Saxenda in Obesity Services (STRIVE Study) (STRIVE)

EFFECTIVENESS AND COST OF INTEGRATING A PROTOCOL WITH USE OF LIRAGLUTIDE 3.0 MG INTO AN OBESITY SERVICE: (STRIVE Study)

A two year, parallel, two group, open-label, real-world randomised controlled trial (RCT) design for subjects with severe and complex obesity who are referred to a Tier 3 or equivalent specialist weight management/obesity service. Participants will be randomised to receive 1) standard care (obesity-specialist care), or 2) targeted prescribing pathway (obesity-specialist care plus targeted use of Liraglutide 3.0mg [LIRA 3mg] with pre-specified stopping rules for the medication). The aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness, budget impact, and cost-effectiveness between the two groups in a real-world setting among otherwise largely unselected patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity; Diabetes Mellitus; Weight Loss
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Saxenda; Other: Specialist Obesity Management Services

Detailed Description

Summary of Trial Design A two year, parallel, two group, open-label, real-world, RCT design for patients with severe and complex obesity who are referred to a Tier 3 obesity service (including patients who are referred to a Tier 3 service as part of the bariatric surgery pathway). The total duration of participation will be 104 weeks (+/-2 weeks).

The first 52 weeks of the study (after randomisation) will determine whether using the targeted prescribing pathway in a Tier 3 setting will result in more participants attaining ≥15% weight loss compared with standard care. The second 52 weeks of the study will assess whether patients who lose ≥15% of their baseline weight by the first 52 weeks are more likely to maintain ≥15% weight loss for another 52 weeks in the targeted prescribing pathway compared with standard care. Further, budget impact, cost-effectiveness, improvement in obesity-related co-morbidities, complementary aspects of safety, effectiveness, adherence, and treatment satisfaction of both treatment groups will be assessed and compared.

Participants will be randomised in a 2:1 fashion to either the intervention (targeted prescribing pathway + standard care) or control (standard care) group (2 intervention: 1 control). The control group will receive standard care in a specialist obesity service (Tier 3 or equivalent), according to the best practice in each site and can include total or partial meal replacement strategies. The intervention group will receive the same standard care as the control group (i.e. according to the best practice in each site) plus all participants will initially receive LIRA with pre-specified stopping rules. The targeted prescribing pathway: participants who do not meet the definition of a 'early and good responder' (defined as achieving ≥5% weight loss at 16 weeks, ≥10% weight loss at 32 weeks and ≥15% weight loss at 52 weeks) will have their LIRA 3mg treatment stopped. It is important to note that all participants will be analysed in the group to which they are randomised; in particular, participants in the intervention group who stop receiving LIRA 3mg will remain in the intervention group and will continue to receive standard care for the remainder of the study as per the targeted prescribing pathway (albeit, the part of the pathway where LIRA 3mg is not prescribed; see Figure 1).

The study is intentionally designed to reflect a pragmatic "real-world" scenario and each Tier 3 provider may require a different number of visits for their programme. However, study appointments for data collection, titration reviews, application of the stopping rules of LIRA 3mg, and dispensing will be standardised for all of the five sites.

Intervention (Targeted Prescribing Pathway)

The NHS Weight Management pathway is divided into four distinct tiers:

Tier 1: health promotion Tier 2: lifestyle interventions Tier 3: specialist multidisciplinary weight management services Tier 4: bariatric surgery

Across the UK, each region has a specialist Tier 3 obesity and/or weight management service or equivalent, usually referred to as Tier 3. This includes a clinician led multidisciplinary team approach, potentially including a specialist physician, nurse, dietician, psychologist, physiotherapist, etc. From this point forwards, Tier 3 specialist weight management and/or equivalent services will be referred to as 'Tier 3' throughout the remainder of this protocol.

