GLP-1/GCG Dual Agonist in Type 2 Diabetes With Early Dementia (LIGHT-COG Study)

Study Purpose

The LIGHT-COG study is a 76-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. A total of 420 type 2 diabetes patients with early dementia are randomized 1:1 to either the active treatment group (receiving subcutaneous injections of mazdutide weekly, with stepwise dose escalation to a maintenance dose per protocol) or the placebo group (receiving matched placebo injections). The primary objective is to evaluate the potential disease-modifying effects of mazdutide on cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 50 Years - 75 Years
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 2. Aged 50-75 years (inclusive), male or female. 3. Early symptomatic dementia (Mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia), defined as: 1. MMSE score >20 and <27, 2. CDR global score 0.5-1.0 (inclusive), with a CDR memory subscore ≥0.5, 3. Subjective memory complaints for ≥6 months. 4. Stable glycemic control regimen for ≥3 months prior to screening, meeting one of the following: 1. Lifestyle/dietary intervention alone (no glucose-lowering drugs), 2. Oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), with or without once-daily basal insulin. 5. HbA1c 7.0-9.0% (inclusive) at screening. 6. BMI ≥20 kg/m², with stable weight (fluctuation <5%) for ≥3 months. 7. Stable treatment regimen for cognitive impairment for at least 3 months prior to screening and commit to its continuation throughout the study period, meeting one of the following criteria: 1. No treatment: Not receiving any pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment; 2. Non-pharmacological therapy only: Engaged exclusively in non-drug interventions (e.g., cognitive training); 3. Pharmacological therapy: Using approved symptomatic cognitive-enhancing medications (e.g., cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists), excluding disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). 8. Ability to comply with systematic cognitive and functional assessments. 9. Fully understands the trial protocol, voluntarily signs the informed consent form (ICF), and agrees to adhere to all study requirements and restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of neurodegenerative disorders, including: 1. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and its variants. 2. Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) 3. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) 4. Multiple system atrophy (MSA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease (HD) 2. With current or history of clinically significant psychiatric disorders within the past 2 years, including but not limited to: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or personality disorders. 3. With a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10 at screening, or a Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) score ≥10 at screening. 4. History of stroke (ischemic/hemorrhagic), transient ischemic attack (TIA), or epileptic seizure within 3 months prior to screening; Current or prior diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) disorders that may impair cognitive function, including but not limited to: CNS infections, Intracranial tumors, Metabolic encephalopathy, Neurological disorders due to malnutrition, or Severe traumatic brain injury. 5. Acute hyperglycemic/hypoglycemic events within 1 year, including: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), and Hypoglycemic coma. 6. Use of GLP-1R agonists, GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonists, or GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonists within 3 months prior to screening. 7. Regular use (>2 doses/week) of moderate-to-strong anticholinergic drugs within 4 weeks prior to screening; Use within 3 months prior to screening of: Anti-Parkinsonian drugs, Antiepileptic drugs, Antipsychotics, Morphine and opioid analgesics (Exemption: Short-term use [<5 days] for surgery/acute injury, if completed >4 weeks before screening); Use within 4 weeks prior to screening of: CNS stimulants; Medical/recreational cannabis, cannabinoids, or cannabidiol (CBD).a. Moderate/high anticholinergics, antiparkinsonian/antiepileptic drugs. 8. Alcohol abuse (defined as >21 units/week for men or >14 units/week for women; 1 unit = 360 mL beer, 150 mL wine, or 45 mL spirits). 9. Medical history of: 1. Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pancreatitis. 2. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) 3. Gallbladder/biliary disease, severe gastrointestinal disorders, or bowel resection. 4. Active malignancy. 10. Uncontrolled or potentially unstable diabetic retinopathy/maculopathy. 11. Severe organ dysfunction, including: 1. ALT/AST >3× upper limit of normal (ULN) 2. eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73m² (CKD-EPI equation) 3. Unstable angina, myocardial infarction (MI), or NYHA Class II+ heart failure within 3 months. 12. Known/suspected hypersensitivity to the investigational product or related compounds. 13. Pregnancy, lactation, or women of childbearing potential not using highly effective contraception. 14. MRI contraindications (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia). 15. Participation in other clinical trials within 3 months, involving an investigational medicinal product or enrollment in any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study. 16. Any other condition deemed by the investigator to compromise safety or interfere with study assessments.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT07083154
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 4
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Yan Zhang, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Not yet recruiting
Countries China
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Dementia, Mild, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Type 2 Diabetes
Additional Details

