MAINTAIN (Mucosal AblatIoN Therapy After INcretins) (MAINTAIN)

Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation for Weight Management in Patients Stopping Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of gastric fundal mucosal ablation (GFMA) on weight trajectory following discontinuation of once-weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide in adults with obesity. In this study, GFMA will be performed on patients who have experienced > 10% weight loss with GLP-1 therapy and who plan to discontinue use of GLP-1 medications for the duration of the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity Prevention; Obesity Recidivism; Obesity and Overweight; GLP-1; Obesity and Obesity-related Medical Conditions; Ablation Techniques
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA)

Detailed Description

Obesity is a multifactorial, chronic, and progressive disease of pandemic proportions. Incretin mimetics , such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, induce weight loss in adults with obesity, while also improving weight-related medical conditions, such as cardiac and renal disease. The beneficial effects on weight and metabolism require the continued presence of these medications, which have a half-life of approximately five to seven days. This concept was substantially illustrated in the STEP4 and SURMOUNT4 randomized controlled trials. In the STEP4 trial, adults with obesity were treated with semaglutide for a 20-week run-in, losing 10.6% of body weight, thereafter randomized 2:1 to continued semaglutide use vs placebo. Over the subsequent 48 weeks, the semaglutide arm lost an additional 7.9% of original body weight, whereas the placebo arm saw two-thirds the lost weight return. In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, adults with obesity were treated with tirzepatide for a 36-week run-in period, losing 20.9% of body weight, thereafter, randomized 1:1 for continued treatment or placebo. Over the subsequent 52 weeks, the treatment arm lost an additional 5.5% of body weight, whereas the placebo arm saw a return of approximately half the weight that had been lost. These observations present challenges for long-term obesity management when confronted by multiple reports showing high rates of discontinuation of incretin mimetics soon after initiation. These observations present challenges for long-term obesity management when confronted by multiple reports showing high rates of discontinuation of incretin mimetics soon after initiation. Gastric fundal mucosal ablation (GFMA) is a novel endoscopic approach to control appetite which uses hybrid argon plasma coagulation (HybridAPC) to ablate the superficial tissue of the gastric fundus to induce cell death and fibrotic remodeling. In an early safety and feasibility study of ten adults with obesity, GFMA reduced circulating levels of the only known hunger hormone in humans, ghrelin. This led to a measured suppression of inter-meal hunger and cravings, as well as improved confidence in the ability to resist cravings. In addition to reducing ghrelin-producing cell population within the fundus, GFMA induced significant fundal fibrin deposition. This resulted in a stiffer, less compliant fundus, reducing maximum tolerated volume of a standardized nutrient drink test, enhancing intra-meal satiation. Given that GFMA induces appetite control through both visceroceptive and hormonal mechanism, much like incretin mimetics, we hypothesize that GFMA can prevent or limit weight recurrence in adults who have stopped these medications after successful obesity treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Shannon Casey, MS; Phone Number: (919) 391-7843; Email: Shannon@trueyouweightloss.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Chase Wooley, BS; Phone Number: (984) 345-2988; Email: Chase@trueyouweightloss.com

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Cary, North Carolina, United States, 27513
      • Recruiting
      • True You Weight Loss
      • Contact: Christopher McGowan, MD, MSCR
      • Contact: Shannon Casey, MS; Phone Number: 919-391-7843; Email: Shannon@trueyouweightloss.com
      • Contact: Chase Wooley, BS; Phone Number: 984-345-2988; Email: chase@trueyouweightloss.com
    • Cary, North Carolina, United States, 27513
      • Not yet recruiting
      • True You Weight Loss
      • Contact: Shannon Casey, MS; Phone Number: (919) 391-7843; Email: Shannon@trueyouweightloss.com
      • Contact: Chase Wooley, BS; Phone Number: (984) 345-2988; Email: Chase@trueyouweightloss.com
      • Contact: Christopher McGowan, MD, MSCR

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects aged 21-65
2. Body mass Index (BMI) ≥30 kilograms per square meter (kg/m²), or ≤45 kg/m²
3. Observed ≥ 10% TBWL with semaglutide or tirzepatide use for primary obesity therapy
4. Subject did not experience >50% weight recurrence since discontinuation of semaglutide or tirzepatide
5. Maintained a stable dose of semaglutide or tirzepatide for a minimum of 12 weeks
6. Have recently discontinued or are planning to discontinue semaglutide or tirzepatide (≤ 24 weeks from last dose to time of study procedure)
7. No previous medical history of diabetes mellitus
8. Willing and able to participate in the study procedures
9. Understand and voluntarily sign the informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known diagnosis of type I or type II diabetes or a Hemoglobin A1c > 6.5% at time of screening
2. Use of GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medication for the treatment of diabetes, rather than obesity.
3. Use of anticoagulation, antithrombotic agents, and/or NSAIDs that cannot be discontinued for a minimum of 12 weeks
4. Known bleeding diathesis that cannot be corrected through medical means.
5. History of decompensated end-organ disease
6. Unwillingness to abstain from the use of incretin mimetics during the study duration.
7. Unwillingness to abstain from the use of tobacco during the study duration
8. Patients on any medications or supplements including those that may influence cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose, growth hormone, insulin and/or somatostatin levels
9. History of any stomach manipulation (including repair of hiatal hernia or fundoplication) deemed unsafe by PI for GFMA
10. Active disordered eating
11. Patients who do not give their consent to the enrollment in the study or are incompetent, unconscious or unable to express their consent for any reason
12. Known diagnosis of gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia
13. Patients who are pregnant, who plan to become pregnant during study duration, or patients of child-bearing potential who refuse effective birth control methods (as approved by PI)
14. Active H. pylori infection or history of H pylori without treatment and confirmation of eradication
15. Active gastric ulceration.
16. Use of concomitant medications known to induce weight loss (including but not limited to liraglutide, phentermine, phentermine/topiramate, bupropion/naltrexone, metformin)

