Recruiting
Phase 2

GLP-1 Agonist

Sponsor:

University of Pennsylvania

Code:

NCT04731272

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis

Pancreatic Insufficiency

Abnormal Glucose Tolerance

Diabetes

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Dulaglutide 0.75Mg/0.5Ml Inj Pen

Study Details

Brief summary:

Diabetes is a major co-morbidity in pancreatic insufficient cystic fibrosis (PI-CF) and associated with worse outcomes. While reduced β-cell mass contributes to the insulin secretory defects that characterizes cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), other modifiable determinants appear operative in the emergence and progression of abnormal glucose tolerance towards diabetes. Identifying interventions to preserve β-cell function are crucial for delaying and potentially preventing CFRD development. In this study, we hypothesize that weekly administration of the long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist dulaglutide will improve defective early-phase insulin secretion and improve glucose tolerance during a mixed-meal tolerance test.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis

Pancreatic Insufficiency

Abnormal Glucose Tolerance

Diabetes

Study ID

NCT04731272

Start date

Jul 16, 2021

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Jun 30, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 1\. Male or female, aged ≥18 years on date of consent
  • 2\. Confirmed diagnosis of CF, defined by positive sweat test or Cystic Fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation analysis according to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) diagnostic criteria.
  • 3\. Pancreatic insufficiency defined by clinical requirement for pancreatic enzyme replacement.
  • 4\. Abnormal glucose tolerance defined by OGTT criteria for EGI, IGT, or CFRD, or diagnosed CFRD.

1. There will be no restriction on enrollment of individuals with CFRD but without fasting hyperglycemia (fasting hyperglycemia is defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL)
2. Individuals with CFRD and fasting hyperglycemia (defined as above or by the use of basal insulin therapy) must also have a HbA1c ≤8% and a random (non-fasting) C-peptide ≥1.2 ng/mL17; enrollment of this subgroup will be limited to n =10.
  • 5\. Ability to take subcutaneous medication and be willing to adhere to the weekly administration regimen and complete study specific procedures (MMTT)
  • 6\. For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional 6 weeks after the end of dulaglutide or observation administration; oral contraceptives, intra-uterine devices, Norplant®, Depo-Provera®, and barrier devices with spermicide are acceptable contraceptive methods; condoms used alone are not acceptable

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1\. BMI <19 kg/m2
  • 2\. Presence of first-degree atrioventricular block or other evidence for cardiac conduction system or structural heart defects
  • 3\. Pregnancy or lactation; a negative urine pregnancy test will be required at enrollment
  • 4\. Known allergic reactions to any GLP-1 agonist, and any history of severe hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis or angioedema)
  • 5\. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
  • 6\. Pulmonary exacerbation requiring IV antibiotics or systemic glucocorticoids within 4 weeks prior to study procedures
  • 7\. Gastrointestinal symptom exacerbation defined by current nausea/vomiting or diarrhea
  • 8\. Established diagnosis of non-CF diabetes (e.g. type 1 diabetes) or CFRD with fasting hyperglycemia (fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL \[use of prandial insulin or repaglinide will be permitted\])
  • 9\. History of clinically symptomatic pancreatitis within the last year
  • 10\. Prior lung, liver or other solid organ transplant
  • 11\. Severe CF liver disease, as defined by the presence of portal hypertension
  • 12\. History of fundoplication-related dumping syndrome
  • 13\. Hemoglobin <10 g/dL, within 90 days of study procedures or at screening
  • 14\. Abnormal renal function, within 90 days of study procedures or at screening; defined as creatinine >2x upper limit of normal (ULN) or potassium >5.5mEq/L on non-hemolyzed specimen
  • 15\. History of any illness or condition that, in the opinion of the investigator might confound the results of the study or pose an additional risk to the subject

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Dulaglutide

The Mixed Meal Tolerance Test as described in the primary outcome section will be performed at baseline and after 6 weeks of dulaglutide therapy in the intervention period.

no intervention: Observation

The Mixed Meal Tolerance Test as described in the primary outcome section will be performed at baseline and after 6 weeks of no intervention in the observation period.

Interventions

Dulaglutide 0.75Mg/0.5Ml Inj Pen

Randomized, open-label, cross-over study of 6 weeks exposure to dulaglutide 0.75 mg subcutaneous weekly or observation.

Primary outcome measure

  • Early-phase insulin secretion [ Time Frame: 18 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Children's Hospital of Colorado

Recruiting

Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045

Contacts

University of Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Michael Rickels, MD, MS

More Information

Sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Last update posted

May 18, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes
  • Glucose Intolerance
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1)

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Pennsylvania on 2026-05-18.