ASC30 for Obesity

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Ascletis Pharma (China) Co., Limited

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Autoimmune disease, Pancreatitis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new treatment called ASC30, a potential drug for obesity, to evaluate its safety and effectiveness. Researchers aim to understand how the body absorbs and responds to various doses of ASC30, including the impact of food. The study divides participants into multiple groups, each receiving different doses to determine the most effective and safest amount. Suitable candidates have obesity but no other serious health issues, such as diabetes or a history of pancreatitis. As a Phase 1 trial, participants will be among the first to receive this treatment, aiding researchers in understanding its effects on people.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since the trial excludes participants with certain health conditions, it's possible that some medications might not be allowed. Please consult with the trial coordinator for more details.

Is there any evidence suggesting that ASC30 is likely to be safe for humans?

Research shows that ASC30 is currently being tested for safety in a phase 1 trial, marking the early stages of understanding its safety profile. In phase 1, researchers focus on how well people tolerate the drug and monitor for any side effects. Although specific data on ASC30's safety from past studies is not available, testing it in humans suggests initial confidence in its safety.

Phase 1 trials are usually small and aim to find the safest dose of a new drug. For ASC30, researchers are looking for any serious side effects and hoping participants respond well to the treatment. This phase ensures the drug does not cause harm before advancing to larger studies.

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for obesity?

Unlike the standard treatments for obesity, which often include lifestyle changes, medications like orlistat, or even surgical interventions, ASC30 offers a novel approach. Researchers are excited about ASC30 because it introduces a new mechanism of action, potentially targeting metabolic pathways in a unique way that existing treatments do not. This could mean improved effectiveness or reduced side effects compared to current medications. Additionally, ASC30 might be delivered differently, possibly providing more convenience or better adherence for patients. This innovative approach is generating interest as it could significantly enhance obesity management.

What evidence suggests that ASC30 might be an effective treatment for obesity?

Research has shown that ASC30 may help people with obesity lose weight. In earlier studies, participants who took ASC30 as a daily pill lost 6.5% of their body weight in just four weeks, compared to those who took a placebo. This indicates that ASC30 users lost more weight than those who did not. ASC30 mimics a natural hormone that helps control appetite and food intake. Early results are promising and suggest ASC30 could effectively manage obesity. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with obesity who are interested in testing a new treatment. Participants must meet certain health criteria to join, but specific inclusion and exclusion details aren't provided here.

Inclusion Criteria

Have provided informed consent before initiation of any study-specific procedures

No clinically significant findings from medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, vital signs measurements, and other screening procedures

I am between 18 and 65 years old and do not smoke.

Exclusion Criteria

Have a history of any other condition (such as known drug or alcohol abuse, diagnosed eating disorder, or other psychiatric disorder) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may preclude the participant from following and completing the protocol

I have a history of pancreatitis.

Participants with a known clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Single Ascending Dose (SAD) Treatment

Participants receive single ascending doses of ASC30 to evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics

8 days

Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) Treatment

Participants receive multiple ascending doses of ASC30 to evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics

28 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ASC30

Trial Overview The study is testing ASC30 Tablets against a placebo (a pill without the active drug) to see if they're safe and how they affect the body. It's an early-stage trial where some people get the real medicine and others get the placebo by chance.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SAD Cohort 5 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

SAD dose 5

Group II: SAD Cohort 4 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

SAD dose 4

Group III: SAD Cohort 3 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

SAD dose 3

Group IV: SAD Cohort 2 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

SAD dose 2

Group V: SAD Cohort 1 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

SAD dose 1

Group VI: MAD Cohort 3 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

MAD dose 3

Group VII: MAD Cohort 2 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

MAD dose 2

Group VIII: MAD Cohort 1 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

MAD dose 1

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ascletis Pharma (China) Co., Limited

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3

Recruited

180+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Implementing an optimal care path (OCP) for patients undergoing gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding led to a significant reduction in hospital stay length from 6.5 days to 5.4 days, which is a 16.9% decrease.

The use of OCP also resulted in a 17.6% reduction in average total charges, amounting to $2,683, while improving communication and collaboration among healthcare team members, indicating that quality of care was maintained or improved alongside cost savings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meeting the challenge of managed care through clinical pathways for bariatric surgery. Rouse, AD., Tripp, BL., Shipley, S., et al.[2007]

In a study of 262 obese individuals and 138 controls, no strong associations were found between specific genetic polymorphisms (LEPR, B3-AR, 5-HTT, and IRS-1) and obesity, suggesting these genes may not be major contributors to obesity risk.

However, weak but significant associations were noted for the HTT and LEPR loci, indicating that these genetic factors might have a minor influence on body mass index (BMI) status.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

LEPR, ADBR3, IRS-1 and 5-HTT genes polymorphisms do not associate with obesity. Mergen, H., Karaaslan, C., Mergen, M., et al.[2022]

In a study of 46 women, higher levels of ZFP36 gene expression in omental adipose tissue were linked to lower fasting insulin levels and reduced insulin resistance, suggesting a protective role against diabetes.

ZFP36 expression was positively correlated with higher levels of adiponectin, a hormone that helps regulate glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown, indicating its potential importance in metabolic health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Visceral adipose tissue zinc finger protein 36 mRNA levels are correlated with insulin, insulin resistance index, and adiponectinemia in women. Bouchard, L., Vohl, MC., Deshaies, Y., et al.[2016]

In a study of over 14,000 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, the FTO rs9939609 A allele was linked to a higher risk of diabetes and obesity in white individuals, indicating a strong genetic influence on these conditions.

In contrast, among African-Americans, the FTO rs1421085 C allele was associated with increased obesity risk but surprisingly showed a protective effect against diabetes, highlighting the complex and race-dependent nature of genetic factors influencing these health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity is differentially associated with variation in FTO in whites and African-Americans in the ARIC study. Bressler, J., Kao, WH., Pankow, JS., et al.[2022]

Primary care providers face significant barriers in managing obesity, categorized into three main themes: obstacles related to the providers themselves, organizational challenges, and perceptions of patient-related issues.

The study highlights that obesity management is currently ineffective in primary care settings, indicating a need for targeted strategies to overcome these identified obstacles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Primary Care Providers Toward Obesity Management: A Qualitative Study. Bornhoeft, K.[2018]

In a study involving 556 individuals undergoing an 8-week low-calorie diet, the gene GDF15 was found to be upregulated during weight loss, indicating its potential role in the body's response to calorie restriction.

The research highlighted that GDF15 is expressed in anti-inflammatory macrophages and preadipocytes, suggesting it may play a significant role in mediating inflammation and metabolic changes associated with weight loss.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Network Analyses Reveal Negative Link Between Changes in Adipose Tissue GDF15 and BMI During Dietary-induced Weight Loss. Imbert, A., Vialaneix, N., Marquis, J., et al.[2022]

A 12-month intervention at an Australian hospital significantly improved the accuracy of obesity data recording, leading to better measurement of patient BMI through enhanced staff education and the use of tools like tape measures.

The intervention resulted in increased sensitivity and reduced false negatives in obesity data, highlighting the importance of accurate obesity recording for managing healthcare risks associated with rising obesity rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Clinical Practice Intervention in Increasing Obesity Data Recording at a Western Australian Country Health Service Hospital: A Quasi-Experimental Controlled Trial. McClean, K., Cross, M., Reed, S.[2022]

In a study of 36 obese individuals who completed a 12-month weight loss program, those receiving 18 months of dietary and psychological support maintained significantly greater weight loss compared to those who received no additional care, with an average weight change of -3.83 kg versus +2.48 kg.

The findings suggest that post-therapeutic support, including cognitive behavioral therapy and nutritional education, can enhance long-term weight maintenance, even for individuals with genetic predispositions to obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Long-Term Dietitian and Psychological Support of Obese Patients Who Have Reduced Their Weight Allows Them to Maintain the Effects. Iłowiecka, K., Glibowski, P., Skrzypek, M., et al.[2021]

Successful treatment of obesity should not only focus on weight loss but also consider other measures like body mass index, body fat percentage, and improvements in obesity-related health complications such as diabetes and hypertension.

As obesity is a chronic disease, maintaining weight loss is crucial, and treatment success should be defined with varying criteria for minimal, intermediate, and full success based on individual responses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proposed standards for judging the success of the treatment of obesity. Atkinson, RL.[2019]

Obesity is a growing epidemic, particularly among children and adolescents, with significant associations to serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and increased mortality rates.

