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

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