Participants in the intervention group will receive the same standard care as those in the control group, i.e. the best medical practice delivered by the Tier 3 service at each site. Additionally, at baseline, LIRA 3mg will be prescribed to all of the participants in the intervention group at a starting dose of 0.6mg daily. Dose escalation of Liraglutide will occur according to a pre-specified titration protocol, from 0.6mg to a maximum of 3.0mg daily. Liraglutide dose will be initiated at 0.6mg and then increased to 1.2mg in Week 2, 1.8mg in Week 3, 2.4mg in Week 4, and 3.0mg in Week 5. Participants in the intervention group will be aware that the LIRA 3mg treatment may be stopped at various time points throughout the duration of the study and that continued use of LIRA 3mg is based upon their response to the treatment in terms of them achieving pre-defined weight loss targets at 16, 32 and 52 weeks.. Specifically, participants in the intervention group will continue to be prescribed LIRA 3mg for the 104 week duration of the study, unless one of the following stopping rules applies:

1. st stopping rule: After 16 weeks (± 14 days) on the medication, only those participants who have lost ≥5% of their baseline weight will be offered further treatment with LIRA 3mg for another 16 weeks. Participants who have not met this weight loss target will have their LIRA 3mg treatment stopped but will still continue in the targeted prescribing pathway but will receive standard care only during the remainder of the study.
2. nd stopping rule: After 32 weeks (± 14 days) on the medication, only those participants who have lost ≥10% of their baseline weight and are still on treatment with LIRA 3mg will be offered another 20 weeks on LIRA 3mg. Participants who have not met this weight loss target will have their LIRA 3mg treatment stopped but will still continue in the targeted prescribing pathway but will receive standard care only during the remainder of the study.
3. rd stopping rule: After the first year of treatment (week 52; ± 14 days), only those participants who have lost ≥15% of their baseline weight and are still on treatment with LIRA 3mg will be offered another 52 weeks on LIRA 3mg. Participants who have not met this weight loss target will have their LIRA 3mg treatment stopped but will still continue in the targeted prescribing pathway but will receive standard care only during the remainder of the study.

Participants who fail to reach the pre-defined weight-loss targets to continue LIRA 3mg treatment, or who choose to stop receiving LIRA 3mg, will continue to be offered the standard care provided by the Tier 3 service. These participants will still attend the Clinical Review Visits but not the additional visits for participants who are still on LIRA 3mg (e.g. Weeks 65 & 91) because these visits will not be relevant to them; visits at Weeks 65 and 91 are intended to provide a new prescription of LIRA 3mg and to discuss adherence and any side effects;; see Appendices 2 & 3).

Participants will remain routinely in the Tier 3 service in-line with NICE guidance throughout the duration of the research study. Participants may be offered treatment options within the duration of the study, including bariatric surgery, as per NICE guidance and according to the decision of the local Tier 3 Multidisciplinary Team. Participants who have undergone bariatric surgery after randomisation will only be included in the intention to treat (ITT) analysis. This decision was made because the proportion of participants undergoing bariatric surgery is likely to be unbalanced between the treatment groups (i.e. more participants in the control group are expected to have bariatric surgery than in the targeted prescribing pathway treatment group), and thus weight loss in these individuals could unduly influence the study results. Participants who have been prescribed and start anti-obesity medication (such as Orlistat) will be ineligible for LIRA 3mg treatment.

Control (Standard Care) Participants in the control group will follow the best medical care provided by the Tier 3 service at the relevant site. This typically involves dietary advice to reduce energy intake (and may include a period of partial or total meal replacement), accompanied - if available - by a physical activity programme, both supported by behavioural change techniques with regular professional contacts. The nature of the standard care will vary between the different Tier 3 services at each site, as this is a pragmatic 'real-world' study. Clinician input will include the medical assessment of participants for severe and complicated obesity and the prescription of anti-obesity drugs (such as Orlistat) as per local Tier 3 service policy. As with the LIRA 3mg group those patients taking antihypertensive or antidepressant medication will be assessed and it will be at the clinician's discretion as to whether these medications are changed. Participants will remain routinely in the Tier 3 service in-line with NICE guidance throughout the duration of the research study. Participants may be offered treatment options within the duration of the study, including bariatric surgery, as per NICE guidance and according to the decision of the local Tier 3 Multidisciplinary Team.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 392
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Ireland
  • Dublin, Ireland
    • St Vincent's University Hospital
• United Kingdom
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom
    • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital
  • Leicester, United Kingdom
    • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester General Hospital
  • Liverpool, United Kingdom
    • University Hospital Aintree
  • London, United Kingdom
    • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• be aged between 18-75 years old (inclusive)
• understand written and spoken English
• be able to give in informed consent
• a body mass index ≥35 kg/m2,
• have been referred to Tier 3 weight management or equivalent service in one of the five participating sites,
• have a stable body weight (less than 5kg self-reported change during the previous 12 weeks),

