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Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)Phase 4E-SEMPANCT06613854

Effect of Early Combination Antihyperglycemic Treatment on Metabolic Control in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes

A Phase 4 study testing Oral semaglutide and Empagliflozin 10 mg in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), run by University Medical Centre Ljubljana at 1 site in Slovenia.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if early combination with two antidiabetic drugs further improves blood glucose control compared to a single drug regimen in adults with short duration of type 2 diabetes. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)
What is being tested?
Oral semaglutide and Empagliflozin 10 mg
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 siteSlovenia
Study dates
1 Oct 2024to Dec 2027
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for up to 2 years (prior to randomization);
  • Aged between 18 and 70 years, both sexes, of any race or ethnicity;
  • HbA1c ≤8.0% at randomization;
  • Baseline treatment with metformin at a steady daily dose of ≥1500 mg;
  • Signed informed consent to participate in the study.

Who cannot join

  • Treatment at any time in the past with SGLT2i, GLP-1RA, or DPP-4 inhibitors;
  • Insulin treatment for longer than 2 weeks in the past;
  • Body Mass Index below 22 kg/m2 or BMI above 40 kg/m2;
  • Chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 (eGFR below 60 ml/min or the presence of albuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio above 34 g/mmol);
  • Known cardiovascular disease (angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, known carotid atherosclerosis, objectively proven peripheral arterial disease, or other known atherosclerotic disease at other locations);
  • Moderate or severe liver disease (Child-Pugh stage B or C);
Show all 23Show fewer
  • Personal history of pancreatitis;
  • Advanced heart failure (NYHA III-IV);
  • Retinopathy or maculopathy or their active treatment;
  • Pregnancy, expected pregnancy, or breastfeeding;
  • Presence of active malignancy or personal history of malignancy within 5 years of study enrollment;
  • Personal history of thyroid cancer; personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma;
  • Chronic inflammatory bowel disease;
  • History of bariatric surgery or other gastrointestinal surgery that could affect drug or nutrient absorption;
  • Frequent or severe urinary tract infections;
  • Presence of a urinary catheter;
  • Troublesome and recurrent genital fungal infections;
  • Personal history of ketoacidosis;
  • Symptomatic hypotension or predisposition to hypovolemia;
  • History of organ transplantation;
  • Allergy to any component in the semaglutide or empagliflozin oral tablet;
  • Any medical or social circumstance that may limit participation in the study (e.g., inability to attend regular study visits);
  • Any other condition that, in the opinion of the principal and responsible investigators, may affect the safety or efficacy of the treatment.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Slovenia1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Diabetes Outpatient Clinic

    Ljubljana, 1000

    Jaka Sikonja, MD, +38640778882, jaka.sikonja@kclj.si

    Andrej Janez, MD, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Slovenia

About this study

Official title: Effect of Early Combination Antihyperglycemic Treatment With Metformin and Oral Semaglutide vs. Metformin and Empagliflozin on Glycemic and Metabolic Control in Individuals With Short Duration Type 2 Diabetes

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if early combination with two antidiabetic drugs further improves blood glucose control compared to a single drug regimen in adults with short duration of type 2 diabetes. It will also learn about the effect of the combination treatment on body weight, body composition, blood lipids, oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic control, insulin resistance and insulin secretion from pancreas, together with its safety profile. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does early combination with two antidiabetic drugs improve blood glucose levels, determined by continuous glucose monitoring system?
  • Is early combination treatment as safe as treatment with a single antidiabetic drug?
  • Does early combination treatment reduces the need for rescue therapy?
  • Does early combination treatment reduces body weight and improves body composition?
  • Does early combination treatment improves blood lipid parameters, oxidative stress and inflammation?
  • Does early combination treatment improves metabolic parameters?
  • Does early combination treatment improves insulin resistance and insulin secretion?
Read more

Researchers will compare early combination treatment with metformin and either peroral semaglutide or empagliflozin to a single drug regimen with only metformin to see if the combination treatment works to treat type 2 diabetes.

Participants will:

  • Take the combination of two antidiabetic drugs or only metformin for every day for 26 weeks.
  • Visit the clinic four times during the study duration for checkups and tests.
  • Carry a continuous glucose monitoring sensor for 14 days prior to study visits.
Read the detailed description

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive chronic disease and represents a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease. In addition to managing glycemia, the use of antihyperglycemic medications with further and independent cardiovascular benefits is recommended in managing individuals with T2D. These medications primarily include sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA). Traditionally, treatment of T2D followed a stepwise intensification by adding antihyperglycemic drugs if optimal glycemic control was not achieved. However, current American Diabetes Association guidelines recommend considering early combination therapy at treatment initiation, particularly at high baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, to shorten the time to achieve glycemic goals.

In everyday clinical practice, however, treatment intensification is often delayed due to clinical inertia, even when glycemic control is suboptimal. Early intensive treatment of T2D has been shown to improve glycemic control, reduce mortality, and lower the risk of both microvascular and macrovascular complications, while also improving the durability of the glycemic effect.

Previous randomized clinical trials on early combination therapy for T2D have primarily focused on glycemic control, as determined by traditional glycemic parameters such as fasting glucose and HbA1c. However, new insights suggest that these measures alone are insufficient for a holistic assessment of glycemic control in diabetes. There is now a recognized need to consider additional indicators of glycemic control, obtained through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. Furthermore, data are lacking on the direct comparison of the early combination treatment with either SGLT2i or GLP-1RA on top of metformin.

In this 26-week, prospective, open-label, interventional, randomized, single-center clinical trial with a 3-week run-in period, we aim to investigate the effect of early combination treatment with metformin and GLP-1RA or SGLT2i compared to standard monotherapy with metformin and subsequent escalation of antihyperglycemic treatment on glycemic control, as assessed by continuous glucose monitoring systems and HbA1c, body weight, body composition, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic control, insulin resistance, and pancreatic beta-cell function in adults with short duration T2D. The primary outcome of the study will be glycemic control, assessed by time in range (TIR).

The study will include individuals of both sexes, of any race or ethnicity, aged between 18 and 70, with a duration of T2D of less than 2 years, HbA1c levels ≤8.0%, on monotherapy with metformin, and naive to treatment with GLP-1RA and SGLT2i.

After the initial 3-week run-in period, patients will be randomized (based on sex, age, and TIR during the run-in period) into three intervention groups in a 1:1:1 ratio:

(i) a control group, continuing metformin monotherapy; (ii) the first study group, receiving metformin and oral semaglutide; and (iii) the second study group, receiving metformin and empagliflozin.

Patients will then be monitored approximately every 13 weeks (3 months) up to 26 weeks (6 months). Prior to randomization, participants will receive a study package containing 3 sensors and 1 reader of the CGM system. The first sensor will be placed on the participants at the start of the run-in period, and subsequent sensors will be self-applied by participants at least 14 days before the last two study visits (at week 13 and week 26).

At each study visit, a review of medical records, a clinical examination, and blood collection for laboratory tests will be conducted. At randomization (week 0) and during the final study visit (week 26), all participants will undergo a modified oral glucose tolerance test (mOGTT) to assess insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell function. Additionally, the first 20 participants from each intervention group will undergo whole-body imaging to evaluate body composition. In the case of inadequately controlled glycemia, rescue treatment with gliclazide from the sulfonylurea class will be initiated.

Being tested
Oral semaglutide, Empagliflozin 10 mg
Keywords
E-SEMPA, Early Combination Antihyperglycemic Treatment, Metformin, Semaglutide, Empagliflozin, Glycemic Control, Metabolic Control, Type 2 Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Time in Range, CGM, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, UMC Ljubljana
Medical subject headings
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Insulin Resistance

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Oral semaglutideDrug

    Also called Rybelsus

    Semaglutide Oral Tablets will be introduced to the Oral Semaglutide Arm as per protocol for regular therapy introduction.

  • Empagliflozin 10 mgDrug

    Also called Jardiance

    Empagliflozin Oral Tablets will be introduced to the Empagliflozin Arm as per protocol for regular therapy introduction.

