4553 ESSENCE - Semaglutide in NASH

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The effect of semaglutide in subjects with non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

  • IRAS ID

    292074

  • Contact name

    Matthew Armstrong

  • Contact email

    Matthew.Armstrong@uhb.nhs.uk

  • Eudract number

    2019-004594-44

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT04822181

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Universal Trial Number, U1111-1244-3678

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    7 years, 1 months, 26 days

  • Research summary

    Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Currently, treatment options are few and insufficient. There is therefore an unmet medical need for effective and safe pharmacological treatments options.

    Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), can address metabolic and histological aspects of NASH and is therefore considered a strong candidate for the treatment of NASH.

    The trial has two parts, part 1 and part 2, with distinctive objectives and endpoints. In part 1, the primary hypothesis is that semaglutide improves liver histology in patients with NASH and fibrosis stage 2 or 3. In part 2, the primary hypothesis is that semaglutide lowers the risk of liver-related clinical events.
    The secondary hypothesis is that Semaglutide lowers body weight, has an effect on cardio-metabolic factors and patient-reported outcomes and an effect on biomarkers related to fibrosis.

    Subjects will be randomised 2:1 to receive treatment with semaglutide s.c. or placebo.

    The study will be carried out at secondary care sites and will last approx 4 years and 11 months.

  • REC name

    London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/LO/1291

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 Feb 2021

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion