COMBAT T2 NASH

This study investigates whether combination therapy with empagliflozin and semaglutide or therapy with empagliflozin alone leads to a regression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and at the same time prevents the progression of liver fibrosis.

The study is planned to be conducted at 40 locations across Germany.

© DZD

Background of the study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common concomitant disease of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical studies have shown that diabetic patients with NAFLD have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy.
NAFLD is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver cells. In addition, patients with type 2 diabetes in particular have an increased risk of the disease progressing to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dynamic connective tissue remodeling of the liver tissue (fibrosis; end stage: cirrhosis) with potential liver failure, and the development of liver cell carcinoma. NASH is characterized by a build-up of excess fat in the liver, accompanied by inflammation in the liver tissue.
NASH is currently not treated with targeted drugs, but rather with lifestyle changes aimed at weight loss. However, research suggests that drugs that are effective for type 2 diabetes may also have a beneficial effect on NAFLD.
In the COMBAT T2 NASH study, the active substances empagliflozin (Jardiance®) and semaglutide (Ozempic®), which are already approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Germany, will be compared with a placebo (i.e. tablets or injection liquid that contain no active substance) in order to examine their effectiveness on NASH. The study will investigate whether combination therapy with empagliflozin and semaglutide or therapy with empagliflozin alone leads to a regression of NASH and at the same time prevents the progression of liver fibrosis.
The treatment with the above-mentioned drugs supports the blood glucose control of your diabetes and could at the same time contribute to the regression or non-progression of NAFLD and other diabetes-related complications.   

 

Eligible participants   

  • Men and women between the ages of 25 and 75
  • Diagnosed type 2 diabetes
  • Suspected or diagnosed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • BMI ≤45 kg/m2

 

Key exclusion criteria

  • Age under 25 or over 75 years
  • Contraindications for liver biopsy
  • No evidence of liver fibrosis
  • Previous diabetic ketoacidosis
  • High alcohol consumption
  • Liver diseases due to other causes (e.g. chronic viral hepatitis (B or C), alcohol abuse, liver cirrhosis
  • Use of certain drugs (e.g. pioglitazone therapy within the last 12 months, tamoxifen, raloxifene, oral glucocorticosteroids, chloroquine, methotrexate, amiodarone, biologicals)
  • Planned pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Addictions such as alcohol or drug abuse

 

Study procedure

In total, the study comprises around 18 visits to the study center lasting several hours.
At the beginning and after the end of the drug treatment phase, you will have a liver biopsy (removal  of tissue from the liver through the skin using a thin needle), performed as an outpatient procedure. The first liver biopsy is used to confirm NASH and liver fibrosis and checks whether you meet all inclusion criteria for participation in the study. The second liver biopsy will be conducted to determine whether there has been any change or, if possible, an improvement in your liver disease compared to when you started your participation in the study.
The drug treatment phase lasts 48 weeks and involves taking a daily tablet and having a weekly injection under the skin. During this phase you must come to the study center once a month to have your blood values checked, among other things.
In certain cases it may be necessary, in consultation with your study physician, to suspend or change your previous diabetes medication for the duration of the study participation.
During the entire duration of the study, you will be asked to measure your blood glucose at least once a day and to keep a blood glucose diary.
Participation in the study will take around 15 months in total. 

 

Medical tests and examinations

  • Medical physical examination
  • Body measurements (weight, height, abdominal and waist circumference)
  • Measurement of vital signs (i.e. blood pressure, pulse, body temperature)
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Blood and urine tests
  • Ultrasound scan of your liver
  • Elastography measurement of the liver using FibroScan® (special ultrasound technology; depending on the equipment of your study center)
  • Screening of the liver in an MRI scanner to measure your liver fat content and to determine liver stiffness (depending on the equipment of your study center)
  • Mixed-Meal Test (MMT) to assess the insulin sensitivity of body cells as well as the insulin secretion of special cells of the pancreas
  • Recording of eating habits, alcohol consumption and quality of life using questionnaires

 

Reimbursement of expenses

All examinations are free of charge for you – the study center bears the costs. You will receive a financial allowance for participating in the examinations during the study visits as well as a reimbursement of your travel costs to the study center. 

