Effect of dulaglutide in promoting abstinence during smoking cessation: 12-month follow-up of a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation is challenging, despite making use of established smoking cessation therapies. Preclinical studies and one clinical pilot study suggest the antidiabetic drug glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue to modulate addictive behaviours and nicotine craving. Previously, we reported the short-term results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Herein we report long-term abstinence rates and weight developments after 24 and 52 weeks.

METHODS: This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial was done at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. We randomly assigned (1:1) individuals with at least a moderate nicotine dependence willing to quit smoking to either a 12-week treatment with dulaglutide 1.5 mg or placebo subcutaneously once weekly in addition to standard of care smoking cessation therapy (varenicline 2 mg/day and behavioural counselling). After 12 weeks, dulaglutide or placebo injections were discontinued and the participants were followed up at week 24 and 52. The primary outcome of self-reported and biochemically confirmed point prevalence abstinence rate, and secondary outcome of secondary outcome of weight change were assessed at weeks 24 and 52. All participants who received one dose of the study drug were included in the intention to treat set and participants who received at least 10/12 doses of the study drug formed the per protocol set. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03204396.

FINDINGS: Of the 255 participants who were randomly assigned between June 22, 2017 and December 3, 2020, 63% (80/127) (dulaglutide group) and 65% (83/128) (placebo group) were abstinent after 12 weeks. These abstinence rates declined to 43% (54/127) and 41% (52/128), respectively, after 24 weeks and to 32% (41/127) and 32% (41/128), respectively, after 52 weeks. Post-cessation weight gain was prevented in the dulaglutide group (-1.0 kg, standard deviation [SD] 2.7) as opposed to the placebo group (+1.9 kg, SD 2.4) after 12 weeks. However, at week 24, increases in weight from baseline were observed in both groups (median, interquartile range [IQR]: dulaglutide: +1.5 kg, [-0.4, 4.1], placebo: +3.0 kg, [0.6, 4.6], baseline-adjusted difference in weight change -1.0 kg (97.5% CI [-2.16, 0.16])), and at week 52 the groups showed similar weight gain (median, IQR: dulaglutide: +2.8 kg [-0.4, 4.7], placebo: +3.1 kg [-0.4, 6.0], baseline-adjusted difference in weight change: -0.35 kg (95% CI [-1.72, 1.01])). In the follow-up period (week 12 to week 52) 51 (51%) and 48 (48%) treatment-unrelated adverse events were recorded in the dulaglutide and the placebo group, respectively. No treatment-related serious adverse events or deaths occurred.

INTERPRETATION: Dulaglutide does not improve long-term smoking abstinence, but has potential to counteract weight gain after quitting. However, 3 months of treatment did not have a sustained beneficial effect on weight at 1 year. As post-cessation weight gain is highest in the first year after quitting smoking, future studies should consider a longer treatment duration with a GLP-1 analogue in abstinent individuals.

FUNDING: Swiss National Science Foundation, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, the Goldschmidt-Jacobson Foundation, the Hemmi-Foundation, the University of Basel, the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences.