 year (M group)
4. Ability to provide informed consent before any trial-related activities.
5. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) will be included:

   1. If HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) is less than or equal to 10 %
   2. If the subject is taking basal insulin only or oral hypoglycemic agents or a combination of those.
   3. Patients on SGLT2-inhibitors and TZDs (Thiazolidinedione) will be included if they have been on a stable dose of these medications for at least 6 months
   4. The following protocol will be adopted to adjust insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas or meglitinides) and insulin during the study (adapted from the Look Ahead Study).

Patients will be asked to check their blood glucose (BG) 4 x day (before meals and at bed time) during the dose escalation and dose stabilization phases (weeks 0 to 20) and recommendation of dose adjustments will be immediately sent to their treating physician according to the dose adjustment scale below:

* 2 blood sugars \<100 mg/dl- reduce meds \[insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas or meglitinides) and basal insulin\] by 0-50 %
* 3 blood sugars 80-100 mg/dl- reduce meds \[insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas or meglitinides) and basal insulin\] by 25-75%
* 3 blood sugars \<80 mg/dl \> 2 x week or severe hypoglycemia or symptomatic hypoglycemia- reduce meds \[insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas or meglitinides) and basal insulin\] by 50-100 %

Randomization to treatment (active and placebo) will be stratified to balance patients with T2DM across the study arms. After completion of the trial a prespecified subgroup analysis of the patients enrolled affected by T2DM will be performed.

For women of child-bearing potential, use of appropriate contraception will be required.

In patients that are prescribed amiodarone, standard care practices will be implemented to evaluate for liver and thyroid side effects with baseline liver and thyroid function tests via blood draw and evaluation every 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current use of GLP-1 RA (glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists) or DPP4 (Dipeptidyl peptidase-4)-inhibitors or use within the last 90 days prior to screening
2. Current antiobesity medication use or use within the last 90 days prior to screening
3. A self-reported change in body weight of \> 5 kg (11 lb.) within 30 days before screening
4. History of bariatric surgery
5. History of type I diabetes mellitus
6. Current use of prandial insulin
7. Hospitalization for unstable angina, or TIA (Transient ischemic attack) \< 30 days prior to screening
8. Pulmonary embolism \< 90 days before screening
9. MI (myocardial infarction), stroke, etc. \< 90 months prior to screening
10. Uncontrolled thyroid disease: TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) \> 10.0 mIU/L (Milli-international Units Per Liter) or \< 0.4 mIU/L (Milli-international Units Per Liter) at screening
11. Active malignancy
12. Active enrollment in another investigational study that includes any kind of intervention
13. The receipt of any investigational drug within 90 days prior to this trial.
14. Inability to comply with study procedures
15. Acute pancreatitis \< 180 days before screening
16. History or presence of chronic pancreatitis
17. CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) stage 4 (GFR \<30 ml/min)
18. A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
19. A prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in WEGOVY
20. Chronic inflammatory conditions requiring immunosuppression and/or on glucocorticoids
21. Previous participation in this trial (received at least one dose of study drug or placebo)
22. Pregnant, breast-feeding or planning pregnancy

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 1 other locations

• The University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Silvana Pannain, MD — University of Chicago
• Study coordinator: Silvana Pannain, MD

Conditions Overweight or Obesity; Atrial Fibrillation