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LEADER®

CompletedPhase 3Results posted

Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results

A Long-term, Multi-centre, International, Randomised Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Determine Liraglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Events

Lead sponsor

Novo Nordisk A/S

Asset

Liraglutide

Subcutaneous · GLP-1 agonist

Listed sites

428

Recruiting sites

Enrollment

9,341

actual

Study population

Cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes

Key I/E criterion

Primary endpoint

3-point MACE (Cardiovascular death, Non-fatal MI, Non-fatal stroke)

Footprint

Where this trial recruits

Site locations as reported to ClinicalTrials.gov. Site count is not enrollment count; per-site enrollment is not available from source.

Identifiers

Registered as

NCT IDNCT01179048
Org study IDEX2211-3748
Secondary ID2009-012201-19
Secondary IDCTR20130003CFDA
Secondary IDU1111-1113-7090WHO

Timeline

Milestones

Study first posted2010-08-10estimated
Study start2010-08-31actual
Primary completion2015-12-17actual
Study completion2015-12-17actual
Results first posted2017-03-01actual
Last update posted2019-07-17actual

Assets

Investigational agents

Study populations

Who this study enrolls

Cardiovascular diseaseType 2 diabetes

Eligibility

Who can enroll

Minimum age50 Years
SexAll
Healthy volunteersNot accepted

Eligibility criteria

Type 2 diabetes - Age min. 50 years at screening and concomitant cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease or chronic renal failure or chronic heart failure OR age min. 60 years at screening and other specified risk factors of cardiovascular disease - HbA1c: 7.0% or above - Anti-diabetic drug naive or treated with one or more oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) or treated with human NPH insulin or long-acting insulin analogue or premixed insulin, alone or in combination with OAD(s) Exclusion Criteria: - Type 1 diabetes - Use of a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exenatide, liraglutide or other) or pramlintide or any dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor within the 3 months prior to screening (trial start) - Use of insulin other than human NPH insulin or long-acting insulin analogue or premixed insulin within 3 months prior to screening. Short-term use of other insulin during this period in connection with intercurrent illness is allowed, at Investigator's discretion

Endpoints (12)

What's being measured

Protocol endpoints and posted registry outcome measures, grouped into outcome categories. Composite endpoints show their component event types. Standard codes (LOINC, SNOMED CT) are shown where available.

Coverage by outcome category

Cardiovascular outcomes
8
Renal / kidney
2
Other clinical outcomes
2

Cardiovascular outcomes

8 endpoints
Primary/registry result

Time From Randomisation to First Occurrence of Cardiovascular Death, Non-fatal Myocardial Infarction, or Non-fatal Stroke (a Composite Cardiovascular Outcome)

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

3-point MACE

time to event, event

componentsCardiovascular death, Non-fatal MI, Non-fatal stroke

Posted result

GroupValue (number), percentage of subjects95% CI
Liraglutide13.0
Placebo14.9
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.86895% CI0.7780.968p<0.001Regression, Cox
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.86895% CI0.7780.968p0.005Regression, Cox
Primary/protocol endpoint

Time From Randomisation to First Occurrence of Cardiovascular Death, Non-fatal Myocardial Infarction, or Non-fatal Stroke (a Composite Cardiovascular Outcome)

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

3-point MACE

time to event, event

componentsCardiovascular death, Non-fatal MI, Non-fatal stroke

Secondary/registry result

Time From Rand. to First Occurrence of an Expanded Composite Cardiovascular Outcome Defined as Either Cardiovascular Death, Non-fatal Myocardial Infarction, Non-fatal Stroke, Revascularisation, Hospitalisation for Unstable Angina or for Heart Failure.

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

Expanded / custom MACE composite

time to event, event

componentsCardiovascular death, Non-fatal MI, Non-fatal stroke, Coronary revascularization, Unstable angina hospitalization, Heart-failure hospitalization

Posted result

GroupValue (number), percentage of subjects95% CI
Liraglutide20.3
Placebo22.7
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.88195% CI0.8070.962Regression, Cox
Secondary/registry result

Time From Randomisation to All Cause Death

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

All-cause death

time to event, event

SNOMED 419620001

Posted result

GroupValue (number), percentage of subjects95% CI
Liraglutide8.2
Placebo9.6
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.84795% CI0.7390.971Regression, Cox
Secondary/registry result

Time From Randomisation to Each Individual Component of the Expanded Composite Cardiovascular Outcome

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

Expanded / custom MACE composite

time to event, event

Posted result

GroupValue (number), percentage of subjects95% CI
LiraglutideCardiovascular death4.7
Non-fatal stroke3.4
Non-fatal myocardial infarction6.0
Unstable angina pectoris (hospitalisation)2.6
Coronary revascularisation8.7
Heart failure (hospitalisation)4.7
PlaceboCardiovascular death6.0
Non-fatal stroke3.8
Non-fatal myocardial infarction6.8
Unstable angina pectoris (hospitalisation)2.7
Coronary revascularisation9.4
Heart failure (hospitalisation)5.3
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.78395% CI0.6560.934Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing cardiovascular death was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.89495% CI0.7211.107Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing non-fatal stroke was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.87895% CI0.7471.031Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing non-fatal myocardial infarction was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.98095% CI0.7631.258Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing hospitalisation for unstable angina pectoris was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.91295% CI0.7971.044Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing coronary revascularisation was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.87295% CI0.7271.046Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing hospitalisation for heart failure was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor

Secondary/protocol endpoint

Time From Rand. to First Occurrence of an Expanded Composite Cardiovascular Outcome Defined as Either Cardiovascular Death, Non-fatal Myocardial Infarction, Non-fatal Stroke, Revascularisation, Hospitalisation for Unstable Angina or for Heart Failure.