Study groups in NCT06613854
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Oral Semaglutide ArmActive comparatorParticipants will receive oral semaglutide in addition to metformin (in a steady daily dose of ≥1500 mg), starting with an initial dose of 3 mg. The dose of semaglutide will be increased to 7 mg after 30 days, and then to a maintenance dose of 14 mg once daily after another 30 days that will be continued to week 26. In the case of inadequately controlled glycemia (HbA1c >8.0 % or symptomatic hyperglycemia), rescue treatment with gliclazide will be initiated.
Receives: Drug: Oral semaglutide
Empagliflozin ArmActive comparatorParticipants will receive oral empagliflozin in a once daily dose of 10 mg in addition to metformin (in a steady daily dose of ≥1500 mg). The dose of empagliflozin will not be subsequently changed during the duration of the study. In the case of inadequately controlled glycemia (HbA1c >8.0 % or symptomatic hyperglycemia), rescue treatment with gliclazide will be initiated.
Receives: Drug: Empagliflozin 10 mg
Control ArmNo interventionParticipants will receive metformin in a steady daily dose of ≥1500 mg. In the case of inadequately controlled glycemia (HbA1c >8.0 % or symptomatic hyperglycemia), rescue treatment with gliclazide will be initiated.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Time in Range (TIR)

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is in the range of 3.9-10.0 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Period of 14 days prior to last study visit (week 26)

Secondary outcomes (22)
  1. Absolute Change in Time in Range (TIR)

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) and last study visit (week 26)

  2. Absolute Change in Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

    Assessment by biochemical methods (in %)

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) and last study visit (week 26)

  3. Time above Range (TAR)

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is above 10.0 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  4. Time below Range (TBR)

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is below 3.9 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  5. Time above Range (TAR) - Level 1 Hyperglycemia

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is in the range of 10.1-13.9 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  6. Time above Range (TAR) - Level 2 Hyperglycemia

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is above 13.9 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  7. Time below Range (TBR) - Level 1 Hypoglycemia

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is in the range of 3.0-3.8 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  8. Time below Range (TBR) - Level 2 Hypoglycemia

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is below 3.0 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  9. Time in Tight Range (TITR)

    Defined as the time (or percentage of measurements) when the glucose value in the interstitial fluid is in the range of 3.9-7.8 mmol/L. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  10. Coefficient of variation (CV)

    A measure of dynamic glucose variability. Calculated as a ratio of glucose concentration standard deviation and mean glucose concentration, expressed as a percentage. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in %).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  11. Mean Time in Range (TIR)

    Mean Time in Range (TIR) at study visit at week 13 and week 26. Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in % or in hours and minutes).

    Measured: Study visit at week 13 and week 26

  12. Mean glucose concentration

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in mmol/L).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  13. Proportion of participants with Coefficient of variation (CV) below or equal to 36%

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in %).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  14. Standard deviation of mean glucose concentration

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in mmol/L).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  15. Proportion of participants with Time in Range (TIR) above 70%

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in %).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  16. Proportion of participants with Time in Range (TIR) above 90%

    Assesment by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system FreeStyle Libre 2 (in %).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  17. Proportion of participants with Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) below 6.5%

    Assessment by biochemical methods (in %)

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  18. Proportion of participants with Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) below 5.7%

    Assessment by biochemical methods (in %).

    Measured: Last study visit (week 26)

  19. Proportion of participants requiring rescue therapy with gliclazide

    Measured in %.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) to last study visit (week 26)

  20. Proportion of participants with severe hypoglycemia

    Severe hypoglycemia is an epizode of hypoglycemia requiring assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrates, glucagon, or take other corrective actions. Measured in %.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) to last study visit (week 26)

  21. Proportion of participants with severe adverse events

    Severe adverse event is defined as symptoms that significantly affects daily activities. Assessment by patients themselves. Measured in %.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) to last study visit (week 26)

  22. Proportion of patients withdrawing from the trial due to adverse events of the interventional drugs

    Assessment by patients themselves. Measured in %.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) to last study visit (week 26)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Sep 2024
  2. Study start1 Oct 2024
  3. Primary completionSep 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06613854
Sponsor's protocol ID
E-SEMPA
Other IDs
0120-70/2024-2711-3
Acronym
E-SEMPA
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
19 Sep 2024
Last updated
30 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Oral semaglutide and Empagliflozin 10 mg in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), run by University Medical Centre Ljubljana at 1 site in Slovenia.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 23 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Slovenia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Time in Range (TIR) (time frame: Period of 14 days prior to last study visit (week 26)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Apr 2026.

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