• Participant must be able to meet at least one of the inclusion criteria listed below:

  1. prediabetes (defined as established diagnosis of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) from GP and/or established diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) from GP and/or HbA1C 42-47 mmol/mol (6-6.4%) without glucose lowering medications, at a blood test during the last 6 months) and/or
  2. type 2 diabetes [defined as established diagnosis of Type II diabetes from GP and/or HbA1C ≥48 mmol/mol (>6.5%) at a blood test during the last 6 months] being treated with any combination of lifestyle, metformin, sulphonylureas, thiazolidinediones (TZDs) or SGLT-2, and/or
  3. hypertension treated (defined as being on antihypertensive treatment with or without a diagnosis of hypertension from GP) or untreated (defined as Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg at two consecutive visits at the Tier 3 clinic), and/or
  4. obstructive sleep apnoea (on CPAP or established diagnosis of Apnoea Hypopnoea Index ≥15 at sleep studies during the last 12 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes with treatment on DPP-IV or insulin currently
• Treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists within the last 6 months and/or have a history of GLP-1 receptor agonist intolerance.
• Treatment with anti-obesity drugs within the last 12 weeks prior to randomisation
• eGFR ≤30ml/min/1.73m2 on serum testing over the last 26 weeks
• Females referred to the clinic because of fertility problem
• Females of child bearing potential who are pregnant, breast-feeding or intend to become pregnant or are not using or willing to use adequate contraceptive methods during the study period
• Have terminal illness
• Are not primarily responsible for their own care
• Not willing or able to give informed consent
• Any other significant disease or disorder which in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the participants at risk or may influence the result of the study or the participant's ability to participate
• Untreated or uncontrolled hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism defined as thyroid- stimulating hormone >6 mIU/liter or <0.4 mIU/liter
• Family or personal history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC)
• Personal history of non-familial medullary thyroid carcinoma
• History of chronic pancreatitis or idiopathic acute pancreatitis
• Amylase levels three times higher than the upper normal range
• Obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders (e.g. Cushing's Syndrome)
• Current or history of treatment with medications that may cause significant weight gain, within 12 weeks prior to screening, including systemic corticosteroids (except for a short course of treatment, i.e. 7-10 days), atypical antipsychotic and mood stabilizers (e.g. clozapine, olanzapine, valproic acid and its derivatives, and lithium)
• History of major depressive episode during the last 2 years
• History of initiation of antidepressants during the last 12 weeks
• Simultaneous participation in other clinical trials of investigational drugs, lifestyle or physical activity interventions.
• Previous surgical treatment for obesity (excluding liposuction if performed >1 year before trial entry)
• History of other severe psychiatric disorders
• History of known or suspected abuse of alcohol and/or narcotics
• History of major depressive episode during the last 2 years
• Simultaneous participation in other clinical trials of investigational drugs, lifestyle or physical activity interventions. Patients will only be able to take part following participation in a previous clinical trial after a wash-out period of 16 weeks.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Targeted Prescribing Pathway (LIRA 3mg + Standard Care); Standard care plus targeted use of the intervention Liraglutide (LIRA) 3mg when pre-specified stopping rules for the medication apply	Drug: Saxenda; standard care plus targeted use of Liraglutide (LIRA) 3mg when pre-specified stopping rules for the medication apply. Liraglutide (Saxenda) 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen, administered by subcutaneous injection. Dose escalation to 3.0 mg daily (or maximum tolerated dose); Other Names: Liraglutide 3mg; Other: Specialist Obesity Management Services; Specialist Obesity Management Services standard of care
Active Comparator: Standard Care; standard Tier 3 obesity specialist service care	Other: Specialist Obesity Management Services; Specialist Obesity Management Services standard of care