The LIGHT-COG study is a 76-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial investigating the potential disease-modifying effects of the GLP-1/GCG dual receptor agonist mazdutide on cognitive dysfunction in 420 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and early dementia. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either weekly subcutaneous injections of mazdutide (starting at 2.0 mg, with stepwise dose escalation to a target maintenance dose of 4.0 mg and optional adaptive increase to 6.0 mg if necessary and tolerated) or matched placebo, in addition to their existing glucose-lowering therapy. The primary objective is to assess cognitive improvement, with key secondary endpoints including brain structure and function alterations, metabolic improvement, neurodegenerative biomarkers, and safety outcomes. Participants will undergo comprehensive cognitive and metabolic assessments at baseline, followed by safety visits at Week 4 and every 8 weeks thereafter for monitoring of adverse events, adherence, and metabolic parameters. Comprehensive evaluations at Weeks 28, 52, and 76 will include cognitive assessments, advanced neuroimaging, and metabolic profiling. During the study period, if a subject's study drug has been titrated to the maximum tolerated dose or the maximum protocol-specified dose (6 mg), and glycemic control remains suboptimal (fasting venous blood glucose or fingertip capillary blood glucose > 8.5 mmol/L on two consecutive measurements) during follow-up, individualized rescue therapy may be initiated upon the investigator's judgment. The choice of rescue regimen should be based on the investigator's comprehensive assessment of the subject's specific condition, including but not limited to glycemic levels, complications, hepatic and renal function, and risk of hypoglycemia. Optional rescue medications include insulin glargine, metformin, gliclazide modified-release, and acarbose. The investigator shall closely monitor the response to rescue therapy. The study should be terminated if any of the following occurs: inadequate glycemic control after rescue therapy, intolerance to rescue medications, or any other situation necessitating withdrawal as judged by the investigator. All decision-making basis, selection of rescue regimen, and efficacy evaluations must be thoroughly documented.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Mazdutide group

Participants will receive weekly subcutaneous injections of mazdutide (starting at 2.0 mg, with stepwise dose escalation to a target maintenance dose of 4.0 mg and optional adaptive increase to 6.0 mg if necessary and tolerated) , in addition to their existing glucose-lowering therapy.

Placebo Comparator: Placebo group

Participants will receive weekly subcutaneous injections of matched placebo, in addition to their existing glucose-lowering therapy.

Interventions

Drug: - Mazdutide

Mazdutide injection (pre-filled auto-injector pen) is administered subcutaneously at the same time each week. The starting dose is 2.0 mg administered once weekly (QW). Based on individual patient tolerance, the dose should be gradually increased to the target therapeutic dose of 4.0 mg QW over a period of 4 to 12 weeks. The protocol permits adaptive dose escalation up to 6.0 mg weekly when clinically indicated. For participants unable to tolerate dose increases, treatment continue at their maximum tolerated dose. The total intervention duration is 76 weeks.

Drug: - Placebo

Placebo injection (pre-filled auto-injector pen) is administered subcutaneously at the same time each week. The starting dose is 2.0 mg administered once weekly (QW). Based on individual patient tolerance, the dose should be gradually increased to the target therapeutic dose of 4.0 mg QW over a period of 4 to 12 weeks. The protocol permits adaptive dose escalation up to 6.0 mg weekly when clinically indicated. For participants unable to tolerate dose increases, treatment continue at their maximum tolerated dose. The total intervention duration is 76 weeks.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

International Sites

Changsha 1815577, Hunan 1806691, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

Changsha 1815577, Hunan 1806691, 410008

Site Contact

Jing Wu, MD, PhD

[email protected]

6-25-83-105302.

Changzhou 1815456, Jiangsu 1806260, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital

Changzhou 1815456, Jiangsu 1806260,

Site Contact

Huijie Yang, MD

[email protected]

6-25-83-105302.

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260, 210000

Site Contact

Jindan Wu, MD, PhD

[email protected]

86-025-52271000

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Medical Center,Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260, 210008

Site Contact

Yan Bi, MD, PhD

[email protected]

86-25-83-105302

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Nanjing 1799962, Jiangsu 1806260,

Site Contact

Yueting Zhao, MD

[email protected]

6-25-83-105302.

Shanghai 1796236, Shanghai Municipality 1796231, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai General Hospital

Shanghai 1796236, Shanghai Municipality 1796231, 200080

Site Contact

Fang Fang, MD, PhD

[email protected]

6-25-83-105302.

Shanghai 1796236, China

Status

Address

Department of Endocrinology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Shanghai 1796236, , 200040

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