Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS)Phase 2NCT07573163
Tirzepatide Following Adrenalectomy in Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion
A Phase 2 study testing Tirzepatide and Standard medical treatment in people with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) and Adrenalectomy; Status, run by Alaa Sada at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) is a condition in which an adrenal gland produces excess cortisol and is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS), Adrenalectomy; Status
- What is being tested?
- Tirzepatide and Standard medical treatment
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 27 Jul 2026to 31 Dec 2028
- Phase
- Phase 2
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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 years and older
- Diagnosis of MACS, defined as morning cortisol >1.8 mcg/dL after a 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test
- Elevated blood pressure (SBP ≥120 mmHg or DBP ≥80 mmHg per the 2025 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association [ACC/AHA] criteria, or current use of antihypertensive medication)
- BMI ≥27
- Undergoing or having undergone adrenalectomy for the treatment of MACS
Who cannot join
- Bilateral adrenal lesions
- Adrenal malignancy
- Concurrent primary aldosteronism with MACS
- Current use of GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Tirzepatide Following Adrenalectomy in Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion
Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS) is a condition in which an adrenal gland produces excess cortisol and is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. Surgical removal of the adrenal gland (adrenalectomy) is standard treatment, but some patients continue to have metabolic health problems after surgery.
This randomized study will evaluate whether treatment with tirzepatide after adrenalectomy improves metabolic outcomes in patients with MACS compared with adrenalectomy alone.
Read the detailed description
This prospective, randomized study will enroll adults with MACS and elevated blood pressure who are undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy. Following surgery, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: adrenalectomy alone or adrenalectomy followed by tirzepatide therapy for 12 months. Tirzepatide will be prescribed and managed by the study team in accordance with current standard-of-care practices, including routine clinical monitoring and dose adjustments.
The primary focus of the study is to evaluate blood pressure control at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include change in body weight, body mass index, glycemic control, medication burden, and patient-reported quality of life. This study aims to generate preliminary data on the feasibility, safety, and potential additive metabolic benefits of combining pharmacologic incretin-based therapy with surgical management of MACS.
- Being tested
- Tirzepatide, Standard medical treatment
- Keywords
- adrenalectomy, MACS, mild autonomous cortisol secretion
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
TirzepatideDrug
Tirzepatide will be initiated at the lowest dose of 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. The dose will then be titrated every 4 weeks based on patient tolerance to 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg.
Standard medical treatmentOther
Participants will receive postoperative care and follow up per institutional standard-of-care practices
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 Treatment | Active comparator | GLP-1 dose of 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. The dose will then be titrated every 4 weeks based on patient tolerance to 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg. Receives: Drug: Tirzepatide |
| Standard of Care arm | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive standard of care management for as determined by their treating clinician. Receives: Other: Standard medical treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in systolic blood pressure
Changes in blood pressure will be assessed based on patients' average blood pressure readings, mmHg
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
Secondary outcomes (5)
weight
Change in participant weight, Kg
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
medication
any change in medication expressed as defined daily doses (DDDs)
Measured: Baseline and 12 months reported in WHO defined daily doses (DDDs)
HbA1c
change in HbA1c levels
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
quality of life metrics
quality of life metrics will measured using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) which is a validated measure of health-related quality of life assessing eight domains: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status. Domain scores may be analyzed individually or combined using standard scoring algorithms to generate the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, which are norm-based (mean 50, SD 10); higher values reflect better physical and mental health, respectively.
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
BMI
Any change in BMI in kg/m2
Measured: Baseline and 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 May 2026
- Study start27 Jul 2026
- Primary completion31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (17)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Alaa Sada
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Alaa Sada, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Alaa Sada, MD, Principal investigator, University of Pittsburgh
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07573163
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY25030073
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 1 May 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared because the study involves a small sample size from a single center with detailed clinical, laboratory, and imaging data, which may pose a risk of participant re-identification despite de-identification procedures. Aggregate results will be reported in peer-reviewed publications.
Publications
Kanbay M, Copur S, Siriopol D, Yildiz AB, Gaipov A, van Raalte DH, Tuttle KR. Effect of tirzepatide on blood pressure and lipids: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2023 Dec;25(12):3766-3778. doi: 10.1111/dom.15272. Epub 2023 Sep 12.
PubMed 37700437Krumholz HM, de Lemos JA, Sattar N, Linetzky B, Sharma P, Mast CJ, Ahmad NN, Bunck MC, Stefanski A. Tirzepatide and blood pressure reduction: stratified analyses of the SURMOUNT-1 randomised controlled trial. Heart. 2024 Sep 16;110(19):1165-1171. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2024-324170.
PubMed 39084707Zeiger MA, Thompson GB, Duh QY, Hamrahian AH, Angelos P, Elaraj D, Fishman E, Kharlip J; American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American Association of Endocrine Surgeons medical guidelines for the management of adrenal incidentalomas. Endocr Pract. 2009 Jul-Aug;15 Suppl 1:1-20. doi: 10.4158/EP.15.S1.1. No abstract available.
PubMed 19632967Pelsma ICM, Fassnacht M, Tsagarakis S, Terzolo M, Tabarin A, Sahdev A, Newell-Price J, Marina L, Lorenz K, Bancos I, Arlt W, Dekkers OM. Comorbidities in mild autonomous cortisol secretion and the effect of treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2023 Oct 17;189(4):S88-S101. doi: 10.1093/ejendo/lvad134.
PubMed 37801655Vanek C, Loriaux L. The 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test: a danger to the adrenal gland? Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2022 Aug 1;29(4):403-405. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000752.
PubMed 35799460Kelsall A, Iqbal A, Newell-Price J. Adrenal incidentaloma: cardiovascular and metabolic effects of mild cortisol excess. Gland Surg. 2020 Feb;9(1):94-104. doi: 10.21037/gs.2019.11.19.
PubMed 32206602Araujo-Castro M, Reincke M, Lamas C. Epidemiology and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion: A Review. Biomedicines. 2023 Nov 22;11(12):3115. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11123115.
PubMed 38137336Prete A, Bancos I. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion: pathophysiology, comorbidities and management approaches. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2024 Aug;20(8):460-473. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-00984-y. Epub 2024 Apr 22.
PubMed 38649778Morelli V, Ghielmetti A, Caldiroli A, Grassi S, Siri FM, Caletti E, Mucci F, Aresta C, Passeri E, Pugliese F, Di Giorgio A, Corbetta S, Scillitani A, Arosio M, Buoli M, Chiodini I. Mental Health in Patients With Adrenal Incidentalomas: Is There a Relation With Different Degrees of Cortisol Secretion? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 1;106(1):e130-e139. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa695.
PubMed 33017843Sojat AS, Dunjic-Kostic B, Marina LV, Ivovic M, Radonjic NV, Kendereski A, Cirkovic A, Tancic-Gajic M, Arizanovic Z, Mihajlovic S, Vujovic S. Depression: another cortisol-related comorbidity in patients with adrenal incidentalomas and (possible) autonomous cortisol secretion. J Endocrinol Invest. 2021 Sep;44(9):1935-1945. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01509-4. Epub 2021 Feb 2.
PubMed 33528757Reimondo G, Puglisi S, Pia A, Terzolo M. Autonomous hypercortisolism: definition and clinical implications. Minerva Endocrinol. 2019 Mar;44(1):33-42. doi: 10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02884-5. Epub 2018 Jul 2.
PubMed 29963828Prete A, Subramanian A, Bancos I, Chortis V, Tsagarakis S, Lang K, Macech M, Delivanis DA, Pupovac ID, Reimondo G, Marina LV, Deutschbein T, Balomenaki M, O'Reilly MW, Gilligan LC, Jenkinson C, Bednarczuk T, Zhang CD, Dusek T, Diamantopoulos A, Asia M, Kondracka A, Li D, Masjkur JR, Quinkler M, Ueland GA, Dennedy MC, Beuschlein F, Tabarin A, Fassnacht M, Ivovic M, Terzolo M, Kastelan D, Young WF Jr, Manolopoulos KN, Ambroziak U, Vassiliadi DA, Taylor AE, Sitch AJ, Nirantharakumar K, Arlt W; ENSAT EURINE-ACT Investigators*; ENSAT EURINE-ACT Investigators. Cardiometabolic Disease Burden and Steroid Excretion in Benign Adrenal Tumors : A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study. Ann Intern Med. 2022 Mar;175(3):325-334. doi: 10.7326/M21-1737. Epub 2022 Jan 4.
PubMed 34978855Bancos I, Prete A. Approach to the Patient With Adrenal Incidentaloma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Oct 21;106(11):3331-3353. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab512.
PubMed 34260734Reimondo G, Castellano E, Grosso M, Priotto R, Puglisi S, Pia A, Pellegrino M, Borretta G, Terzolo M. Adrenal Incidentalomas are Tied to Increased Risk of Diabetes: Findings from a Prospective Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Apr 1;105(4):dgz284. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz284.
PubMed 31900474Yip L, Duh QY, Wachtel H, Jimenez C, Sturgeon C, Lee C, Velazquez-Fernandez D, Berber E, Hammer GD, Bancos I, Lee JA, Marko J, Morris-Wiseman LF, Hughes MS, Livhits MJ, Han MA, Smith PW, Wilhelm S, Asa SL, Fahey TJ 3rd, McKenzie TJ, Strong VE, Perrier ND. American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Guidelines for Adrenalectomy: Executive Summary. JAMA Surg. 2022 Oct 1;157(10):870-877. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.3544.
PubMed 35976622