Effect of Tirzepatide on Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis Using MDCT

Q: What is the NCT05708859 clinical trial studying?

A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase IV Study evaluating the effects of tirzepatide on atherosclerotic plaque progression assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in participants with a diagnosis of type II Diabetes (T2DM) and atherosclerosis. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Q: Who can participate in NCT05708859?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

Q: How do I contact the trial site for NCT05708859?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Q: Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Q: Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

Effect of Tirzepatide on Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis Using MDCT (NCT05708859) is a Phase 4 interventional studying Type II Diabetes and Atherosclerosis, sponsored by Matthew J. Budoff. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 4 studies happen after a treatment has been approved by the FDA. They monitor long-term safety, real-world effectiveness, and any rare side effects that only emerge in larger populations over longer periods. Phase 4 results sometimes lead to label changes, additional warnings, or — rarely — withdrawal of approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 120 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Type II Diabetes subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Male or female 40 years to 80 years of age at signing of willing to sign a consent form 2. Type 2 DM of minimum 5 years duration with HbA1c ≥7.0% to ≤10.5% 3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m²) 4. Presence of two discrete coronary artery plaques with visual diameter stenosis \>20% on CCTA 5. At the baseline visit, participants must be on a stable (\>4 weeks) regiment of diabetes medications. 6. Patients using oral hormonal contraceptives must switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Have had a major cardiovascular event within the last 60 days 2. Have type 1 diabetes mellitus 3. Current use of GLP1-RA 4. Have a history of severe hypoglycemia and/or hypoglycemia unawareness within the last 6 months 5. Are currently planning treatment for diabetic retinopathy and/or macular edema 6. Have history of, or currently planning a coronary, carotid, or peripheral artery revascularization (ie - stent, bypass) 7. Have a history of pancreatitis 8. Have a history of ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar state/coma 9. Have a known clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality, have undergone or currently planning any gastric outlet obstruction, or have undergone or currently planning any gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery or restrictive bariatric surgery 10. Have a history of an active or untreated malignancy or are in remission from a clinically significant malignancy for less than 5 years 11. Have a family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2) 12. Have had a blood transfusion or severe blood loss within 90 days prior to screening or have known hematological conditions that may interfere with HbA1c measurement 13. Planned or Prior Bypass surgery ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female 40 years to 80 years of age at signing of informed consent 2. Type 2 DM of minimum 5 years duration with HbA1c ≥7.0% to ≤10.5% 3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m²) 4. Presence of two discrete coronary artery plaques with visual diameter stenosis \>20% on CCTA 5. At the baseline visit, participants must be on a stable (\>4 weeks) regiment of diabetes medications. 6. Patients using oral hormonal contraceptives must switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have had a major cardiovascular event within the last 60 days 2. Have type 1 diabetes mellitus 3. Current use of GLP1-RA 4. Have a history of severe hypoglycemia and/or hypoglycemia unawareness within the last 6 months 5. Are currently planning treatment for diabetic retinopathy and/or macular edema 6. Have history of, or currently planning a coronary, carotid, or peripheral artery revascularization (ie - stent, bypass) 7. Have a history of pancreatitis 8. Have a history of ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar state/coma 9. Have a known clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality, have undergone or currently planning any gastric outlet obstruction, or have undergone or currently planning any gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery or restrictive bariatric surgery 10. Have a history of an active or untreated malignancy or are in remission from a clinically significant malignancy for less than 5 years 11. Have a family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2) 12. Have had a blood transfusion or severe blood loss within 90 days prior to screening or have known hematological conditions that may interfere with HbA1c measurement 13. Planned or Prior Bypass surgery 14. Contradiction for CCTA (e.g. serious allergic reaction to the contrast dye) or CCTA not meeting entry standards after two attempts during the Baseline CCTA visit as assessed by the imaging core lab. 15. Uncontrolled severe hypertension: systolic blood pressure \> 180 mmHg or diastolic BP \> 100 mm Hg prior to randomization (assessed at the screening visit) despite antihypertensive therapy 16. Heart Failure NYHA Class III or IV at the screening visit 17. Renal insufficiency (eGFR \<40 ml/min/1.73m2) as measured by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula at the screening visit. 18. Hospitalization for major cardiovascular event including heart failure in the past 2 months

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide 15mg Subcutaneous Solution

DRUG

Placebo

Volume matched Subcutaneous Solution

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor UCLA Medical Center (The Lundquist Institute)

Torrance, California, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05708859), the sponsor (Matthew J. Budoff), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05708859 clinical trial studying?

A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase IV Study evaluating the effects of tirzepatide on atherosclerotic plaque progression assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in participants with a diagnosis of type II Diabetes (T2DM) and atherosclerosis. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05708859?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05708859?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05708859. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05708859. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.