Tirzepatide versus lisdexamfetamine and placebo for adults with obesity and binge-eating disorder

Efficacy and Safety of Tirzepatide Versus Placebo or Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate for Binge-Eating Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This trial tests whether tirzepatide helps reduce binge-eating episodes and body weight in adults with obesity and moderate-or-greater binge-eating disorder, compared with lisdexamfetamine or placebo, with all participants receiving guided self-help CBT.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 105 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Trial ID: NCT06847399 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 2 interventional trial randomizes adults with obesity and DSM-5 binge-eating disorder to receive tirzepatide, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, or matching placebo while all participants receive guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy. Treatments include an injectable active drug or injection placebo and an oral active drug or oral placebo, assigned per protocol. Outcomes include changes in binge-eating frequency, body weight, and safety/tolerability during the treatment period. The study is led by Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Eli Lilly and conducted at the Johns Hopkins site in Baltimore, Maryland.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18 or older with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (or ≥27 kg/m2 with an obesity-related comorbidity) who meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate-or-greater binge-eating disorder (four or more episodes per week) and are willing to try medication plus guided self-help CBT.

Not a fit: People with milder BED (fewer than four binge episodes per week), BMI below the eligibility thresholds, those with medical reasons that preclude use of these medications (for example pregnancy or certain cardiovascular conditions), or those unable to attend the Baltimore site visits are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, tirzepatide could reduce binge-eating episodes and promote clinically meaningful weight loss while being tolerable for patients with obesity and binge-eating disorder.

How similar studies have performed: Lisdexamfetamine is an approved and effective treatment for BED, and early data suggest GLP-1/GIP agonists like tirzepatide can drive weight loss and may reduce binge behaviors, but using tirzepatide specifically for BED is a newer application under study.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Disease Characteristics

1. Have a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2

   * previously diagnosed with at least one obesity-related comorbidity:
2. Have at least one self-reported unsuccessful dietary effort to lose body weight
3. Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 criteria for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) as diagnosed by the Eating Disorder Examination interview and confirmed by binge-eating diaries that is moderate or greater in severity (4 or more episodes per week)

   Participant Characteristics
4. Are 18 years of age or older
5. Participants assigned female at birth: (participants assigned female at birth who are not of childbearing potential may participate and include those who are:

   * infertile due to surgical sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation), congenital anomaly such as Mullerian agenesis
   * postmenopausal, defined as either
   * a female at least 40 years of age with an intact uterus, not on hormone therapy and who has cessation of menses for at least 1 year without an alternative medical cause; women in this category must test negative in pregnancy test prior to study entry OR
   * a female 55 or older not on hormone therapy, who has had at least 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea OR
   * a female at least 55 years of age with a diagnosis of menopause prior to starting hormone replacement therapy

   Participants assigned female at birth of child-bearing potential (not surgically sterilized and between menarche and 1-year postmenopausal) must:
   * test negative for pregnancy at Visit 1 based on a serum pregnancy test
   * and if sexually active, agree in writing to use 2 forms of effective contraception, where at least 1 form is highly effective, for the duration of the trial
   * not be breastfeeding

   Informed Consent
6. Understand and be willing to comply with all study-related procedures and agree to participate in the study by giving written informed consent in accordance with local regulations
7. In the investigator's opinion, are well-motivated, capable, and willing to:

   * Learn how to self-inject study drug, as required for this protocol (persons with visual impairments or physical limitations who are not able to perform the injections must have the assistance of an individual trained to inject study drug)
   * Inject study drug (or receive an injection from a trained individual if visually impaired or with physical limitations)
   * Learn how to take oral capsules, be consistently able to swallow capsules, and willing to take oral capsules daily as required for this protocol
   * Follow study procedures for the duration of the study

   Exclusion Criteria:

   Medical Conditions

   Eating disorder-related
8. Current diagnosis of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa

   Diabetes-related
9. Have type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), history of ketoacidosis, or hyperosmolar state/coma
10. Have laboratory evidence diagnostic of diabetes mellitus during screening, including an HbA1c ≥6.5% or fasting glucose \>126 mg/dL

    Obesity-related:
11. Have a self-reported change in body weight \>5 kg within 3 months prior to screening
12. Have a prior or planned surgical treatment for obesity (excluding lap-band if removed \>6 months prior to screening or liposuction or abdominoplasty if performed \>1 year prior to screening)
13. Have or plan to have endoscopic and/or device-based therapy for obesity or have had device removal within the last 6 months prior to screening (for example, mucosal ablation, gastric artery embolization, intragastric balloon and duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve)

