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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Effect of Tirzepatide and Bimagrumab on Body Composition, Insulin Sensitivity, and Bone in Adults With Obesity

Effect of Tirzepatide and Bimagrumab on Body Composition, Insulin Sensitivity, and Bone in Adults With Obesity (NCT05933499) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Obesity, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

In adults with obesity seeking treatment, weight loss would ideally be composed almost exclusively of fat mass. However, loss of muscle mass and bone are unintentional consequences of weight loss, which may have negative effects on health by lessening improvements in glucose and insulin levels, reducing resting metabolic rate, and increasing the risk of falls and fractures. Data in animals and humans suggest that bimagrumab, an investigational new drug for obesity that inhibits the activin type II receptor (ActRII) inhibitor, may help maximize loss of fat mass while maintaining muscle mass when used in combination with a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). The investigators hypothesize that in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 63 adults with obesity randomized to tirzepatide (GLP-1/GIP RA) + bimagrumab, tirzepatide alone, or bimagrumab alone, the combination of tirzepatide + bimagrumab will result in improvements in muscle, fat, and bone compared to tirzepatide alone or bimagrumab alone when given in addition to a lifestyle intervention for weight loss over 52 weeks.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Obesity and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA 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 63 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Obesity 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: - BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27kg/m2 with at least one weight-related medical condition - Have a history of at least one self-reported unsuccessful behavioral effort to lose body weight - Have an established primary care provider Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Current or prior history of diabetes mellitus based on self-report, use of diabetes medications, HbA1c ≥6.5%, or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL - Any single serum transaminase level (i.e., ALT, AST, alk phos) ≥3x the upper limit of normal (ULN) - Serum lipase and/or amylase levels ≥2x ULN - Serum bilirubin level \>1.6 mg/dL - Chronic kidney disease (e.g., estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 45 mL/min) - Total WBC \<3000/μL, neutrophils \<1500/μL, hemoglobin \<12 g/dL, or platelet count \<100,000/μL - Significant coagulopathy, e.g., PT/INR \>1.5 - History of familial hypertriglyceridemia or serum fasting triglyceride \>500 mg/dL - Uncontrolled thyroid disease, defined as abnormal TSH with abnormal fT4 - Any chronic active infection (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B or C) or hepatitis C treatment within the previous 6 months - Known history or presence of severe active acute or chronic liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis) or conditions with hepatotoxic potential (e.g., gallbladder or bile duct disease, acute or chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) - Active clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality or chronic use of a drug(s) that directly affect GI motility - History of calcium oxalate kidney stones - History of clinically significant arrhythmias, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention, heart failure, valve disorders or defect, pulmonary hypertension, chronic hypotension (\<100/50), or chronic uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/100) - Tachycardia, defined as heart rate \>100 bpm after 5 minutes resting in a sitting position ...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: * BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27kg/m2 with at least one weight-related medical condition * Have a history of at least one self-reported unsuccessful behavioral effort to lose body weight * Have an established primary care provider Exclusion Criteria: * Current or prior history of diabetes mellitus based on self-report, use of diabetes medications, HbA1c ≥6.5%, or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL * Any single serum transaminase level (i.e., ALT, AST, alk phos) ≥3x the upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum lipase and/or amylase levels ≥2x ULN * Serum bilirubin level \>1.6 mg/dL * Chronic kidney disease (e.g., estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 45 mL/min) * Total WBC \<3000/μL, neutrophils \<1500/μL, hemoglobin \<12 g/dL, or platelet count \<100,000/μL * Significant coagulopathy, e.g., PT/INR \>1.5 * History of familial hypertriglyceridemia or serum fasting triglyceride \>500 mg/dL * Uncontrolled thyroid disease, defined as abnormal TSH with abnormal fT4 * Any chronic active infection (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B or C) or hepatitis C treatment within the previous 6 months * Known history or presence of severe active acute or chronic liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis) or conditions with hepatotoxic potential (e.g., gallbladder or bile duct disease, acute or chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) * Active clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality or chronic use of a drug(s) that directly affect GI motility * History of calcium oxalate kidney stones * History of clinically significant arrhythmias, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention, heart failure, valve disorders or defect, pulmonary hypertension, chronic hypotension (\<100/50), or chronic uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/100) * Tachycardia, defined as heart rate \>100 bpm after 5 minutes resting in a sitting position * History of malignancy of any organ system (other than localized squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin), treated or untreated, within the previous 5 years * Confirmed diagnosis of current, significant psychiatric disease (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder). Individuals with adequately treated depression on stable treatment for at least 3 months are eligible. * Prior history of suicide attempt * PHQ-9 score ≥ 15 at screening * Personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A or 2B or medullary thyroid cancer * Active alcohol, drug, or tobacco abuse. For alcohol, an average weekly alcohol intake that exceeds 14 units per week (males) or 7 units per week (females) \[1 unit = 12 oz or 260 mL of beer; 5 oz or 150 mL of wine; 1.5 oz or 45 mL of distilled spirits\] is exclusionary. * Cannabis/THC use greater than once a week over the past three months and unwilling to abstain from use of cannabis/THC products for the duration of the study * Have obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders (e.g., Cushing syndrome) or diagnosed monogenetic or syndromic forms of obesity (e.g., Melanocortin 4 Receptor deficiency or Prader Willi syndrome) * History of weight loss surgery or planned weight loss surgery during the trial period * Use of any anti-obesity medication, nutritional supplement, or over the counter (OTC) product for weight loss within the previous 6 months or during study participation * Any new dietary intervention or exercise regimen for weight loss started within the previous 3 months * Weight instability of \>5kg within the previous 3 months * Weight \> 150kg due to limitations of radiology imaging machines * Use of medications known or suspected to induce weight gain within the previous 3 months or during study participation (e.g., anti-androgens, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs, some anticonvulsant and psychotropic medications (excluding anti-depressant medication) and oral glucocorticoids) * Use of skeletal muscle anabolic agents within the previous 3 months or during study participation (e.g., hormones such as growth hormone or testosterone, nutritional supplements (other than protein) and over-the-counter products labeled as muscle anabolic agents) * Treatment with glucose-lowering agent(s) within 90 days before screening * History of hypersensitivity to monoclonal antibodies or drugs in the same compound class as the study drugs * History of fragility fracture or BMD T-score ≤ -2.5 in participants \> 50 years old * Use of IV bisphosphonates within the previous 2 years or other osteoporosis medications within the previous 12 months or during study participation * Not able or willing to comply with dietary and lifestyle intervention for weight loss, including history of clinically significant condition that precludes regular walking for exercise or contraindication to following a 500-calorie daily deficit, high protein diet * Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding * Women of child-bearing potential, defined as women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using an intrauterine device (IUD) from at least 3 months before the baseline visit through at least 4 months after the last drug dose and an additional contraceptive (barrier) method from screening through at least 4 months after the last drug dose. Women not of child-bearing potential are defined as individuals who (1) have a congenital anomaly such as Mullerian agenesis, resulting in confirmed infertility, (2) are infertile due to surgical sterilization (defined as documented hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy), or (3) are post-menopausal. The following groups of women are eligible to participate: (a) women who are s/p surgical bilateral oophorectomy or total hysterectomy at least 6 weeks before taking study treatment, (b) women who have an IUD (see additional criteria above), (c) women who are s/p tubal ligation provided that they use an additional barrier form of contraception from screening through at least 4 months after the last drug dose, (d) women who are post-menopausal defined as ≥12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea with appropriate clinical and hormonal profile (e.g., age-appropriate, history of vasomotor symptoms, and/or FSH \>40 IU/L), (e) have a congenital anomaly resulting in confirmed infertility, and (f) do not have a history of sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy (i.e., total abstinence has been and is their preferred lifestyle or same-sex partners only). * For men, morning serum testosterone less than 200 ng/dL * Concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged to be scientifically or medically incompatible with this study * Plans to move out of the study area within 16 months, or be out of the study area for \>4 weeks, continuously * Routine MRI exclusion * Donation or loss of 400 mL or more of blood within past 2 months or plasma donation (\> 250 mL) within past 2 weeks * Major surgery in the trial period * Any disorder, unwillingness, or inability not covered by any of the other exclusion criteria, which in the Investigator's opinion, might jeopardize the subject's safety or compliance with the protocol

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Bimagrumab

SQ bimagrumab 300mg qweek

DRUG

Tirzepatide

SQ tirzepatide 15mg qweek

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Calcium/Vitamin D

Elemental calcium 1200 mg + vitamin D3 800 IU PO daily

BEHAVIORAL

Lifestyle and nutrition counseling

Lifestyle and nutrition counseling consistent with current guidelines for weight management

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.

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05933499), the sponsor (Massachusetts General Hospital), 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 NCT05933499 clinical trial studying?

In adults with obesity seeking treatment, weight loss would ideally be composed almost exclusively of fat mass. However, loss of muscle mass and bone are unintentional consequences of weight loss, which may have negative effects on health by lessening improvements in glucose and insulin levels, reducing resting metabolic rate, and increasing the risk of falls and fractures. Data in animals and humans suggest that bimagrumab, an investigational new drug for obesity that inhibits the activin type II receptor (ActRII) inhibitor, may help maximize loss of fat mass while maintaining muscle mass whe… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05933499?

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 NCT05933499?

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 NCT05933499. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05933499. 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.