A Research Study to Look at How Semaglutide Compared to Placebo Affects Diabetic Eye Disease in People With Type 2 Diabetes (FOCUS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03811561 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : January 22, 2019
Last Update Posted : September 21, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 | Drug: Semaglutide Drug: Placebo (semaglutide) | Phase 3 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 1500 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Sponsor staff involved in the clinical trial is masked according to company standard procedures. |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Long-term Effects of Semaglutide on Diabetic Retinopathy in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes |
Actual Study Start Date : | May 8, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 25, 2026 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | November 7, 2027 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Semaglutide
Participants will receive semaglutide once weekly as subcutaneous (s.c., under the skin) injection added to standard of care.
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Drug: Semaglutide
Participants will get one dose of semaglutide once weekly in addition to their diabetes medicines - which treatment they get is decided by chance. Participants will inject the study medicine using a pre-filled PDS290 pen-injector. The medicine must be injected in a skin fold in the stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week. Participants will start with once-weekly doses of 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then the dose will be gradually increased to 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, and finally to 1.0 mg once weekly (maximum dose) up to 260 weeks (5 years). |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants will receive placebo (semaglutide) once weekly as subcutaneous subcutaneous (s.c., under the skin) injection added to standard of care.
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Drug: Placebo (semaglutide)
Participants will get one dose of placebo (semaglutide) once weekly in addition to their diabetes medicines - which treatment they get is decided by chance. Participants will inject the study medicine using a pre-filled PDS290 pen-injector. The medicine must be injected in a skin fold in the stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week. Participants will start with once-weekly doses of 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then the dose will be gradually increased to 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, and finally to 1.0 mg once weekly (maximum dose) up to 260 weeks (5 years). |
- Presence of at least 3 steps Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subject level progression. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Time from randomisation to first at least 3 steps ETDRS subject level progression or central involved diabetic macular oedema (ciDME) in either eye. [ Time Frame: Up to 5 years ]Measured in months.
- Change in visual acuity in the worse seeing eye. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in number of letters using the ETDRS protocol.
- Change in visual acuity in the better seeing eye. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in number of letters using the ETDRS protocol.
- Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with focal/grid laser photocoagulation. [ Time Frame: Week 0-Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with pan-retinal laser photocoagulation. [ Time Frame: Week 0-Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with intravitreal injection with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). [ Time Frame: Week 0-Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with intravitreal injection with steroid. [ Time Frame: Week 0-Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Occurrence of treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in either eye with vitrectomy. [ Time Frame: Week 0-Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of at least 3 steps ETDRS subject level improvement. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of at least 2 steps ETDRS subject level progression. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of at least 2 steps ETDRS subject level improvement. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of persistent visual acuity up to 38 ETDRS letters in either eye. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of persistent at least 2 lines (10 letters) ETDRS worsening in visual acuity in either eye from baseline. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of persistent at least 3 lines (15 letters) ETDRS worsening in visual acuity in either eye from baseline. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of persistent at least 2 lines (10 letters) ETDRS improvement in visual acuity in either eye from baseline. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Persistent at least 3 lines (15 letters) ETDRS improvement in visual acuity in either eye from baseline. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Presence of ciDME in either eye. [ Time Frame: Year 5 ]Percentage of subjects (yes/no).
- Change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in %-points.
- Change in body weight. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in kg.
- Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in mmHg.
- Change in Lipids: Total-cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides. [ Time Frame: Week 0, Year 5 ]Measured in mmol/L

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female, age greater than or equal to 18 years at the time of signing informed consent
- Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- HbA1c of 7.0-10.0% (53-86 mmol/mol) (both inclusive).
- Eye inclusion criteria (both eyes must meet all criteria):
- Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) level of 10-75 (both inclusive) evaluated by fundus photography and confirmed by central reading centre
- No ocular or intraocular treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema six months prior to the day of screening.
- No anticipated need for ocular or intraocular treatment for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema within three months after randomisation.
- Best-corrected visual acuity greater than or equal to 30 letters using the ETDRS visual acuity protocol
- No previous treatment with pan-retinal laser photocoagulation
- No substantial non-diabetic ocular condition that, in the opinion of the ophthalmologist, would impact diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema progression during the trial
- No substantial media opacities that would preclude successful imaging
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any of the following: myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris or transient ischaemic attack within the past 60 days prior to the day of screening
- Planned coronary, carotid or peripheral artery revascularisation known on the day of screening
- Subjects presently classified as being in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV
- Renal impairment measured as estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) value of eGFR less than 30 ml/min/1.73 m^2
- Personal or first degree relative(s) history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 or medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Presence or history of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to the day of screening. Basal and squamous cell skin cancer and any carcinoma in-situ are allowed
- Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential and not using highly effective contraceptive methods
- Concurrent treatment with any GLP-1 receptor agonist or DPP-4 inhibitor from randomisation.
- Receipt of any investigational medicinal product within 30 days before screening
- Previous participation in this trial. Participation is defined as randomisation
- Known or suspected hypersensitivity to trial products or related products
- Any disorder, which in the investigator's opinion might jeopardise subject's safety or compliance with the protocol

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03811561

Study Director: | Clinical Reporting Anchor and Disclosure (1452) | Novo Nordisk A/S |
Responsible Party: | Novo Nordisk A/S |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03811561 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
NN9535-4352 U1111-1201-6256 ( Other Identifier: World Health Organization (WHO) ) 2017-003619-20 ( Registry Identifier: European Medicines Agency (EudraCT) ) |
First Posted: | January 22, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | September 21, 2023 |
Last Verified: | September 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | According to the Novo Nordisk disclosure commitment on novonordisk-trials.com |
URL: | http://novonordisk-trials.com |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Endocrine System Diseases |