N Engl J Med
EASD 2024: Promising results for liraglutide in childhood obesity treatment
Liraglutide treatment for one year in combination with lifestyle interventions resulted in a greater reduction in BMI than placebo plus lifestyle interventions in young children with obesity.
- In the phase 3a SCALE Kids trial, 82 children (6 to <12 years of age) with obesity were randomly assigned to receive either once-daily SC liraglutide at 3.0 mg or the maximum tolerated dose plus lifestyle interventions (n=56) or lifestyle interventions alone (n=26) for one year with a 26-week follow-up period. Primary end point was the percentage change in BMI; confirmatory secondary end points were the percentage change in body weight and a reduction in BMI of at least 5%.
- At week 56, mean percentage change from baseline BMI in children treated with liraglutide was compared with a 1.6% increase in those in the lifestyle intervention group. The average body weight change in children treated with liraglutide was 1.6% vs. 10% in placebo group. A reduction in BMI of ≥5% occurred in 46% of participants in the liraglutide group and in 9% of participants in the placebo group.
- Adverse events occurred in 89% and 88% of participants in the liraglutide and placebo groups, respectively. GI adverse events were more common in the liraglutide group (80% vs. 54%); serious adverse events were reported in 12% and 8% of participants in the liraglutide and placebo groups, respectively.
Source:
Fox CK, et al; SCALE Kids Trial Group. (2024, September 10). N Engl J Med. Liraglutide for Children 6 to <12 Years of Age with Obesity - A Randomized Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39258838/