Liraglutide 3 mg on weight, body composition, and hormonal and metabolic parameters in women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled-phase 3 study

Abstract

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of the GLP-1 analog liraglutide 3 mg (LIRA 3 mg) vs. placebo (PL) for reduction of body weight (BW) and hyperandrogenism in women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Hospital-based outpatient endocrine and metabolic center.

Patient(s): Women diagnosed with PCOS (NIH criteria) were randomly assigned to LIRA 3 mg (n = 55) or PL (n = 27) once daily for 32 weeks with lifestyle intervention.

Intervention(s): Study visits at baseline and 32 weeks included BW and body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Oral glucose tolerance tests were done with sex steroids, free androgen index (FAI), and lipids measured in the fasting sample.

Main outcome measure(s): The primary end points were changes in BW and FAI. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug.

Result(s): Change in BW from baseline to week 32 was -5.7% (±0.75) with LIRA 3 mg vs. -1.4% (±1.09) with PL. At week 32, more participants on LIRA 3 mg than on PL achieved at least 5% weight reductions (25 of 44 vs. 5 of 23). Free androgen index significantly reduced with LIRA 3 mg compared with the PL where the mean FAI slightly increased. Gastrointestinal events, which were mostly mild to moderate, were reported in 58.2% of the LIRA 3 mg-subjects and 18.5% of PL subjects.

Conclusion(s): LIRA 3 mg once daily appears superior to PL in reducing BW and androgenicity and improving cardiometabolic parameters in women with PCOS and obesity.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT03480022.

Keywords: Liraglutide; PCOS; androgens; insulin resistance; menstrual dysfunction; obesity; weight loss.