SEMAFORCRANIO : Multicenter, Double-blind, Parallel, Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of Semaglutide in Hypothalamic Obesity Secondary to Craniopharyngioma in Children Aged 12 to 17 Years (SEMAFORCRANIO)

September 22, 2026 updated by: University Hospital, Angers

Craniopharyngioma (CP) is a rare embryonic brain tumor of the sellar and parasellar region. Despite its benign histologic characteristics, it is locally aggressive and may cause severe morbidity from invasion into adjacent tissues and structures. Hypothalamic damage due to the tumor or its management is responsible for rapid and massive obesity, one of the most severe sequelae in patients with craniopharyngioma. Current treatment of craniopharyngioma is neurosurgical, possibly completed by radiotherapy. For preventing hypothalamic damage, surgery is the most "sparing" possible for the hypothalamus, possibly completed by a highly conformation radiation treatment, such as proton beam therapy.

Despite these therapeutic advances, obesity remains a significant problem in 30 to 50% of cases today. Most studies showed that the mean BMI at diagnosis of childhood craniopharyngioma was 0.5-0.8 ± 1.5 SD score, the mean BMI gain was +2 to +3 ± 2 SD score within 3 years, with a relative stabilization or a slow increase after 3 years. When there is an anterior and posterior hypothalamic involvement (about 50% of the cases), the mean BMI gain is even higher (+4 ± 3 SD score within 3 years).

Semaglutide, a GLP1RA in weekly injection, has shown its great effectiveness for losing weight in obese adults and adolescents (mean difference in BMI change - 16.7% with semaglutide vs. placebo after 68 weeks). Preliminary data in obese children with craniopharyngioma have shown a mean 25% difference in annual BMI gain (with semaglutide treatment compared to the previous year with no semaglutide in the same children).

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

  • France
      • Angers, France
        • Service Endocrinologie pédiatrique, Angers University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Besançon, France, 25030
        • Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, University hospital of Besançon
        • Contact:
      • Bordeaux, France
        • Service d'endocrinologie, diabétoglogie et obésité pédiatrique, Bordeaux University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Bron, France
        • Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Femme Mere Enfants, Lyon University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Dijon, France
        • Département de Pédiatrie, Dijon University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • La Tronche, France
        • Service de Pédiatrie, Grenoble University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
        • Endocrinologie et diabète de l'enfant, Hopital Bicêtre, Paris University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Lille, France
        • Endocrinologie, diabète et obésité pédiatrique, Lille University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Marseille, France
        • Service de pédiatrie multidisciplinaire, Hopital La Timone, Marseille University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Montpellier, France
        • Service de diabétologie et endocrinologie pédiatriques
        • Contact:
      • Nancy, France
        • Unité Endocrinologie et Diabète, Nancy University hospital
        • Contact:
      • Paris, France
        • Endocrinologie, diabétologie et Gynécologie pédiatrique, Necker Hospital, Paris University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Paris, France
        • Service d'endocrinologie diabétologie pédiatrique, Paris University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Reims, France
        • Service de Pédiatrie A, Reims University Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Aurélie BEROT, Doctor of Medecine
          • Phone Number: +33(0)3.26.78.94.78
          • Email: aberot@chu-reims.fr
      • Rennes, France
        • Unité d'Endocrinologie et Diabétologie Pédiatriques, Rennes University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Strasbourg, France
        • Service de Pédiatrie, Strasbourg University Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Toulouse, France
        • Unité d'Endocrinologie, Maladies Osseuses et Génétique, Toulouse University Hospital
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

12 years to 17 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 12 to 17 years

Treated craniopharyngioma whose last intervention was >6 months ago and whose tumor is considered stable with :

  • surgical treatmentsurgery for the solid area (non-cystic portion) of the tumor was >6 months ago and whose tumor is considered stable

  • irradiation treatment

    • Appropriate pituitary replacements (including recombinant growth hormone replacement in case of growth hormone deficiency), as assessed by the attending child's physician, according to international recommendations.
    • BMI > + 2 SD of the French references (overweight and obesity) or BMI gain ≥ + 1 SD over the past 6 to 12 months (in the absence of overweight or obesity)
    • Failure to control weight despite strict adherence to dietary guidelines for at least six months (healthy nutrition and physical activity counseling provided by a dietician or other qualified healthcare professional)
    • For women patients with spontaneous menarche (without the use of hormone treatment with oestrogens), highly effective contraceptive methods during all study participation (and until 7 weeks after last study drug intake)
    • Subjects covered by or having the rights to medical care assurance
    • Written consent signed by the parents or legally acceptable representatives of the subject, and child participation agreement

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Other weight loss treatments within 90 days before screening
  • Previous surgical treatment for obesity
  • Other chronic diseases
  • History of pancreatitis (acute or chronic, regardless of the number of years)
  • Severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
  • Mental retardation
  • A lifetime history of suicidal attempt
  • History of NEM2 or medullary thyroid carcinoma, malignant neoplasms/carcinomas in situ, or uncontrolled thyroid disease
  • Inability to understand the study
  • Major problem of compliance with existing treatments (suggesting that compliance with the protocol will be insufficient)
  • Any disorder, unwillingness, or inability, not covered by any of the other exclusion criteria which, in the investigator's opinion, might jeopardize the participant's safety or compliance with the protocol
  • Known or suspected abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
  • History of type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • Patient with severe renal insufficiency (eGFR < 30 mL/min/1,73m2)
  • Patient with hepatic impairment (mild to severe)
  • Participation in another interventional research modifying management or likely to influence the study's assessment criteria
  • Pregnancy or desire of pregnancy, breast-feeding patients and parturients

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: PLACEBO
Drug: Placebo weekly Injection

A 40-week randomized, placebo double-blind controlled intervention (versus semaglutide injection), followed by an open phase from weeks 40 to 80 where all participants receive semaglutide.

