DPP4 Inhibition & Beta Cell Function

Summary

This study is being done to determine the role of a hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), on insulin secretion and to study how GLP-1 works in in diabetic individuals as compared to non-diabetic individuals, under fasting conditions.

GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone made in the intestines. It is released into the circulating blood after eating and helps to control the blood glucose levels by increasing insulin secretion by cells in the pancreas. However, the exact method by which GLP-1 causes insulin secretion and how GLP-1 activity is changed in diabetic persons remain unclear. This research is being done to address these questions and better understand the function of GLP-1.

In this research, the investigators will use a synthetic form of Exendin-9 to determine the effects of GLP-1 on insulin secretion in diabetic and non-diabetic persons. Exendin-9 acts as a blocker of GLP-1 action, allowing us to study the specific effects of the GLP-1 hormone. Exendin-9 is an investigational compound, which means it is still being tested in research studies and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In this study, the investigators will also use the drug Sitagliptin, which is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, use of Sitagliptin is considered investigational since it is not being used for treatment of diabetes but is instead being used to understand how GLP-1 works and to better understand how medications like Sitagliptin work in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

DRUG

Active Comparator: Sitagliptin

Subjects will receive sitagliptin prior to the start of the experiment involving 1/2 of the subjects receiving Exendin-9 (a GLP-1 receptor blocker) first over 60 minutes ; followed by a bolus arginine (5g) infusion after 30 minutes into the Ex-9 infusion, with blood draws over the next 30 minutes. Followed by a 60 minute washout and the procedure is repeated , this time with saline instead of Ex-9 (these procedures are reversed - saline first then Ex-9 - half of the time).

DRUG

Placebo Comparator - No Sitagliptin

Subjects will receive Placebo (instead of sitagliptin) prior to the start of the experiment involving 1/2 of the subjects receiving Exendin-9 (a GLP-1 receptor blocker) first over 60 minutes ; followed by a bolus arginine (5g) infusion after 30 minutes into the Ex-9 infusion, with blood draws over the next 30 minutes. Followed by a 60 minute washout and the procedure is repeated , this time with saline instead of Ex-9 (these procedures are reversed - saline first then Ex-9 - half of the time).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• David D'Alessio, M.D.

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-03-01

Primary Completion

2018-03-16

Completion

2018-03-16

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations