Study of the Safety and Efficacy of MK-8521 Compared to Placebo and a Diabetes Drug in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (MK-8521-003)

NCT01982630 · Completed

Last updated 2026-05-28

This clinical trial is testing the safety of the drug MK-8521 compared to a placebo and another diabetes medication in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Status Completed The study has finished.

Phase Phase 1 Checks safety and dosing in a small group.

Type Interventional (clinical trial)

Design Randomized, double-blind treatment study

Participants 87 people

Who can join Ages 18–65 · all sexes Healthy volunteers accepted.

Timeline Started 2013-11 · est. completion 2014-10

What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01982630 ↗

Description as written by the study sponsor.

This study will evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of MK-8521 given once daily compared to placebo and another diabetes drug in participants with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was modified by a protocol amendment to a 2-part trial to further test the safety and tolerability of MK-8521 at higher doses and to compare MK-8521 pharmacokinetics between participants with T2DM and healthy participants. An additional cohort of T2DM participants and a cohort of non-diabetic obese participants has been added.

Treatments tested

MK-8521 Drug
Liraglutide Drug
Placebo Drug

Main thing measured	Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (AEs) in Part 1
Sponsor	Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Conditions studied	Diabetes Mellitus
GLP-1 drugs	—

Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01982630 ↗