Weight loss can lead to a substantial reduction in the risk of obesity-related comorbidities, highlighting the importance of identifying these conditions for better patient management and intervention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The medical risks of obesity. Pi-Sunyer, X.[2022]

Only 59.9% of patients with obesity recognized their weight as obese, highlighting a significant gap in self-perception that could hinder treatment efforts.

Physician documentation of obesity was low overall, with only 42.4% of patients having their obesity documented in the past year, indicating a need for better recognition and communication between patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient perception of obesity versus physician documentation of obesity: A quality improvement study. Mawardi, G., Kirkland, EB., Zhang, J., et al.[2019]

Obesity affects over 25% of the global population and is linked to serious health risks such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fertility issues.

Research has identified over 150 genetic loci associated with obesity traits, emphasizing the importance of adipose tissue and the central nervous system in understanding obesity's biological mechanisms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The genetic underpinnings of body fat distribution. Pulit, SL., Laber, S., Glastonbury, CA., et al.[2019]

Approximately 97 million adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, significantly increasing their risk for serious health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers.

Obesity not only raises the risk of physical health problems but also contributes to social stigmatization and discrimination, highlighting its impact as a major public health challenge.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Executive summary of the clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. [2022]

ICD-9 codes for obesity were significantly underutilized, with less than 10% of patients classified as overweight or obese receiving the appropriate coding, despite over 70% of the sample falling into these categories.

Patients with extreme obesity (BMI >40 kg/m) were more likely to have an ICD-9 code compared to those with a BMI between 25 and 40 kg/m, highlighting a need for improved coding practices to better identify obesity as a comorbidity and manage associated health risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are International Classification of Diseases Codes in Electronic Health Records Useful in Identifying Obesity as a Risk Factor When Evaluating Surgical Outcomes? Goode, V., Rovnyak, V., Hinton, I., et al.[2019]

A total of 388 patient safety incidents related to obesity were analyzed, revealing that most incidents were linked to infrastructure issues, indicating a lack of adequate care provisions for obese patients in hospitals.

While most incidents resulted in no or low harm, the report highlighted three deaths associated with anaesthesia, underscoring the critical need for improved safety measures and training for healthcare providers managing obese patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient safety incidents associated with obesity: a review of reports to the National Patient Safety Agency and recommendations for hospital practice. Booth, CM., Moore, CE., Eddleston, J., et al.[2016]

Citations

1. clinicaltrialsarena.com clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/ascletis-asc30-phase-iia/

Ascletis begins dosing in Phase IIa trial of ASC30 for obesity In April 2025, Ascletis reported early weight loss results from a Phase Ib trial of ASC30. Email newsletter icon. Sign up for our daily news ...

2. prnewswire.com prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ascletis-presents-full-analysis-of-phase-ib-study-of-asc30-oral-tablet-phase-ib-study-of-asc30-injection-and-preclinical-study-of-combination-of-asc31-and-asc47-at-obesityweek-2025-302603853.html

Ascletis Presents Full Analysis of Phase Ib Study of ASC30 ... Positive data from Phase Ib study of ASC30 oral tablet demonstrated up to 6.5% placebo-adjusted mean body weight reduction; safe and well ...

3. biospace.com biospace.com/press-releases/ascletis-presented-results-from-cohorts-1-and-2-of-28-day-multiple-ascending-dose-study-of-its-oral-small-molecule-glp-1r-agonist-asc30-at-the-61st-european-association-for-the-study-of-diabetes-easd-annual-meeting

Ascletis Presented Results from Cohorts 1 and 2 of 28-day ... ASC30 once-daily oral tablet demonstrated up to 6.5% placebo-adjusted mean body weight reduction from baseline after 28-day treatment.

4. ascletis.com ascletis.com/news_detail/192/id/1138/L/EN-US

Ascletis Pharma Inc. ASC30 oral tablet demonstrated superior PK properties (including a longer t1/2 and higher AUC) to other small molecule oral GLP-1 receptor (GLP- ...

5. prnewswire.com prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascletis-announces-positive-topline-results-of-us-phase-ib-multiple-ascending-dose-study-of-small-molecule-oral-glp-1r-agonist-asc30-and-submission-of-13-week-phase-iia-study-protocol-to-fda-302434655.html

Ascletis Announces Positive Topline Results of U.S. Phase ... ASC30 oral once-daily tablet demonstrated a 6.5% placebo-adjusted mean body weight reduction from baseline after four-week treatment using ...