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight loss of ≥15% at 52 weeks	The primary outcome of the study will be the proportion of participants with severe and complicated obesity achieving weight loss of ≥15% at 52 weeks with the use of a targeted prescribing pathway (i.e. use of LIRA 3mg according to a pre-specified protocol in combination with standard care provided in Tier 3 services) versus standard care alone in a Tier 3 service.	52 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Budget impact of a Tier 3 weight management service	Cost of the proposed LIRA 3mg (as per protocol - e.g. actual dose taken = number of days taking study drug x daily cost of drug, or cost of total amount of study drug used); Cost of visits to clinician for assessment and medication prescription during Specialist Weight Management Service programme; Cost of visits to dietician during Specialist Weight Management Service programme; Cost of visits to psychologist during Specialist Weight Management Service programme; Cost of physical activity physiologist/physiotherapist during Specialist Weight Management Service programme (if applicable); Cost of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) discussion in Specialist Weight Management Service; Cost of blood tests in Specialist Weight Management Service; Cost of consumables and goods; Cost of referral into Tier 4	52 & 104 weeks
Estimated long-term cost-effectiveness	Length of treatment with LIRA 3mg; Daily dose of LIRA 3mg (based on actual doses taken)	104 weeks
Improving obesity-related comorbidities	This will be assessed by the Kings College Obesity Staging (KCOS) score. The score is 0-3.	52 & 104 weeks
Maintenance of ≥15% weight loss until 104 weeks (an additional 52 weeks)	Proportion of participants maintaining weight loss of ≥15% among those who lost ≥15% at 52 weeks	104 weeks
Patient adherence to treatment	Study drug reconciliation	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Referral rates to other obesity interventions	Number of participants referred to Tier 4 for bariatric surgery over the 104 weeks study period	52 and 104 weeks
Safety related outcomes	AE reporting	52 and 104 weeks
Patient satisfaction	Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM)	52 and 104 weeks
Patient quality of life	EuroQol five dimension scale (EQ5D) the minimum value is 0 and maximum is 100, low scores are a worse outcome and high scores are a better outcome.	52 and 104 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight (kg)	Absolute change in weight from baseline Anthropometric measures: (Kg)	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Relative change in weight from baseline	(% change in weight)	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Physical Activity	International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ- Long Form) there is not a scale, this is based on hours and minutes of physical activity. A higher number is a better outcome and a lower number is a worse outcome.	52 and 104 weeks
Change in concomitant medications	Concomitant medication reporting	Screening - 104 weeks
Medical History (including surgical history)	Patient notes	52 and 104 weeks
HSRUQ (Health service and resource uses questionnaire)	Questionnaire	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Length of treatment with LIRA 3mg	Days of treatment with LIRA 3mg	52 and 104 weeks
Daily dose of LIRA 3mg (based on actual doses taken)	Mg of liraglutide actually taken	52 and 104 weeks
HbA1C	Biochemistry: IFCC (mmol/mol)	Screening, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Proportion of participants with normoglycaemia (defined as HbA1C <42.0 mmol/mol without glucose lowering medications)	% percentage of the population in each group having normoglycaemia	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Proportion of participants with prediabetes (defined as HbA1C 42.0-47.9 mmol/mol without glucose lowering medications)	% percentage of the population in each group having prediabetes	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Proportion of participants with diabetes (defined as HbA1C ≥48 mmol/mol or on glucose lowering medications)	% percentage of the population in each group having type 2 diabetes	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Number of medications for management of type 2 diabetes	Number	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Dose of medications for management of type 2 diabetes	Medications for type 2 diabetes dose	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Class of medications for type 2 diabetes	Medication class for type 2 diabetes	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Monitoring of Albumin- Creatinine Ratio (ACR) for patients with prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension.	(mg/mmol)	Screening, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Blood pressure	(mmHg)	Screening - 104 weeks
Proportion of participants with hypertension (defined as patients on antihypertensive medications or systolic blood pressure>140mmHg)	% percentage of the population in each group having hypertension	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Dose of antihypertensive medication	Dose of medications for treatment of hypertension	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Class of antihypertensive medications	Medication class for treatment of hypertension	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Number of anti-hypertensive medication	Number	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Epworth score	Questionnaire	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Stop Bang questionnaire	Questionnaire	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Proportion of participants on CPAP	% percentage of the population in each group on CPAP	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