Other medical

* Have a family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Syndrome type 2
* Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or lisdexamfetamine dimesylate or any of the excipients in the medications
* Have severe gastrointestinal disease
* Have known clinically significant renal impairment
* Have uncontrolled medical conditions or contraindications to tirzepatide or lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
* Have personal or family history of cardiovascular disease that could increase vulnerability to sympathomimetic effects of psychostimulants
* Have a history of suspected substance abuse within the past 5 years
* Have a lifetime history of psychostimulant abuse and/or dependence
* Have glaucoma
* Have had a history of chronic or acute pancreatitis
* Have obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders (for example, Cushing Syndrome) or diagnosed monogenetic or syndromic forms of obesity (for example, Melanocortin 4 Receptor deficiency or Prader Willi Syndrome)
* Have a current diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
* Have a history of significant active or unstable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD; within the last 2 years) or other severe psychiatric disorder (for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, mania, hypomania, or other serious mood or anxiety disorder) Note: Patients with MDD or generalized anxiety disorder whose disease state is considered stable and expected to remain stable throughout the course of the study, in the opinion of the investigator, may be considered for inclusion if not on excluded medications
* Have a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of 15 or more at Visit 1 or 2, prior to randomization
* Have any lifetime history of a suicide attempt
* Individual is considered a suicide risk in the opinion of the investigator; or endorsement of current, active suicidal ideation at screening or randomization. On the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) at Visits 1 or 2, prior to randomization:

  * a "yes" answer to either Question 4 (Active Suicidal Ideation with Some Intent to Act, Without Specific Plan) or
  * a "yes" answer to Question 5 (Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent) on the "Suicidal Ideation" portion of the C-SSRS or
  * a "yes" answer to any of the suicide-related behaviors (Actual Attempt, Interrupted Attempt, Aborted Attempt, Preparatory Act or Behavior) on the "Suicidal Behavior" portion of the C-SSRS and
  * the ideation or behavior occurred within the past month
* Have taken monoamine oxidate inhibitors (MAOI), or within 14 days of stopping MAOIs
* Have uncontrolled hypertension (SBP above or equal to 160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure above or equal to 100 mmHg)
* Have any of the following cardiovascular conditions within 3 months prior to randomization: acute myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular accident (stroke), unstable angina
* Have a history of an active or untreated malignancy or are in remission from a clinically significant malignancy (other than basal- or squamous-cell skin cancer, in situ carcinomas of the cervix, or in situ prostate cancer) for less than 5 years
* History of seizures (other than infantile febrile seizures), any tic disorder, or a current diagnosis and/or known family history of Tourette's Disorder, serious neurological disease, history of significant head trauma, dementia, Parkinson's disease, or intracranial lesions
* Participant has known history of symptomatic cardiovascular disease, advanced arteriosclerosis, structural cardiac abnormality, cardiomyopathy, serious heart rhythm abnormalities, coronary artery disease, or other serious cardiac problems that may place the participant at increased vulnerability to the sympathomimetic effects of a stimulant medication
* Have a history of any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may preclude the participant from following and completing the protocol

Prior/Concomitant Therapy

* Are receiving concurrent treatment for eating or weight disorders
* Use of a psychostimulant within the past 6 months
* Have taken within 3 months prior to screening, medications (prescribed or over-the counter) intended to promote weight loss. Examples include, but are not limited to

  * Saxenda® (liraglutide 3.0 mg)
  * Xenical®/Alli® (orlistat)
  * Meridia® (sibutramine)
  * Adipex® (phentermine)
  * BELVIQ® (lorcaserin)
  * Qsymia® (phentermine/topiramate combination)
  * Contrave® (naltrexone/bupropion)
  * Ozempic or Wegovy (semaglutide)
  * Mounjaro or Zepbound (tirzepatide)
  * Rybelsus (semaglutide)

Prior/Concurrent Clinical Study Experience

* Are currently enrolled in any other clinical study involving an investigational product (IP) or any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland

• Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Ariana M Chao, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC — Johns Hopkins University
• Study coordinator: Abigail Bisson, BS

Conditions Obesity and Overweight; Binge Eating Disorder; obesity; binge eating disorder; tirzepatide; Lisdexamfetamine