Endobarrier Treatment in Obese Subjects With T2DM

Current therapies including diet, exercise, behavior modifications, oral diabetes agents, and insulin, are employed to control Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but rarely return subjects to euglycemia, require dose escalation over time and can be associated with hypoglycemia and weight gain. Obesity is a well-established risk for both the development of diabetes as well as for increased mortality. The majority of individuals with T2DM are overweight or obese. Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common and well documented risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). For some patients NAFLD disease is a relatively benign condition, for others NAFLD will progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease with associated complications including hepatocellular carcino.The current treatment for NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is weight reduction which can be achieved by life style modifications, drug therapy or bariatric surgery. The Fibro Test and Fibro Max have proven their efficacy as noninvasive biomarkers for NAFLD and NASH in large scale studies. Transient Elastography which measures liver stiffness non-invasively has been successful in identifying fibrosis in NAFLD.

In addition, designated sonography is a sensitive noninvasive method for steatosis quantification which can diagnose small amounts of liver fat that would be missed by conventional sonography and is not affected by fibrosis or steatohepatitis.

Bariatric Surgery for T2DM In light of this, bariatric surgery has recently emerged as one of the most effective means of providing durable, clinically-significant resolution of diabetes. The majority of subjects with T2DM who undergo these procedures have remission of this disorder. In a large bariatric surgery meta-analysis published in Journal of the American Medical Association in 2004, within studies reporting resolution of diabetes, 76.8% of subjects experienced complete resolution; within studies reporting both resolution and improvement or only improvement of diabetes, 85.4% of subjects experienced resolution or improvement of diabetes. All bariatric operations result in remarkable improvement in T2DM although with varying degrees of efficacy. Resolution of diabetes often occurs within days following bariatric surgery, even before marked weight loss is achieved. Resolution of diabetes is more prevalent following the more "malabsorptive" procedures (BPD or duodenal switch) and the mixed malabsorptive/restrictive Roux-en-y (RYGB) in contrast to the purely restrictive vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) procedures. In addition, there appears to be a gradation of diabetes resolution as a function of the operative procedure: 98.9% for BPD, 83.7% for RYGB, 71.6% for VBG, and 47.9% for LAGB. Subjects with the shortest duration and mildest form of T2DM had a higher rate of T2DM resolution after surgery, suggesting that early surgical intervention is warranted to increase the likelihood of rendering subjects euglycemic. Recently, it has been published that subjects with long-standing uncontrolled diabetes and non-morbid obesity have a high remission rate (88%) of their diabetes following RYGB surgery. However, despite the considerable effectiveness shown by bariatric surgery in resolving diabetes, surgery has not yet become a standard of care for subjects who are obese with diabetes. In part because of an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of action, this concept of gastrointestinal surgery as an endocrine modifier is not yet fully embraced by the clinical community and has yet to be incorporated into care strategies.12 But perhaps more importantly, some clinicians evoke the irreversibility of gastric bypass and the occasional reports of poor outcomes to label this approach "extreme" - to be reserved as a treatment of last resort.

Bariatric Surgery for NAFLD Weight loss following bariatric surgery results in a marked improvement in hepatic steatosis. An analysis of numerous paired biopsy studies reveals convincing evidence that significant improvement in steatosis and inflammation occurs in NAFLD patients after weight loss surgery. Regression and histologic improvement of NASH has been documented after bariatric surgery.

The "EndoBarrier" Gastrointestinal Liner System is an endoscopically-delivered device that offers an alternative to gastric bypass surgery. The device shields the duodenum and upper jejunum from contact with chyme, thereby mimicking the foregut bypass effect of a RYGB procedure without altering the subject's anatomy. Pancreatic and biliary secretions pass along the outside of the device and then mix with chyme in the upper jejunum. Based on animal experiments and clinical observations, the EndoBarrier device may provide a useful non-surgical intervention for treating T2DM, with an added benefit of weight loss. To date, over 13 studies enrolling over 500 subjects were performed with the EndoBarrier device. In one study, at 12 months 23/32 uncontrolled T2DM subjects (71.9%), were able to achieve an HbA1c value less than or equal to 7.0%.

The product offers a minimally invasive reversible alternative to a fully surgical approach. Since it is delivered and retrieved endoscopically, the device has the option of being removed if necessary and without changing a subject's anatomy.

Encouraging early clinical trial results, support continued investigating of the device for a T2DM indication. To date, there are over 400,000 diabetic subjects in Israel and in 90% of the cases the diabetes can be related to overweight. Over 50% of these patients are not well controlled.

Device Description - ENDOBARRIER The EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner system received European Community mark (CE) on 11 December 2009 and is indicated for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The implant is indicated for a maximum implant duration period of twelve months. The intent of the EndoBarrier is to facilitate glycemic control and weight loss by mimicking portions of the Roux-en-Y bypass procedure. The device consists of 3 components: the implant, the delivery system, and the removal system.

