Effects of Roflumilast on Insulin and Blood Sugar Levels in Prediabetic Overweight and Obese Individuals

Sponsor
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (NIH)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT01862029
Collaborator
(none)
24
1
1
50.1
0.5

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Background:
  • Roflumilast is a drug used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is designed to help reduce lung inflammation. However, during testing, roflumilast also appeared to reduce high blood sugar levels in people with COPD and type 2 diabetes. Other tests showed that roflumilast also improved blood sugar levels in people who only had type 2 diabetes. Researchers want to see how roflumilast affects insulin and blood sugar levels in overweight or obese people who are not diabetic, but who have high blood sugar levels.
Objectives:
  • To see how well roflumilast improves blood sugar and insulin levels in prediabetic overweight or obese individuals.
Eligibility:
  • Individuals between 30 to 65 years old who are overweight or obese (body mass index of 24.9 to 39.9 kg/m2) and have elevated blood sugar levels.
Design:
  • This study will last approximately 8 weeks. Participants will have approximately five study visits over about 7 weeks. Two of these visits will be overnight inpatient stays.

  • Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. They will also have a 3-day diet and exercise assessment with a dietitian.

  • In Week 1, participants will have a special diet for 2 days to keep their regular weight. They will then have a 2-day inpatient stay. During their stay, they will have multiple tests, including blood sugar tests and full body scans. They may provide a fat and muscle tissue biopsy sample. They will then receive the study drug to take during the study.

  • In Week 2, participants will repeat the diet study from the screening visit. They will receive a different dose of the study drug.

  • In Week 3, participants will review their diet results and have blood and urine tests.

  • In Week 5, participants will repeat the diet and exercise study from the screening visit.

  • In Week 6, participants will repeat the inpatient studies and tests from Week 1.

In the last week, participants will have a final follow-up visit.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Phase 1/Phase 2

Detailed Description

Resveratrol, a polyphenol most notably found in red wine has anti-aging properties in mice fed a high-fat diet; resveratrol protects against obesity and type 2 diabetes. Several clinical trials have been conducted to study the metabolic effects of resveratrol. Although these trials have used different subject groups (e.g. obese healthy, type 2 diabetics or older adults with glucose intolerance), they suggest that resveratrol may improve insulin sensitivity. However, the therapeutic potential of resveratrol is diminished by the fact that it has a very promiscuous target profile. In order to translate resveratrol biology into clinical application, it is helpful to identify the cellular target(s) of resveratrol that mediate the desired effects and to develop therapies specific for that target(s). Recently, we discovered that the metabolic effects of resveratrol appear to result from competitive inhibition of cAMP-degrading phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which increases cAMP levels. The cAMP-dependent pathways activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is essential for the metabolic effects of resveratrol. Inhibiting PDE4 with rolipram reproduces all of the metabolic benefits of resveratrol, including protection against diet-induced obesity and an increase in mitochondrial content, fat oxidation, physical stamina and glucose tolerance in mice. Based on results from cellular and preclinical studies, we hypothesize that PDE4 inhibition will ameliorate insulin resistance in pre-diabetic individuals. To test these hypotheses, we will conduct an exploratory study on the potential beneficial effects of roflumilast (Daxas (Registered Trademark)), a PDE4 inhibitor, on insulin sensitivity in pre-diabetic individuals.Each study participant will receive oral roflumilast (250 (micro)g, once a day for 2 weeks, followed by 500 (micro)g once a day for 4 weeks). At baseline and after the 6-week treatment period, we will assess insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemiceuglycemic glucose clamp technique, glucose clamp ). In addition, Beta-cell function, skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, body composition, and circulating adipocytokine profile will be measured at baseline and after treatment to evaluate potential changes that may be related to improvements in metabolic function. Vascular function is not only an indicator of insulin sensitivity, but is also important for glucose delivery and metabolism. If possible, vascular function will be assessed along with the other parameters at baseline and after treatment with roflumilast. Regarding vascular function, we may measure basal and insulin-stimulated brachial artery blood flow (large conduit artery assessed by Doppler ultrasound) as well as capillary recruitment in forearm skeletal muscle (small nutritive arterioles assessed by ultrasound with microbubble contrast). This study will explore whether roflumilast is effective at improving insulin sensitivity in pre-diabetic individuals. Results from this study may have important implications for the potential use of roflumilast in treating type 2 diabetes.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
24 participants
Allocation:
N/A
Intervention Model:
Single Group Assignment
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
An Exploratory Study to Evaluate the Effects of Roflumilast on Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Parameters in Prediabetic Overweight and Obese Individuals
Study Start Date :
May 22, 2013
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Jul 25, 2017
Actual Study Completion Date :
Jul 25, 2017

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Roflumilast

Drug: Roflumilast
Selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in Insulin Sensitivity- Pre-roflumilast [Baseline]

    Our primary outcome measure is the change in peripheral insulin sensitivity. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedure's M value, which was obtained before the subjects began roflumilast, was used to assess the primary outcome.

  2. Change in Insulin Sensitivity - Post-roflumilast [6 weeks]

    Our primary outcome measure is the change in peripheral insulin sensitivity. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedure's M value, which was obtained post-roflumilast, was used for this primary outcome assessment.

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
30 Years to 65 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Yes
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Adult, weight- and diet-stable men and women in good general health with no significant underlying illnesses and normal or clinically insignificant results (medical histories, laboratory profiles, physical examination, and electrocardiograms),

  • Women must be non-pregnant or post-menopausal, or women of childbearing potential must be non-lactating and using an effective form of birth control during and for 30 days after the study period (partner's use of condoms or partner's vasectomy is not an acceptable contraception method for this study),

  • Must be 30 - 65 years of age, inclusive

  • Body Mass Index (BMI) > 24.9 and < 39.5 kg/m(2) with a stable (plus-minus 2.5 kg) weight for the last 6 months by history,

  • Pre-diabetes, as defined by a fasting blood glucose of greater than 100 mg/dL and less than 126 mg/dL and/or A1C equal or greater than 5.7 and less than or equal to 6.5 %

  • Subjects must be able to understand the protocol and provide written informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Women will be excluded from our study if they are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if they plan to become pregnant prior to the end of the study,

  • Cannot be on any medications including multivitamins or nutritional supplements that in the investigator s opinion will affect insulin sensitivity

  • Currently taking systemic corticosteroids, insulin, or anticoagulants, anxiolytics, ketoconazole, erythromycin, cimetidine, enoxacin, strong CYP 3A4/1A2 inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin), birth control pills containing gestodene and ethinyl estradiol, use food supplements that cannot be discontinued, or any other medication that the investigators deem a contraindication.

  • AST or ALT > 3 times the upper normal limit

  • Hepatitis B antigen, HIV or C positive antibody tests,

  • Liver disease, pulmonary disease, renal insufficiency, , (serum creatinine > 1.5mg/dl), coronary heart disease, heart failure (New York Heart Association heart failure Class III or IV), peripheral vascular disease, coagulopathy.

  • History of or current diagnosis of major depressive disorder, or history of or current diagnosis of other psychiatric disorders that in the opinion of the investigator would make participant unsafe for the participant.

  • Currently being treated for any form of cancer or have a history of cancer, that in the investigator s judgment would not make the participant a candidate for the study for safety or scientific reasons.

  • Claustrophobic,

  • On a weight loss program with ongoing weight loss, or a history of eating disorders. Actively using tobacco products or have used tobacco products within last year (>3 cigarettes/day), regular alcoholic beverage intake of more than two drinks per day. Subjects with any condition that would have made them, in the opinion of the principal investigator (PI), unsuitable for the study.

  • Subjects with a contraindication for the ultrasound contrast agent.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda Maryland United States 20892

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jay H Chung, M.D., National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Study Documents (Full-Text)

More Information

Additional Information:

Publications

Responsible Party:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01862029
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 130123
  • 13-H-0123
First Posted:
May 24, 2013
Last Update Posted:
Sep 4, 2018
Last Verified:
Feb 26, 2018
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
No
Keywords provided by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

Participant Flow

Recruitment Details Subjects who passed the telephone screening were invited to undergo further screening in the clinic. A total of 24 subjects were subsequently screened. Among these subjects, 14 subjects met the study's inclusion criteria.
Pre-assignment Detail Among the 14 subjects who met the inclusion criteria, 3 subjects withdrew participation prior to starting the study procedures due to expected possibility of noncompliance with the protocol schedule. Two additional subjects were withdrawn for new medical findings prior to their initiation of the study medication.
Arm/Group Title Subjects Who Took Roflumilast
Arm/Group Description Subjects with overweight/obesity and pre-diabetes were to take Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, for a total of six weeks. They were to take roflumilast 250mcg daily for the first two weeks and then, 500mcg daily for the remaining four weeks.
Period Title: Overall Study
STARTED 9
COMPLETED 8
NOT COMPLETED 1

Baseline Characteristics

Arm/Group Title Roflumilast
Arm/Group Description Subjects with overweight/obesity and pre-diabetes who started Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor.
Overall Participants 9
Age (years) [Mean (Standard Deviation) ]
Mean (Standard Deviation) [years]
49.6
(6.4)
Sex: Female, Male (Count of Participants)
Female
3
33.3%
Male
6
66.7%
Race/Ethnicity, Customized (Count of Participants)
Black or African-American
6
66.7%
White
2
22.2%
Hispanic
1
11.1%
Region of Enrollment (participants) [Number]
United States
9
100%

Outcome Measures

1. Primary Outcome
Title Change in Insulin Sensitivity- Pre-roflumilast
Description Our primary outcome measure is the change in peripheral insulin sensitivity. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedure's M value, which was obtained before the subjects began roflumilast, was used to assess the primary outcome.
Time Frame Baseline

Outcome Measure Data

Analysis Population Description
Subjects who underwent the clamp procedure at time point: pre- roflumilast
Arm/Group Title Pre-roflumilast
Arm/Group Description Data before the subjects began taking roflumilast
Measure Participants 7
Mean (Standard Error) [mg/grams Fat Free Mass/minute]
48.7
(10.4)
2. Primary Outcome
Title Change in Insulin Sensitivity - Post-roflumilast
Description Our primary outcome measure is the change in peripheral insulin sensitivity. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp procedure's M value, which was obtained post-roflumilast, was used for this primary outcome assessment.
Time Frame 6 weeks

Outcome Measure Data

Analysis Population Description
Subjects who underwent the clamp procedure at time point: post-roflumilast
Arm/Group Title Post-roflumilast
Arm/Group Description Data obtained after subjects took roflumilast for a total of six weeks
Measure Participants 7
Mean (Standard Error) [mg/grams Fat Free Mass/minute]
70
(20.1)

Adverse Events

Time Frame Adverse events data was collected in the seven weeks time period of the study calendar. Six of these weeks were while the subjects were on roflumilast and one week was after the subject discontinued roflumilast.
Adverse Event Reporting Description All events determined to be related to the study.
Arm/Group Title Subjects Who Took Roflumilast
Arm/Group Description Subjects with overweight/obesity and pre-diabetes were assigned to take Roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, for a total of six weeks as follows: 250mcg daily for the first two weeks and then, 500mcg daily for the remaining four weeks.
All Cause Mortality
Subjects Who Took Roflumilast
Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
Total 0/9 (0%)
Serious Adverse Events
Subjects Who Took Roflumilast
Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
Total 0/9 (0%)
Other (Not Including Serious) Adverse Events
Subjects Who Took Roflumilast
Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
Total 6/9 (66.7%)
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea 1/9 (11.1%)
Diarrhea 2/9 (22.2%)
Dyspepsia 1/9 (11.1%)
Early satiety 1/9 (11.1%)
General disorders
Fatigue 2/9 (22.2%)
Insomnia 4/9 (44.4%)
Dizziness 1/9 (11.1%)
Irritability 2/9 (22.2%)
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Changes in appetite 4/9 (44.4%)
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Neck Pain 1/9 (11.1%)
Nervous system disorders
Headache 4/9 (44.4%)
Tremor 1/9 (11.1%)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Pruritis 1/9 (11.1%)

Limitations/Caveats

The sample size for the assessment of the primary outcome was less than planned.

More Information

Certain Agreements

All Principal Investigators ARE employed by the organization sponsoring the study.

There is NOT an agreement between Principal Investigators and the Sponsor (or its agents) that restricts the PI's rights to discuss or publish trial results after the trial is completed.

Results Point of Contact

Name/Title Jay H. Chung, Ph.D, MD
Organization National Institute of Health, NHLBI, Laboratory of Obesity and Aging Research
Phone 301-496-3075
Email chungj@nhlbi.nih.gov
Responsible Party:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01862029
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 130123
  • 13-H-0123
First Posted:
May 24, 2013
Last Update Posted:
Sep 4, 2018
Last Verified:
Feb 26, 2018