← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT06856291

NCT06856291 Response to Semaglutide in Non-diabetic Obese Patients With Varying Degrees of Insulin Resistance

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06856291
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor ETH Zurich
Condition Obesity and Obesity-related Medical Conditions
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment 40 participants
Start Date 2025-03-15
Primary Completion 2026-08-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 60 Years
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.

This trial targets 40 participants in total. It began in 2025-03-15 with a primary completion date of 2026-08-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Incretin mimetics are widely used pharmacological treatments for weight loss, known for their high efficacy and favorable safety profile. As the most commonly prescribed drug in this class, semaglutide is effective in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. However, treatment responses vary significantly, with non-diabetic individuals typically experiencing better weight loss outcomes. Despite this, up to 10% of non-diabetic individuals show little or no response to treatment, and the reasons for this variability remain unclear. The TRIM-IR study aims to investigate the role of insulin resistance (IR) in weight loss outcomes among non-diabetic obese individuals receiving semaglutide. This single-center, observational study will assess the impact of IR on weight loss, body composition, and adipose tissue function during the first 16 weeks of semaglutide therapy. The study will also explore molecular markers of adipose tissue dysfunction, focusing on the transition from dysfunctional to healthy adipose tissue. The investigators hypothesize, that individuals with lower IR will experience greater weight loss than those with higher IR, and that the glucose infusion rate (GIR) during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp testing will correlate with weight loss variability. Secondary objectives include comparing changes in fat and lean mass, reductions in visceral fat, and improvements in adipose tissue function before and after 16 weeks of treatment. Exploratory analyses will assess adipocyte subpopulations and their response to insulin sensitivity changes. A total of 40 participants, equally distributed by gender, will be enrolled to ensure statistical power for detecting clinically relevant differences. The study aims to optimize semaglutide use for personalized obesity treatment and provide insights into the relationship between obesity, insulin resistance, and adipose tissue plasticity, with implications for improving obesity management and cardiovascular health outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 18 and 60 years 2. BMI 30 - 40 kg/m2 a. Participants must meet the eligibility criteria for coverage under the KVG (Federal Health Insurance Act) and the Specialties List, which include a weight-related comorbidity (arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia) for participants with a BMI of 30- 35 kg/m2 3. Planned therapy with semaglutide as a weight loss intervention 4. No known presence of a diabetic state 5. Ability to understand and sign a Patient Information and Consent Form Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy or active breast feeding 1. Therapy with semaglutide is not approved for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, as its safety and efficacy in these conditions have not been established. 2. Pregnancy is an exclusion criterion for the planned investigations to avoid placing pregnant individuals under unnecessary physical or psychological stress that could pose risks to both the individual and the fetus. 2. Medication and/or pathologies that prevent the safe execution of the fat tissue biopsies (e.g. allergy towards local anesthetics, disorders of coagulation, treatment with anticoagulants) 3. Medical conditions that prevent examinations and testing (e.g. epilepsia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease) 4. History of or planned bariatric surgery 5. HbA1c ≥ 6.5% as measured by the central laboratory at screening 6. Fasting plasma-glucose \>7.0 mmol/l 7. History of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus 8. Treatment with glucose-lowering agent(s) (e.g. Metformin) within 90 days before screening 9. Treatment with a GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide 1) receptor agonist within 180 days before screening 10. A self-reported change in body weight \>5% within 90 days before screening 11. Active malignancy (\<2a since remission) 12. Treatment with any medication for the indication of obesity within the past 90 days before screening 13. Uncontrolled thyroid disease, defined as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) \> 10 mIU/L or \< 0.4 mIU/L as measured by the central laboratory at screening

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Katja M Leitner, Dr. med. univ.

✉ katja.leitner@hest.ethz.ch

📞 +41628384184

Principal Investigator

Christian Wolfrum, Prof. Dr.

STUDY CHAIR

ETH Zurich

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06856291 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 60 Years, studying Obesity and Obesity-related Medical Conditions. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT06856291 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06856291 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at katja.leitner@hest.ethz.ch for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06856291 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Aarau, Switzerland.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06856291 clinical trial?

NCT06856291 is sponsored by ETH Zurich. The principal investigator is Christian Wolfrum, Prof. Dr. at ETH Zurich. The trial plans to enroll 40 participants.

Related Trials

Related Intelligence Guides

In-depth guides covering this condition's trials, eligibility, and what to expect.

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology