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Mapping clinical trials for type 2 diabetes remission: GLP-1 drugs emerge as key pharmacological approach

RPEP-135862025Shoung, Nicholas; Carette, Claire; Rassy, Nathalie; Phan, Aurélie; Greenfield, Jerry R; Hu, Frank B; Rives-Lange, Claire; Czernichow, Sébastien
evidence
The takeaway

A systematic mapping of 34 registered clinical trials for T2D remission found 56% used combination therapy (primarily metformin + insulin + GLP-1 agonists), with future trials recommended to focus on GLP-1RAs and GIP analogs.

34 remission trials mapped

GLP-1 agonists are central to over half of registered pharmacological T2D remission trials, signaling a shift toward medication-based diabetes reversal

What the researchers found

34 trials identified; 70.6% non-industry funded; 88.2% targeted T2D diagnosed ≤6 years; 56% used combination therapy (metformin + insulin + GLP-1); 35.3% lacked specific remission criteria. GLP-1RAs and GIP analogs recommended for future trials.

Why it matters

T2D remission was once thought impossible without surgery. Identifying that GLP-1-based pharmacotherapy is central to most remission trials signals a paradigm shift toward medication-induced diabetes reversal.

How the study worked

Systematic search of ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, and EU CTIS (March 2024). Registered as PROSPERO CRD42024511198.

What this study cannot tell us

Mapping study of trial registrations, not outcomes. Many trials ongoing or unpublished. Lack of standardized remission criteria limits comparison. Publication bias possible.

How to read the evidence

Systematic mapping of clinical trial registrations. Provides landscape overview but not outcome data.

When this study was published

Published in 2025; registry search March 2024.

The bigger picture

The concept of T2D remission through drugs rather than surgery is gaining momentum. GLP-1 drugs, with their ability to reduce weight and improve beta-cell function, are at the center of this emerging field.

Questions still open

  • Which GLP-1-based regimen achieves the highest T2D remission rates?
  • How long does pharmacological T2D remission last after treatment discontinuation?
  • Should early T2D treatment aim for remission rather than just control?

Common questions

Can type 2 diabetes be reversed with drugs?
A growing number of clinical trials are testing whether medications—especially GLP-1 drugs combined with other diabetes treatments—can put type 2 diabetes into remission. This means blood sugar returns to normal without needing ongoing medication. Most trials focus on recently diagnosed diabetes (within 6 years).
Why are GLP-1 drugs important for diabetes remission?
GLP-1 drugs both improve insulin-producing beta-cell function and cause significant weight loss—addressing two key drivers of type 2 diabetes. Combined with other medications like metformin, they appear to offer the best pharmacological approach to achieving diabetes remission.

Read the original research

Registered clinical trials targeting type 2 diabetes remission with pharmacological interventions.

Scientific reports, 15(1), 18363

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Shoung, Nicholas; Carette, Claire; Rassy, Nathalie; Phan, Aurélie; Greenfield, Jerry R; Hu, Frank B; Rives-Lange, Claire; Czernichow, Sébastien. (2025). Registered clinical trials targeting type 2 diabetes remission with pharmacological interventions.. Scientific reports, 15(1), 18363. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00080-9