GLP-1 Regimens for Obesity
(OFF-RAMP Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The purpose of this research is to compare weight loss among 3 groups:
1. people who stay on a GLP-1 drug at full strength (Group 1)
2. people who have their dose tapered to every other week, meaning slowly decreasing the dose and frequency of the full prescription you are currently taking (Group 2)
3. people who go off their GLP-1 and instead take an alternative weight loss drug or combination of drugs called bupropion \& naltrexone. These are not GLP-1 medications. (Group 3)
The investigators want to see if the second and third options are effective at weight loss maintenance.
This study will include a total of 60 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three study groups.
The goals of this current study are to:
1. determine the acceptability of these proposed treatment strategies,
2. collect data about how people's weight changes early on and throughout the study and how well people tolerate the medications.
3. determine whether it is feasible to recruit for a larger, follow-up study.
There are 3 on site visits: at the start, and then 6 and 12 months. The study team will do monthly phone calls in between those visits. At the visits on site visits the study team will do various physical measures and collect blood for lab testing and provide participants with counseling to help with weight loss.
The study team will instruct participants in a home-based resistance exercise regimen to help maintain muscle mass. This will include exercises such as: sit-to-stand, mini-squats, calf raises, leg extension, wall press-up, bicep curls two to three times a week. If these exercises are deemed too easy, participants may choose to do regular push ups, planks, lunges and/or add a resistance band.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Jing Luo, MD
Principal Investigator
University of Pittsburgh
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults with obesity or overweight, possibly with metabolic syndrome, who are interested in maintaining weight loss. Participants must be able to attend study visits and follow a home exercise program. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are not detailed here.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Bupropion and Naltrexone
- GLP-1 agonists
- Lifestyle/Nutrition Counseling
- Resistance Exercise Regimen
Trial Overview
The study compares three approaches: staying on full-dose GLP-1 medication, reducing the GLP-1 dose, or switching to non-GLP weight loss drugs (bupropion & naltrexone). All groups get lifestyle counseling and do resistance exercises at home. Participants are randomly assigned to one group.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
After gradually reducing GLP-1 therapy, participants will start bupropion with naltrexone. Participants will gradually reduce their semaglutide or tirzepatide dosage following the schedule of the "low dose, alternate frequency" arm until either semaglutide is 0.5mg once a week or tirzepatide is 5mg once a week. Participants will then start bupropion at 75mg twice a day (maintenance dose 150mg twice a day). Dosage for naltrexone would start at 25mg once a day, with an increase to 25mg twice per day if there is a favorable benefit/risk profile.
GLP-1 dose reduction to lower-dose, alternate frequency. Participants on semaglutide at enrollment will gradually reduce their dose from 2.4mg to 1.7mg to 1.0mg to 0.5mg once a week to 0.5mg every other week. Participants on tirzepatide at baseline will gradually reduce their dose from 15mg to 12.5mg to 10mg to 7.5mg to 5mg once a week to 5mg every other week. Dose reductions are scheduled every 4 weeks.
Maintenance of high-potency GLP-1 based therapy. Participants will continue their dose at enrollment for the entire duration of study follow-up. This is the current standard of care when the medication is covered and available.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Jing Luo
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Collaborator
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