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

Expanded / custom MACE composite

time to event, event

componentsCardiovascular death, Non-fatal MI, Non-fatal stroke, Coronary revascularization, Unstable angina hospitalization, Heart-failure hospitalization

Secondary/protocol endpoint

Time From Randomisation to All Cause Death

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

All-cause death

time to event, event

SNOMED 419620001

Secondary/protocol endpoint/low confidence

Time From Randomisation to Each Individual Component of the Expanded Composite Cardiovascular Outcome

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

time to event, event

Renal / kidney

2 endpoints
Secondary/registry result/low confidence

Time From Randomisation to First Occurrence of a Composite Microvascular Outcome

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

Custom renal composite

time to event, event

componentsuACR, change, eGFR, change, Kidney-replacement therapy, Renal death, other clinical outcomes retinopathy procedure or event

Posted result

GroupValue (number), Percentage of subjects95% CI
Liraglutide7.6
Placebo8.9
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.84195% CI0.7300.969Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing a first microvascular event was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Secondary/registry result/low confidence

Time From Randomisation to Each Individual Component of the Composite Microvascular Outcome and to the Retinopathy and Nephropathy Composite Outcomes Separately.

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

time to event, event

Posted result

GroupValue (number), Percentage of subjects95% CI
LiraglutideNephropathy composite5.7
New onset of persistent macroalbuminuria3.4
Persistent doubling of serum creatinine1.9
Need for continuous renal-replacement therapy1.2
Death due to renal disease0.2
Retinopathy composite2.3
Treatment with photocoagulation/intravitreal agent2.1
Development of diabetes-related blindness0.0
Vitreous haemorrhage0.7
PlaceboNephropathy composite7.2
New onset of persistent macroalbuminuria4.6
Persistent doubling of serum creatinine2.1
Need for continuous renal-replacement therapy1.4
Death due to renal disease0.1
Retinopathy composite2.0
Treatment with photocoagulation/intravitreal agent1.8
Development of diabetes-related blindness0.02
Vitreous haemorrhage0.5
Hazard Ratio (HR)0.78295% CI0.6660.918Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing a composite nephropathy event was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.73895% CI0.6020.905Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing a new onset of persistant macroalbuminaria event was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.89095% CI0.6671.189Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing persistent doubling of serum creatinine was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.86995% CI0.6071.244Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing a need for continuous renal-replacement therapy was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)1.59395% CI0.5214.869Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing death due to renal disease was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)1.14995% CI0.8691.519Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing composite retinopathy was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)1.15995% CI0.8691.546Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing treatment with photocoagulation or intravitreal agents was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)0.33595% CI0.00430.847Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing development of diabetes-related blindness was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Hazard Ratio (HR)1.45495% CI0.8452.502Regression, Cox

Analysis for percentage of subjects experiencing vitreous haemorrhage was done by Cox regression model with treatment as fixed factor.

Other clinical outcomes

2 endpoints
Secondary/protocol endpoint/low confidence

Time From Randomisation to First Occurrence of a Composite Microvascular Outcome

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

time to event, event

componentsuACR, change, Custom renal composite, Kidney-replacement therapy, Renal death, other clinical outcomes retinopathy procedure, other clinical outcomes vitreous hemorrhage, other clinical outcomes diabetes related blindness

Secondary/protocol endpoint/low confidence

Time From Randomisation to Each Individual Component of the Composite Microvascular Outcome and to the Retinopathy and Nephropathy Composite Outcomes Separately.

Time frame:from randomisation (visit 3; month 0) to last contact (visit 16; up to month 60+30 days)

time to event, event

Publications (42)

Bibliography

Records linked to this trial through ClinicalTrials.gov references, PubMed NCT search, and curated study seeds. 'Canonical' marks design/result papers; others are registry references or candidates.

Registry references + supporting bibliography

Provenance

Sources

Trial identity, design, statusClinicalTrials.gov API v2
Snapshot dateJuly 1, 2026
Endpoint classificationDelfa endpoint taxonomy v2 (May 13, 2026)
Results tableClinicalTrials.gov results section

Trial facts come from public ClinicalTrials.gov records. Endpoint categories are Delfa's classification of those records, not a ClinicalTrials.gov field. All figures reflect the July 1, 2026 snapshot.