GLUCOSE-MGH: Genetic Links Understood Through Challenge With Oral Semaglutide Exposure at MGH (GLUCOSE-MGH)

The goal of this research study is to evaluate the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which genetic variation impacts response to an FDA-approved medication commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes called oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) and to characterize the physiological response to a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) before and after a 14-day treatment with oral semaglutide. The investigators will do this by measuring factors in the blood, such as sugars, fats, metabolites, and proteins, after eating a standardized breakfast meal at the first visit and after taking 14 doses of oral semaglutide over two weeks before the second study visit. The food (mixed meal breakfast) we will be studying is specially prepared to contain a set amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. The investigators hypothesize that understanding how the acute biochemical response to oral semaglutide differs by genetic variation will generate insight into drug mechanisms and type 2 diabetes pathophysiology.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Metabolic Diseases; Type 2 Diabetes; Genetic Predisposition
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: oral semaglutide; Other: Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT)

Detailed Description

On day 1 (Visit 1), the research subject will present to the Translational and Clinical Research Center (TCRC) after an overnight fast. We will obtain informed consent, check vital signs, take anthropometric measurements, and draw fasting blood work through an intravenous catheter. The subject will then be provided a standard mixed meal to be consumed within 30 minutes. Additional blood will be drawn at the time of meal completion (0 minutes), as well as 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following the meal. During study days 3-15, the subject will take 7 mg of oral semaglutide once daily. On day 16 (Visit 2), the research subject will return to the TCRC. During this visit, the subject will take the final (14th) dose of semaglutide, receive fasting blood work, and receive another mixed meal with subsequent blood draws at several time points over 120 minutes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 125
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Varinderpal Kaur; Phone Number: 6176435419; Email: vkaur@mgh.harvard.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Josephine Li; Phone Number: 617-643-4987; Email: jli71@mgh.harvard.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Recruiting
      • Massachusetts General Hospital
      • Contact: Varinderpal Kaur; Phone Number: 6176435419; Email: vkaur@mgh.harvard.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Josephine Li, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males or non-pregnant females
2. Ages 18-65 (inclusive)
3. Able/willing to give consent
4. Span the metabolic range between normal glycemia and pre-diabetes (fasting glucose of 100-125 mg/dL based on chart review of existing laboratory data)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently taking medications or intending to take medications for diabetes
2. Currently taking medications or intending to take medications that affect glycemic parameters, such as glucocorticoids, growth hormone, or fluoroquinolones
3. Personal history of intestinal malabsorption, bariatric surgery, celiac disease, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis
4. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
5. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 per the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation
6. History of cirrhosis and/or aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase more than 3x upper limit of normal
7. Dietary restrictions preventing consumption of a MMTT
8. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or at risk of becoming pregnant
9. Participation in other interventional studies during the current study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Other: GLUCOSE-MGH Study; Day 1: Mixed meal tolerance test Day 3-15: 7 mg oral semaglutide, once daily Day 16: 1 dose of 7 mg oral semaglutide, Mixed meal tolerance test in the presence of semaglutide

Drug: oral semaglutide; Semaglutide is the only oral glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Participants will receive 7 mg of oral semaglutide once daily for 14 days in between Visit 1 and Visit 2.; Other: Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT); The MMTT is developed by the Metabolism and Nutrition Metabolic Kitchen at the MGH TCRC. The meal is a high-calorie, high-carbohydrate and moderate-to-high glycemic index challenge composed of commonly consumed breakfast food items. It provides nearly 90 grams of carbohydrates and mimics an oral glucose challenge. The participants will undergo a MMTT at Visit 1 and Visit 2.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Insulin response to oral semaglutide treatment	Investigators will measure the change in insulin area under the curve (AUC) over 120 minutes of the MMTT, calculated using the trapezoidal method, between Visit 1 and Visit 2 as an index of response to oral semaglutide, and compare this outcome by genotype at selected loci.	15 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fasting glucose response to oral semaglutide treatment	Investigators will measure the change in fasting glucose over 120 minutes of the MMTT, between the two visits, and compare this outcome by genotype at selected loci.	15 days
Cumulative glucose response to oral semaglutide treatment	Investigators will measure the change in glucose area under the curve (AUC) over 120 minutes of the MMTT, between the two visits, and compare this outcome by genotype at selected loci.	15 days
Baseline incretin level	Investigators will measure levels of GLP-1 during the length of the baseline MMTT (120 minutes) that takes place on Visit 1, and compare changes in the baseline levels by genotype at selected loci.	120 minutes during Visit 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborators: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Josephine Li, MD, MGH

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 9, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 18, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 21, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Disease Susceptibility; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Metabolic Diseases; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Hypoglycemic Agents; semaglutide
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023P001852; K23DK131345 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes