Clinical Trial Intelligence

Which Endpoints Are Measured Most Often in European Phase II & III Diabetes Mellitus Trials?

9 July 2026

Across 89 unique European CTIS diabetes mellitus Phase II and Phase III trial protocols, safety and adverse-event measurement is the most common endpoint family, appearing in 49 trials (55.1%). HbA1c and glycaemic-control endpoints follow closely in 44 trials (49.4%), while body weight/BMI/waist endpoints appear in 32 trials (36.0%). Phase II trials are dominated by safety endpoints, whereas Phase III trials shift toward HbA1c, body weight, cardiometabolic risk, and patient-relevant long-term outcomes.

Trials
89
Unique CTIS protocols
Top endpoint family
55.1%
Safety / AE endpoints in 49/89 trials
Top Phase II signal
71.1%
Phase II records with safety / AE endpoints
Top Phase III signal
53.2%
Phase III records with HbA1c / glycaemic-control endpoints

Which endpoint families appear most often overall?

Safety/adverse-event endpoints appear in 49 of 89 trials (55.1%), narrowly ahead of HbA1c/glycaemic-control endpoints in 44 trials (49.4%). Body weight/BMI/waist endpoints appear in 32 trials (36.0%), reflecting the overlap between diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic trial strategies.

Trial-level endpoint-family presence, n=89
Safety / AE / tolerability55.1%
HbA1c / glycaemic control49.4%
Body weight / BMI / waist36.0%
Blood pressure / vital signs34.8%
FPG / glucose tolerance31.5%
CGM / time-in-range / hypoglycaemia29.2%
C-peptide / beta-cell function27.0%
Quality of life / PRO / function24.7%
Lipids / Lp(a)21.3%
Renal / UACR / eGFR16.9%
Endpoint family counted once per unique trial when present in any endpoint tier.
Interpretation

The European diabetes endpoint landscape is not purely glucose-centric. Safety and tolerability lead overall, while HbA1c remains the main metabolic anchor and weight-related endpoints are now frequent enough to form a third major endpoint pillar.

How do endpoint priorities differ by primary, secondary, and exploratory placement?

Safety/adverse events are the most common primary endpoint family, appearing as a primary endpoint in 18 of 89 trials (20.2%). HbA1c and body weight each appear as primary endpoints in 14 trials (15.7%), while HbA1c becomes the leading secondary endpoint family in 39 trials (43.8%). Exploratory/other endpoint fields are rare, appearing in 1 trial (1.1%).

Endpoint family by protocol role
Endpoint family Primary Secondary Exploratory / other
Safety / AE / tolerability18/89
20.2%
37/89
41.6%
0/89
0.0%
HbA1c / glycaemic control14/89
15.7%
39/89
43.8%
1/89
1.1%
Body weight / BMI / waist14/89
15.7%
28/89
31.5%
0/89
0.0%
C-peptide / beta-cell function9/89
10.1%
21/89
23.6%
0/89
0.0%
Diabetic retinopathy / vision9/89
10.1%
9/89
10.1%
0/89
0.0%
FPG / glucose tolerance8/89
9.0%
23/89
25.8%
0/89
0.0%
Primary, secondary, and other/exploratory endpoint-field presence across 89 unique protocols.
Interpretation

Primary endpoints concentrate on safety, HbA1c, weight, beta-cell function, and diabetic eye outcomes. Secondary endpoints carry the broader metabolic burden, especially HbA1c, safety, weight, blood pressure, CGM, fasting glucose, quality of life, and C-peptide.

How do endpoint patterns differ between Phase II and Phase III diabetes trials?

Phase II records are safety-heavy: safety/adverse-event endpoints appear in 32 of 45 Phase II records (71.1%). Phase III records shift toward clinical efficacy and cardiometabolic outcomes: HbA1c appears in 25 of 47 records (53.2%), body weight/BMI/waist in 19 (40.4%), and lipids/Lp(a) in 16 (34.0%).

Top endpoint families by phase
Phase II, n=45
Safety / AE71.1%
HbA1c44.4%
Blood pressure37.8%
FPG / glucose tolerance35.6%
CGM / hypoglycaemia33.3%
Phase III, n=47
HbA1c53.2%
Body weight / BMI40.4%
Safety / AE38.3