Effects of Cotadutide on Metabolic and Hepatic Parameters in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 54-Week Randomized Phase 2b Study
<a><b>Objective: </b></a>Cotadutide, a <a>dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist</a>, is under development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and type 2 diabetes. The effects of cotadutide on hepatic and metabolic parameters were evaluated in participants with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes. <p><b>Research Design and Methods:</b> In this phase 2b study, 834 adults with BMI ≥25kg/m<sup>2</sup> and type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin (glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] of 7.0%─10.5% [53─91 mmol/mol]) were randomized to double-blind cotadutide 100µg (n=100), 200µg (n=256), or 300µg (n=256), placebo (n=110), or open-label liraglutide 1.8mg (n=110), all administered subcutaneously (NCT03235050). Coprimary endpoints were changes in HbA1c and body weight at week 14.<b> </b>The originally randomized interventions were continued to week 54.<b> </b>Liver damage biomarkers and liver fibrosis algorithms were assessed.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: Cotadutide significantly decreased HbA1c and body weight at weeks 14 and 54 versus placebo (all <i>P</i><0.001). Improvements in lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, <a>PRO-C3 level, fibrosis-4 index</a>, and <a>nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score</a> were observed with cotadutide 300µg versus placebo, but not with liraglutide. Weight loss with cotadutide 200µg was similar to liraglutide 1.8mg, and greater with cotadutide 300µg versus liraglutide 1.8mg. <a>The most common adverse events with cotadutide (nausea, 35%; vomiting, 17%) decreased over time. </a></p> <p><b>Conclusions: </b>Cotadutide treatment for 54 weeks improved glycemic control and weight loss in participants with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes. Ad hoc analyses demonstrated improvements in hepatic parameters and support further evaluation of cotadutide in NASH. </p>