 

Participating Clinics:

Düsseldorf
Dr. Sabine Kahl
Dr. Alexandra Müller
LKP: Prof. Dr. Michael Roden
Deutsches Diabetes-Zentrum
Tel.: 0211–3382384
combatt2nash(at)ddz.de


Düsseldorf
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Leber- und Infektionszentrum (LIZ)
Dr. Natascha Qvartskhava
Tel.: 0211 8107132
NASH-Studien(at)med.uni-duesseldorf.de


Berlin/Potsdam
Dr. Stefan Kabisch
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin / DZD
Tel.: 030 – 450 514 439 (Probanden-AB)
diabetes(at)charite.de


Berlin
Med. Klinik m. S. Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie
Prof. Dr. med. Frank Tacke
Tel.: 030 450 565226
Studienzentrum-hepatologie(at)charite.de


Berlin
Dr. med. Berthold Amann
Franziskus-Krankenhaus Berlin
Tel.: 030-26383617
studien-innere(at)franziskus-berlin.de


Berlin
Frau Dr. med. Renate Victoria Heyne
Leber- und Studienzentrum Checkpoint
Tel: 030 61 67 69 719
info(at)leberzentrum-checkpoint.de


Brandenburg
Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Lüth
Universitätsklinikum Brandenburg GmbH
Hochstraße 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel
Med.Klinik II, Gastroenterologie
Tel.: 03381/411600
innere.med.2(at)klinikum-brandenburg.de


Dresden
Dipl.-Med. Ingo Weigmann
Claudia Schrapel
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus
Universitätsstudienzentrum für Stoffwechselerkrankungen
Leiter: Prof. Dr. med. Nikolaos Perakakis
Tel.: 0351/458 11722
claudia.schrapel(at)uniklinikum-dresden.de


Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Julia Szendrödi
Dr. Stefan Kopf
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Tel.: 06221 56-8606
DZD.Studien(at)med.uni-heidelberg.de 


München
Prof. Dr. Jochen Seißler
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Tel.: 089–4400–52234


München
Dr. med. Roman Iakoubov
Klinikum rechts der Isar
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II
Tel: 089-4140-5251
casemanagment2med(at)mri.tum.de


Tübingen
Prof. Dr. Andreas Fritsche, Prof. Dr. Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg, Prof. Dr. Norbert Stefan
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
Tel.: 07071–2980687


Mainz
PD. Dr. Jörn Schattenberg
Universitätsmedizin der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität
Tel.: 06131-176831
susan.depoix(at)unimedizin-mainz.de


Leipzig
Prof. Dr. med. Ingolf Schiefke
EUGASTRO GmbH
Tel.: 03414935720
info(at)eugastro.de


Freiburg
Prof. Dr. Jochen Seufert
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
Tel.: 0761-270-34200
jochen-seufert(at)uniklinik-freiburg.de


Braunschweig
Prof. Dr. med. Max Reinshagen
Städtisches Klinikum Braunschweig gGmbH
Tel: 0531-595-2431
m.reinshagen(at)klinikum-braunschweig.de oder c.boespflug(at)klinikum-braunschweig.de (Studienassistenz Christina Böspflug)


Bad Oeynhausen
Dr. med. Michael Hauber
Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Bad Oeynhausen
Tel: 05731-97-3770/3738
dizstudien(at)hdz-nrw.de


Würzburg
Dr. med. Ulrich Dischinger
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Tel: 0931-201-39200
M1_EndoAmb(at)ukw.de


Bochum
HerrDr. med. MMichael Hauber
Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum GmbH
Tel: 0234-29983451
Anja-halscheidt(at)kk-bochum.de