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
Experimental: Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA) following discontinuation of GLP-1 therapy; Subjects will undergo endoscopic Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA) following following discontinuation of GLP-1 therapy. This will be performed by an experienced endoscopist specialized in bariatric endoscopy in a single endoscopic session.	Device: Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA); Endoscopic Gastric Fundal Mucosal Ablation (GFMA) after discontinuation of GLP-1 therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percent Change in Total Body Weight Loss (TBWL) from Baseline	Measure percent change in total body weight over time following endoscopic GFMA. TBWL = pre-op weight - post op body weight. % TBWL is the fraction of body weight expressed in percentage term	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of Adverse Events (AE)	Occurrence of Adverse Events along with AE Type, severity, and relationship to treatment.	Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 4, Month 6, Month 7, Month 8, Month 9, Month 10, Month 11, Month 12
Appetite and Hunger Assessment	Baseline appetite and hunger assessment scores compared to follow-up appetite and hunger assessment scores. Appetite and hunger assessed and measured by the DAILY EATS questionnaire, which contains a numerical rating scale of 0-10 for each its 5 items. A higher score indicates greater hunger and appetite. A reduction in DAILY EATS score from baseline indicates a decrease in hunger and appetite levels, which is considered a positive outcome.	Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12
Percent Change in Total Body Weight Loss (TBWL) from Baseline	Measure percent change in total body weight over time following endoscopic GFMA. TBWL = pre-op weight - post op body weight. % TBWL is the fraction of body weight expressed in percentage term	Month 1, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI) from Baseline	Measure change in body mass index over time following endoscopic GFMA. BMI=(Weight in kg)/((Height in meters) ^2)	Month 1, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12
Percent Weight Recurrence from Baseline	Measure percent recurrence in weight following endoscopic GFMA following discontinuation of semaglutide or tirzepatide. % Weight recurrence = % of weight lost from semaglutide or tirzepatide that recurs after discontinuation	Month 1, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12
Measured Proportion of Patients with weight recurrence	Measure percentage of patients with weight recurrence between <0%, 0-19.9%, 20-39.9%, 40-59.9%, 60-79.9%, 80-99.9%, vs 100% or more after GFMA.	6 Months, 12 Months
Eating Behavior and Weight Management Self-Efficacy Assessment	Baseline eating behavior and weight management self-efficacy assessment scores compared to follow-up eating behavior and weight management self-efficacy scores measured by the WEL-SF questionnaire. WEL-SF is scored on a scale of 0-80 and includes 8 items measuring eating self-efficacy, which is the confidence one has in their ability to resist overeating. Higher WEL-SF scores indicate greater eating behavior self-efficacy and control. An increase in WEL-SF scores from baseline reflects an improvement in eating self-efficacy and is considered a positive outcome.	Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, Month 6, Month 12
Quality of Life Assessment	Baseline quality of life assessment scores compared to follow-up quality of life assessment scores. Quality of life score assessed and measured by the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire. Scoring for the questionnaire ranges from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). Higher scores for the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-lite questionnaire indicates higher quality of life.	1 Month, 2 Months, 3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months
Quality of Life Assessment	Baseline quality of life assessment scores compared to follow-up quality of life assessment scores. Quality of life score assessed and measured by the 36-Item Short Form Survey. Scoring for the questionnaire ranges from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). Higher scores on the 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire indicates higher quality of life.	1 Month, 2 Months, 3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dr. Christopher McGowan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Christopher McGowan, MD, MSCR, True You Weight Loss

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kumbhari V, Lehmann S, Schlichting N, Heinrich M, Kullnick Y, Retschlag U, Enderle M, Dietrich A, Khashab MA, Kalloo AN, Oberbach A. Gastric mucosal devitalization is safe and effective in reducing body weight and visceral adiposity in a porcine model. Gastrointest Endosc. 2018 Jul;88(1):175-184.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2018.02.022. Epub 2018 Feb 22.
• Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Kandler K, Konakli K, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Oral TK, Rosenstock J, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Kushner RF; STEP 1 Study Group. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022 Aug;24(8):1553-1564. doi: 10.1111/dom.14725. Epub 2022 May 19.
• Popoviciu MS, Paduraru L, Yahya G, Metwally K, Cavalu S. Emerging Role of GLP-1 Agonists in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of Randomised Controlled Trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jun 21;24(13):10449. doi: 10.3390/ijms241310449.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 10, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 12, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: obesity; semaglutide; appetite; weight loss; ablation; hunger; obesity and overweight; glp-1; tirzepatide; GMA; gastric mucosal ablation; GFMA; endoscopic bariatric therapy; weight loss medications
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: PS-004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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