- Corcept Therapeutics (CORT, Financial) identifies hypercortisolism in 24% of patients with difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes during CATALYST trial.
- Prevalence phase involved 1,057 patients across 36 US sites.
- Phase two of CATALYST achieved its primary endpoint of HbA1c reduction with Korlym®.
Corcept Therapeutics (CORT) has published findings from the prevalence phase of their CATALYST trial in the Diabetes Care journal. The study revealed that 24% of patients with difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes exhibited signs of hypercortisolism, or Cushing's syndrome. This prevalence phase represents the largest study of its kind, screening 1,057 patients across 36 U.S. locations.
The trial specifically targeted individuals with hemoglobin A1c levels over 7.5%, who continued to experience issues controlling their diabetes despite multiple glucose-lowering treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. These patients were screened using a standardized 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST).
The subsequent phase of the CATALYST trial—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Corcept's drug Korlym® (mifepristone)—successfully met its primary endpoint, which was the reduction of hemoglobin A1c levels in patients with both hypercortisolism and difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes. Detailed results of this phase will be presented at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions on June 23, 2025.
These findings underscore a significant consideration in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that hypercortisolism may be an underrecognized factor contributing to treatment resistance in a subset of patients. The trial outcomes not only validate a novel therapeutic approach for such individuals but also align with Corcept's mission of leveraging cortisol modulation for treating complex endocrine disorders.