CPAP pressures for patients on variable pressures CPAP	Centimeters of water pressure (cm H20)	screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Apnoea Hypopnea Index (AHI) for participants with sleep apnoea who cannot tolerate CPAP or for participants on fixed pressures CPAP	Apnoea Hypopnea Index	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Oxygen desaturation index for participants with sleep apnoea who cannot tolerate CPAP or for participants on fixed pressures CPAP	Oxygen desaturation Index	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Lipids	Biochemistry: Cholesterol (mmol/l), triglycerides (mmol/l), HDL cholesterol (mmol/l), LDL cholesterol (mmol/l), HDL ratio	Screening, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Dose of medication for dyslipidaemia	Dose of medications for treatment of dyslipidaemia	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Class of medications for dyslipidaemia	Medication class for treatment of dyslipidaemia	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
Number of medications for dyslipidaemia	Number	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
King's College Obesity Staging System assessment	Scoring System	Screening, 52 and 104 weeks
The number of participants who did or did not attend at least 70% of the scheduled appointments with the Specialist Weight Management Service (completers)	Number	52 and 104 weeks
The number of participants who had to stop treatment with LIRA 3mg because of adverse effects (targeted prescribing pathway only)	Number	52 and 104 weeks
The number of participants who stopped LIRA 3mg at 16 weeks after randomization	Number	16 weeks
The number of participants who stopped LIRA 3mg at 32 weeks after randomization	Number	32 weeks
The number of participants who stopped LIRA 3mg at 52 weeks after randomization	Number	52 weeks
The number of participants who completed 52 weeks of the Specialist Weight Management Service programme despite stopping LIRA 3mg at 16 weeks	% percentage	52 weeks
The number of participants who completed 52 weeks of the Specialist Weight Management Service programme despite stopping LIRA 3mg at 32 weeks	% percentage	52 weeks
The adherence of participants with LIRA 3mg (monitored through return of used pens and questionnaires) - Targeted prescribing pathway only	% percentage	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
The number of participants started on anti-obesity drugs	Number	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
The adherence of participants with other anti-obesity medications	% percentage	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Gastrointestinal symptoms	Total number of gastrointestinal symptoms in each group	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Overall hypoglycaemia rate	% of patients who experience a hypoglycaemic event in each group	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Overall AE/SAE rate	Total number of AE/SAE in each group	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Rates of severe hypoglycaemia	% of patients who experience severe hypoglycaemia in each group	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Heart rate	Pulse/min	Baseline - 104 weeks
Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite)	The minimum value is 1 and maximum value is 5. A higher number is a worse outcome and a lower number is a better outcome.	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9)	The minimum value is 0 and maximum value is 3. A higher number is a worse outcome and a lower number is a better outcome.	Baseline, 52 and 104 weeks
Proportion of participants reaching weight loss of ≥5%, ≥10% and ≥15%	(% percentage)	16, 32, 52 (except of ≥15% weight loss which is primary outcome) and 104 weeks
BMI and change in BMI from baseline	(kg/m2)	16, 32, 52 and 104 weeks
Waist circumference	(cm)	52 and 104 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Leicester
• Collaborators: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Melanie Davies, Prof, Univesrity of Leicester

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Papamargaritis D, Al-Najim W, Lim J, Crane J, Lean M, le Roux C, McGowan B, O'Shea D, Webb D, Wilding J, Davies MJ. Effectiveness and cost of integrating a pragmatic pathway for prescribing liraglutide 3.0 mg in obesity services (STRIVE study): study protocol of an open-label, real-world, randomised, controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2020 Feb 13;10(2):e034137. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034137.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 28, 2017
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 30, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 25, 2017
• First Posted (Estimate): January 30, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 3, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Overweight; Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Obesity; Weight Loss; Hypoglycemic Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Incretins; Liraglutide
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0626

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