The procedure entails bypassing the duodenum and the proximal jejunum with a 60 cm non-permeable polymeric sleeve which is attached to the duodenal wall. This sleeve prevents the contact of food with the duodenal wall, thereby re-capitulating one of the major properties of the Roux-en-Y (RYGB) operation.

With this technique, control of diabetes is accompanied by weight loss, with no need for medications that may cause weight gain / hypoglycemia and may serve to replace or postpone surgery. In a recent paper by de Moura et al, Twenty-two subjects with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and a body mass index between 40- 60 kg/m ² were implanted with the EndoBarrier and followed prospectively for 1 year.

The authors found statistically significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (- 30.3 ± 10.2 mg/dL), fasting insulin (- 7.3 ± 2.6 units/mL), and HbA1c ( -2.1±0.3%) in patients undergoing the procedure. The study conclusions were that EndoBarrier improves glycemic status in obese subjects with diabetes and therefore represents a non-surgical, reversible alternative to bariatric surgery. Internal data from GI Dynamics reveals that obese subject (average BMI of 44 kg/m²) and uncontrolled diabetes (average A1c of 8.4 %) who were implanted with EndoBarrier for one year showed: a reduction of 2.1% of the A1c level, with a value of less than 7% in 80% of the subjects, an average reduction of 20 Kg (representing 16% of the excess weight), a 29% reduction in the triglyceride level and a 14% reduction in LDL-c.

After 12 months the EndoBarrier was removed and the subjects remained in follow up for additional 18 months. During this period, the achievement was maintained This is an open-label two phase trail investigating the effect of an EndoBarrier sleeve on diabetes control and body weight in diabetic obese subjects.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of EndoBarrier in treatment of diabetes and obesity

Secondary Objectives:

1. To examine the effect of the EndoBarrier as a model for the proximal effects of the RYGB surgery in terms of diabetes control.
2. To explore the weight independent mechanisms by which the Endobarrier improves diabetes.
3. To test the effect of Endobarrier implantation on liver steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis.

Methods and assessments:

Visit 1- screening: All potential patients will be screened for eligibility at visit 1.

The following activities will occur on Visit 1: The patient signs the informed consent form (for the main trail and the sensor procedure). Inclusion / Exclusion criteria will be reviewed.

Demographic: Date of birth, gender. Medical history evaluation and concomitant medication record. Diabetes history treatment record: onset date of diabetes, type, total dose and start date of current treatment. A physical examination and Electrocardiogram (ECG) will be conducted. Fasting Laboratory measurements will be performed visit 2 - gastro screening

Patient will arrive at the site fasted. The following activities will occur on Visit 2:

Gastroscopy will be performed. 40 mg of Omeprazole twice daily 3 days prior to visit 4 will be initiated.

Visit 3 - sensor insertion \& Liver tests Patient will arrive at the site fasted. Patients will arrive at the site 2 days before the planned device implantation. The patient should be fasting in visit 3.

The following activities will occur on Visit 3: Fasting Laboratory measurements will be performed. Ultrasound for elastography and hepatic fat content will be performed.

Sensor insertion will be performed. The patient will be asked to answer the "Visual analog scale" (VAS) questionnaire. Dietary consultation will be performed Visit 4 - Endobarrier implantation: The patient will arrive in a fasting state.

Under full anesthesia, gastroscopy will be performed and a guide wire will be inserted to the jejunum. The Endobarrirer device will be inserted over the guide wire and introduced into the duodenal bulb. Under fluoroscopy the device will be operated and the sleeve will be released from its capsule. Contrast material will be injected thorough the sleeve to insure full opening. After full expansion of the sleeve, the anchoring mechanism will be operated and the sleeve will be anchored by small hooks to the duodenal bulb. Correct hooking will be visualized endoscopically.

visits 5-17: Vital signs, weight, waist circumferences will be measured. Fasting Laboratory measurements will be performed. Diabetes and diet consultation will be performed.

visit 18: Endobarrier retrieval: Vital signs, weight, waist circumferences will be measured. Fasting Laboratory measurements will be performed. Patient will be asked to answer the VAS questionnaire. Diabetes and diet consultation will be performed.

The retrieval procedure will be performed after sedation: A retrieval hood will be connected to the endoscope tip, a scope will be introduced to the duodenum, a retrieval grasper will be inserted through the scope, by pulling the drawstring the anchoring hook will collapse and when all hooks are within the plastic retrieval hood the endoscope will be withdrawn safely out.

visit 19-22: follow up : Vital signs, weight, waist circumferences will be measured. Fasting Laboratory measurements will be performed Diabetes and diet consultation will be performed.

Withdrawal criteria:

The patient may be withdrawn from the study at the discretion of the investigator due to a safety concern, such as: Intractable abdominal pain ,Intractable vomiting, Upper GI bleeding, the need for initiation of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Aspirin or any other drugs with bleeding as a potential side effect (i.e. Coumadin).