In first 40 weeks period (between 0-40 weeks), placebo is initiated in same timing than semaglutide (in other arm).

In second 40 weeks period (between 40-80 weeks), Semaglutide is initiated at a dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by escalation every 4 weeks to 0.50, 1.0, 1.70, and 2.40 mg.

The recommended target maintenance dose of semaglutide or placebo is 2.4 mg once weekly.

Participants are encouraged to reach the recommended semaglutide or placebo target maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly. Those unable to tolerate this dose will be permitted to stay at a lower dose (maximum tolerated dose). At least one attempt to re-escalate to the immediate upper dose is recommended.
Experimental: SEMAGLUTIDE
Drug: Semaglutide (Wegovy) weekly injection

A 40-week randomized, controlled, double-blind semaglutide (versus placebo) intervention (versus placebo), followed by an open phase from weeks 40 to 80 where all participants receive semaglutide.

In first 40 weeks period (0-40 weeks), Semaglutide is initiated at a dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by escalation every 4 weeks to 0.50, 1.0, 1.70, and 2.40 mg.

In second 40 weeks period (40-80 weeks), Semaglutide is maintened at maximum tolerated dose form 1st period.

The recommended target maintenance dose of semaglutide or placebo is 2.4 mg once weekly.

Participants are encouraged to reach the recommended semaglutide or placebo target maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly. Those unable to tolerate this dose will be permitted to stay at a lower dose (maximum tolerated dose). At least one attempt to re-escalate to the immediate upper dose is recommended.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in BMI SD score (according to french references) at 40 weeks
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Co-primary 1 (S40 - RCT): Change in BMI (in SD for age and sex according to French references) after 40 weeks of treatment with semaglutide (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week for 24 weeks) compared to placebo
40 weeks
Change in BMI SD score (according to french references) at 80 weeks
Time Frame: 80 weeks

Co-primary 2 (S80 - delayed-start): Change in BMI-SD from baseline to S80: "semaglutide group starting at S0" vs "semaglutide group starting at S40"
80 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in BMI in kg/m at 40 weeks compared between semaglutide and placebo
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Evaluation of the variation in Body Mass Index (BMI), expressed in kg/m², from baseline (inclusion) to week 40. This will be compared between two groups: one receiving Semaglutide from the start of the study and the other receiving a placebo for the initial 40 weeks
40 weeks
Change in BMI in kg/m at 80 weeks between compared between semaglutide and placebo
Time Frame: 80 weeks

Evaluation of the variation in BMI, expressed in kg/m², from baseline (inclusion) to week 80. This will be compared between two groups: one receiving Semaglutide from the start of the study and the other receiving a placebo for the initial 40 weeks
80 weeks
Intra-individual progression of BMI-DS at each visit depending on Semaglutide treatment
Time Frame: 80 weeks

Intra-individual progression of BMI-SDS values measured at the scheduled visits outlined in the protocol from week 0 to week 80 depending on Semaglutide treatment periods.
80 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on height
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of height between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on weight
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of weight between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on waist circumference
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of waist circumference between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on arterial blood pressure
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of arterial blood pressure between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on fasting blood glucose
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of fasting blood glucose between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on HbA1C
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of HbA1C between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on insulin level
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of insulin level between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on cholesterol
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of cholesterol between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on triglycerides
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of triglycerides between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on body composition
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of body composition (by DEXA) between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on bone age
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of bone age (by X-ray of the left hand and wrist) between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on quality of life by PedsQL questionnaire
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of quality of life by PedsQL questionnaire score between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on quality of life by Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of quality of life by Epworth Sleepiness Scale score between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on quality of life by IWQOL-Kids questionnaire
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of quality of life by IWQOL-Kids score between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on quality of life by Dykens Hyperphagia questionnaire
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of quality of life by Dykens Hyperphagia questionnaire score between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Effects of 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment on quality of life by Daily Hunger Score
Time Frame: 40 weeks

Comparison of quality of life by Daily Hunger Score score between patient with 40 weeks of weekly semaglutide treatment (dose escalation over 16 weeks followed by a maximum maintenance dose of 2.4 mg/week during 24 weeks depending on treatment tolerance) versus placebo
40 weeks
Safety between 2 arms
Time Frame: 80 weeks

Comparison of the incidence of each category of adverse events (AE) between the two arms (semaglutide versus placebo).
80 weeks
Kinetics of BMI-DS evolution
Time Frame: End of study V10 (106 weeks)

Difference in the kinetics of BMI (in DS) evolution depending on whether it occurs in the presence or absence of semaglutide
End of study V10 (106 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University Hospital, Angers

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Régis COUTANT, Professor of Medecine, University Hospital of Angers

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)

November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 31, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 49RC23_0307
  • 2024-511114-20-00 (Ctis)

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

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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