Blood glucose management in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains a challenge, with only ~30% of adults within the recommended consensus guidelines. Novel drugs like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1RAs have emerged as promising add-ons to insulin in T1D.

This application has been designed to test in a prospective study whether adding a new medicine called tirzepatide (GIP/GLP-1RA) to the usual insulin therapy would make a difference for people with T1D in terms of better glucose control.

Glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains a challenge, with ~30% of adults achieving an A1c target of 7%. The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1RAs have emerged as a promising therapy in T1D. Retrospective studies have shown patients with T1D can significantly improve glycemic control with a reduction in insulin dose and body weight when long-acting GLP-1RAs or GIP/GLP-1RAs are added to insulin therapy. However, randomized controlled trials (RCT) are still lacking.

This is a prospective, randomized, open-label design. The investigators will enroll 42 participants over 18 years of age with confirmed T1D diagnosis ≥6 months, currently on automatic insulin delivery (AID) therapy for at least three months, with A1C ≥6.5% and ≤10%and BMI ≥23 kg/m2. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either tirzepatide 5.0 mg or continue with the Standard of Care (SoC) for 12 weeks (after a titration phase with the lowest dose of 2.5 mg). The primary endpoint is continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) percent time spent between 3.9 and 10.0 mmol/L (TIR) from baseline to follow-up after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints include the change in 24/7 CGM percent time >10.0 mmol/L, 24/7 CGM percent time >13.9 mmol/L, 24/7 CGM percent time <3.9 mmol/L, 24/7 CGM percent time <3.0 mmol/L and the change in body mass index (BMI).

This is the first prospective study to investigate the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide (GIP/GLP1-RAs) as an adjuvant therapy to AID. This study may contribute unique data to significantly improving glucose outcomes, reducing the T1D burden, improving the quality of life, and re-directing attention to further treatment in T1D beyond insulin therapies.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants with diagnosed T1D for at least 12 months.
2. Aged between 18 to 65 years old (inclusive).
3. Currently on AID therapy for at least three months.
4. HbA1C higher or equal to 6.5% and less or equal to 10%.
5. BMI ≥23 kg/m2.
6. Willing to use once-weekly tirzepatide for at least 16 weeks (including four weeks of up-titration and 12 weeks of treatment)
7. Willing to wear a Dexcom G7 Sensor and share devices (AID) data uploads.
8. Willingness not to start any new non-insulin glucose-lowering agent during the trial (including metformin/biguanides, pramlintide, DPP-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors [SGLT2 inhibitors], and nutraceuticals).
9. A stable weight (± 5%) in the last 90 days or more before the screening and agree to not initiate a diet and/or exercise program during the study to reduce body weight other than the lifestyle and dietary measures for diabetes treatment.
10. Females with childbearing potential and males (if apply) must be willing to use reliable contraceptive methods (for the contraceptives study guidelines. See Annex 7 of the protocol)
11. An understanding and willingness to follow the protocol and signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of diabetic ketoacidosis requiring hospitalization in the past six months.
2. History of severe hypoglycemic event (Level 3, defined as seizure or loss of consciousness) in the past six months.
3. Uncontrolled Diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy
4. Severe gastroparesis.
5. Less than 12 months of insulin treatment.
6. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lab value below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 by the CKD-EPI formula(99).
7. Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the trial (See annex 7).
8. Currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
9. Currently uncontrolled seizure disorder.
10. History of allergy to GIP/GLP-1RAs or its excipients.
11. Personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN-2) or medullary thyroid carcinoma.
12. Screening calcitonin above or equal to 35 ng/L.
13. Planned any surgery during the study duration.
14. Have uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP above or equal to 160 mmHg and/or diastolic BP above or equal to 100 mmHg). If a participant is on anti-hypertensive therapies, doses must be stable for 30 days before screening. For participants with uncontrolled hypertension at the screening visit, antihypertensive medication may be started or adjusted.
15. Personal history of one of the following cardiovascular conditions (within two months before the screening): acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), unstable angina, or hospitalization due to congestive heart failure (CHF).
16. Conditions that may increase the risk of induced hypoglycemia, such as CHF with NYHA Functional Classification III or IV or adrenal insufficiency.
17. Have a history of documented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
18. Have an uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia based on an electrocardiogram (ECG) at the screening time and the investigator's discretion.
19. Cystic fibrosis.
20. Patient with a history of gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, or restrictive bariatric surgery, such as Lap-Band® or gastric banding.
21. Uncontrolled thyroid disease as judged by the investigator
22. Serum triglycerides higher than 5.7 mmol/L (500 mg/dL) at the screening. If a participant is on lipid-lowering therapies, doses must be stable for 30 days before screening.
23. Personal history of acute or chronic pancreatitis. A participant with a history of acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones may be included in the study if the participant has had a cholecystectomy to resolve the problem.
24. Acute or chronic hepatitis other than MASLD.
25. Have a history of symptomatic gallbladder disease within the past two years (unless the participant has had a cholecystectomy to resolve the problem).
26. History of malignancy requiring chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation (other than basal or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ carcinomas of the cervix, or in situ prostate cancer) in the previous five years.
27. Active or unstable major depressive disorder (MDD) or other severe psychiatric disorder (such as known drug or alcohol abuse, diagnosed eating disorder, or any other uncontrolled psychiatric disorder) that, in the investigator's opinion, may preclude the participant from following and completing the protocol.
28. Treatment with non-insulin glucose-lowering agents other than metformin (on a stable dose 30 days before the study)
29. Weight loss medications in the past three months.
30. Participants who are anticipated to receive, are receiving, or have received within three months before the screening (more than two weeks and more or equal to 10mg prednisolone-equivalent) chronic systemic glucocorticoid therapy (excluding topical, intraocular, intranasal, single intraarticular injection, or inhaled preparations).
31. Have current treatment with (or history of, within three months before screening) medications that may significantly affect glucose metabolism.
32. Use of investigational drugs within five half-lives before screening.
33. Participation in another study with an investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study.
34. Current enrollment in another clinical trial unless approved by the investigator of both studies and if the clinical trial is a non-interventional registry trial.
35. Have evidence of a significant active, uncontrolled medical condition or a history of any medical problem capable of constituting a risk when using the study devices or interfering with following study procedures or the interpretation of data, as judged by the study physician at screening.
36. The enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees, and other dependent persons.