Semaglutide for the Prevention Of Post-Transplant Diabetes Mellitus (SPOT-DM)

September 11, 2026 updated by: Sunita Singh, MD, MSc, FRCPC, University Health Network, Toronto
The study aims to determine the short-term efficacy, mechanisms and safety of 24 weeks of semaglutide therapy in 37 KTR at risk of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A kidney transplant is the best treatment for people living with kidney failure as it allows people to live longer with a better quality of life. However, one in four kidney transplant recipients will develop diabetes after transplant. This is largely due to the medications that must be used to prevent rejection of the transplant. Kidney transplant recipients who get diabetes after transplant are up to three times more likely to have heart disease and die prematurely. To date, there are no treatments to prevent the development of diabetes after kidney transplant. Semaglutide is a drug that is commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity. The investigators believe that semaglutide is a safe and effective drug which can prevent the development of diabetes in kidney transplant recipients. Therefore, the investigators are conducting a study where kidney transplant recipients who are at increased risk of developing diabetes after transplant will receive semaglutide for 24 weeks after their transplant. The study will determine whether semaglutide is effective in decreasing blood sugar levels and the rate of diabetes. The investigators will also study other important markers of health including body weight and cholesterol levels as well as liver, kidney and heart function. Diabetes after transplant is a common problem, and preventing it is extremely important to allowing kidney transplant recipients to live longer and better lives. The results of this study will allow the investigators to determine if semaglutide is a safe and effective option for the prevention of diabetes in kidney transplant recipients.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
37

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
        • St. Paul's Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2N2
        • Toronto General Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sunita Singh, MD MSc FRCPC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Signed and dated written informed consent.
  2. Adult (≥18 years) recipients of a living or deceased donor kidney transplant
  3. Between 4- and 12-weeks post kidney transplant
  4. Stable kidney function defined as an eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73m2 (CKD-EPI)

  5. At risk for PTDM at the time of transplant based on the following criteria:

    1. BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, or
    2. Fasting plasma glucose 6.1-6.9 mmol/L (impaired fasting glucose), or
    3. 2hr OGTT plasma glucose 7.8-11.0 (impaired glucose tolerance), or
    4. HbA1C 5.5-6.4% (at risk for DM or prediabetes).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Established diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 DM as per Diabetes Canada (including the need for glucose-lowering therapy for hyperglycemia at the time of screening)
  2. Kidney-Pancreas transplant recipient
  3. Acute coronary syndrome, transient ischemic attack or stroke within 30 days prior to screening
  4. History of pancreatitis
  5. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2B
  6. Women who are pregnant, nursing or plan on becoming pregnant whilst in the trial
  7. Use of GLP1RA in the 30 days prior to screening
  8. Contraindication to MRI (applicable only to those undergoing the optional MRI assessments)
  9. With known or suspected hypersensitivity to semaglutide or related products
  10. Patient not able to understand and comply with study requirements, based on Investigator's judgment.
  11. Any other clinical condition that, based on Investigator's judgement, would jeopardize patient safety during trial participation or would affect the study outcom
  12. History of glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Semaglutide
Patients will be up-titrated as tolerated starting at 0.25 mg subcutaneous semaglutide once weekly for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and 1.7 mg semaglutide for 4 weeks each, and then 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide once weekly for 8 weeks. Semaglutide can be down-titrated by the investigator to lower doses or up-titrated at slower rates if not tolerated by the participant.
Drug: Semaglutide 0.25 mg
Subcutaneous semaglutide 0.25mg for 4 weeks.
Drug: Semaglutide 0.5 mg
Subcutaneous semaglutide 0.5mg for 4 weeks.
Drug: Semaglutide 1.0 mg
Subcutaneous semaglutide 1.0 mg for 4 weeks.
Drug: Semaglutide 1.7mg subcutaneous
Subcutaneous semaglutide 1.7 mg for 4 weeks
Drug: Semaglutide 2.4 MG/0.75 ML Subcutaneous Solution [WEGOVY]
Subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg for 8 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
2-hour OGTT
Time Frame: 24 weeks
The primary outcome of this study is the change in plasma glucose at 120 minutes following a 75g oral glucose challenge (2-hour OGTT) at 24 weeks. The 2-hour OGTT was selected as the primarily outcome in this study for the following reasons: 1) In selecting a surrogate outcome for PTDM in KTR, there are limitations to HbA1c and fasting glucose in this population; 2) The 2-hour OGTT is the recommended test for the diagnosis of PTDM in KTR and 3) The use of OGTT has been used in other PTDM prevention studies.
24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Systolic blood pressure
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Change in body weight
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Change in waist circumference
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Change in HbA1c
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]
Time Frame: 24 weeks
: The side effects of GLP-1RA have been well described and will be assessed at each study visit. Adverse events include AKI, hypoglycemia, volume depletion, GI intolerance, amputations, pancreatitis, hepatobiliary complications and injection site or allergic reactions, infectious complications (any source), and malignancy. Episodes of biopsy-proven acute rejection (as defined by the Banff criteria), death-censored graft failure (defined as the need for initiation of chronic dialysis or re-transplantation) or death with graft function (defined as death with a functioning allograft) will also be collected. Kidney transplantation assures complete denervation of the transplanted kidney and the renal vasoconstrictive response in the setting of intravascular volume depletion is diminished in KTR. Therefore, frequent monitoring for adverse events has been integrated in our study design, occurring on 10 separate occasions, to capture these adverse events should they occur.
24 weeks
Estimated GFR
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Calculated by CKD-EPI 2021 equation
24 weeks
Change in fasting blood glucose
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
GFR
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Measured using 24-urine collection for creatinine, standardized per 1.73m2 body surface area. And estimated using CKD-EPI 2021 equation.
24 weeks
Change in serum insulin
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Albuminuria
Time Frame: 24 weeks
measuring urine albumin excretion from a 24-hour urine collection
24 weeks
Natriuresis
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed with a 24-hour urine collection for sodium excretion
24 weeks
Percentage of body fat
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Bioimpedance analysis
24 weeks
Change in fasting lipid profile
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Change in liver enzymes
Time Frame: 24 weeks
ALT and AST
24 weeks
Change in fibrosis level
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Transient elastography
24 weeks
Change in steatosis level
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Transient elastography
24 weeks
Diastolic blood pressure
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Mean arterial pressure
Time Frame: 24 weeks
24 weeks
Percentage of extracellular fluid
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Bioimpedance analysis
24 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in kidney oxygenation (R2*)
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed via multiparametric kidney MRI in an optional cohort.
24 weeks
Change in kidney fibrosis (ADC)
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed via multiparametric kidney MRI in an optional cohort.
24 weeks
Change in kidney perfusion
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed via multiparametric kidney MRI in an optional cohort.
24 weeks
Change in kidney volume
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed via multiparametric kidney MRI in an optional cohort.
24 weeks
Change in kidney inflammation (T1)
Time Frame: 24 weeks
Assessed via multiparametric kidney MRI in an optional cohort.
24 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sunita Singh, MD MSc FRCPC, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 30, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 17, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 2, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 25-5093

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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