Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide Once-weekly Versus Sitagliptin Once-daily as add-on to Metformin in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN - CHINA MRCT)

NCT03061214 · Completed

Last updated 2026-05-28

This clinical trial tested whether a weekly injection of semaglutide, when added to metformin, lowers blood sugar levels better than a daily sitagliptin pill, also with metformin, in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Status Completed The study has finished.

Phase Phase 3 Confirms effectiveness in a large group before approval.

Type Interventional (clinical trial)

Design Randomized, double-blind treatment study

Participants 868 people

Who can join Ages 18+ · all sexes

Timeline Started 2017-08 · est. completion 2019-04

Where 67 sites · Brazil, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03061214 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

This trial is conducted in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. The aim of the trial is to compare the effect of once-weekly dosing of two dose levels of semaglutide versus sitagliptin 100 mg once-daily on glycaemic control after 30 weeks of treatment. Subjects will remain on their stable pre-trial metformin.

Treatments tested

Semaglutide 0.5 mg Drug

Up to 0.5 mg semaglutide injected subcutaneously (s.c., under the skin) once-weekly (OW) for 30 weeks
Semaglutide 1.0 mg Drug

Up to 1.0 mg semaglutide injected subcutaneously once-weekly for 30 weeks
Sitagliptin placebo Drug

Sitagliptin placebo tablets taken once-daily for 30 weeks
Sitagliptin Drug

100 mg sitagliptin tablets taken once-daily for 30 weeks
Semaglutide placebo 0.5 mg Drug

Semaglutide placebo (0.5 mg) injected subcutaneously once-weekly for 30 weeks
Semaglutide placebo 1.0 mg Drug

Semaglutide placebo (1.0 mg) injected subcutaneously once-weekly for 30 weeks

Main thing measured	Change in HbA1c
Sponsor	Novo Nordisk A/S
Conditions studied	Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
GLP-1 drugs	semaglutide

Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03061214 ↗