HEC-007 injection safety and dosing in healthy and overweight or obese adults

A Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase I Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of HEC-007 Injection After Single-Dose Administration in Healthy Subjects and Multiple-Dose Administration in Overweight or Obese Subjects

This trial will test whether single and repeated doses of HEC-007 injection are safe and how the body processes them in healthy adults and people who are overweight or obese.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 126 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd. (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Hefei, Anhui)
• Trial ID: NCT07102251 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation Phase 1 trial will collect safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic data for HEC-007 injection. Part A is a single ascending dose (SAD) arm enrolling about 54 healthy Chinese adults who will receive single doses, while Part B is a multiple ascending dose (MAD) arm enrolling about 72 Chinese adults who are overweight or obese and will receive repeated dosing. Participants will be randomized to HEC-007 or placebo and monitored with vital signs, laboratory tests, ECG, and imaging as specified in the protocol. Safety and PK/PD results will guide dose selection for any future clinical development.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–45 who meet the study's weight and BMI limits—healthy individuals for the single-dose part and overweight or obese individuals for the multiple-dose part—who can comply with study procedures and contraception requirements.

Not a fit: People outside the 18–45 age range, those with significant medical conditions, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those unwilling to follow contraception or attend the Hefei site are unlikely to receive benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could define safe dose ranges and dosing schedules for HEC-007, enabling later trials to test whether it provides clinical benefits.

How similar studies have performed: Phase 1 dose-escalation trials are a standard initial step and have successfully characterized safety and PK/PD for many drugs, but HEC-007 appears to be a novel agent without widely published prior clinical results.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

SAD

1. Subjects understand and comply with the study procedures, voluntarily participate, and sign the informed consent form.
2. Healthy adult subjects (including borderline values) aged 18 to 45 years, regardless of sex.
3. Male subjects weigh no less than 50 kg, and female subjects weigh no less than 45 kg. BMI =Body weight (kg)/height2 (m2), with a body mass index ranging from 19.0 to 35.0 kg/m2 (including boundary values).
4. Normal results or abnormalities deemed clinically insignificant by the investigator in vital signs, physical examination, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, chest CT, abdominal ultrasound (liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and both kidneys), and thyroid ultrasound.
5. Female subjects of childbearing potential or male subjects must agree to use effective contraception from signing the informed consent until 6 months after the last administration of the investigational product to avoid pregnancy or impregnating a partner, with no plans for sperm or egg donation or pregnancy.
6. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) \<5.7% during the screening period. MAD

1\. Subjects understand and comply with the study procedures, voluntarily participate, and sign the informed consent form.

2\. Age between 18 to 65 years (inclusive), both male and female. 3. Obesity: BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2; or overweight: 24.0 \<BMI \<28.0 kg/m2, and with at least one of the following manifestations: prediabetes (as detailed in 14.4), hypertension, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, weight-bearing joint pain, obesity-related dyspnea, or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

4\. At screening, weight change of \< 5% over at least 12 weeks of diet and exercise control alone.

5\. Female subjects of childbearing potential or male subjects must agree to use effective contraceptionfrom signing the informed consent until 6 months after the last administration of the investigational product to avoid pregnancy or impregnating a partner, with no plans for sperm or egg donation or pregnancy.

6\. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) \<6.5% during the screening period.

Exclusion Criteria:

SAD

1. Those diagnosed with type 1, type 2, or other types of diabetes before screening;
2. History or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), thyroid C-cell hyperplasia, or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) during screening, or genetic predisposition to MTC;
3. Acute, chronic, or suspected pancreatitis during screening, or prior pancreatectomy;
4. Those diagnosed with any malignancy within 5 years before screening (except for basal cell carcinoma treated curatively and considered cured);
5. Presence of clinically significant diseases (including but not limited to gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, neurological, hematological, endocrine, oncological, pulmonary, immunological, psychiatric, or cardiovascular disorders) during screening;
6. Diseases or conditions affecting gastric emptying or gastrointestinal nutrient absorption during screening;
7. Major surgery within 3 months before screening or planned surgery during the study;
8. History of hypersensitivity to the investigational product or any of its components, or allergic constitution (allergy to two or more drugs or foods).
9. Use of medications (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbal medicines, health supplements, etc.) within 3 months prior to screening that, in the investigator's judgment, significantly affect weight or glucose metabolism;
10. Individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery prior to screening;
11. Those with a history of recurrent skin disorders (e.g., urticaria) or skin lesions at the administration site;
12. Those who received chronic (lasting more than 2 weeks) systemic glucocorticoid therapy (excluding topical, intraocular, intranasal, intra-articular, or inhaled formulations) within 3 months prior to screening, or systemic glucocorticoid therapy within 1 month prior to screening;
13. Female subjects with HbA1c \<110 g/L or male subjects with HbA1c \<120 g/L at screening, or any other known condition that interferes with HbA1c measurement;
14. Those with suicidal behaviors or ideation within 6 months prior to screening;
15. Use of GLP-1R, GLP-1R/GIPR, GLP-1R/GCGR, or GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR agonists within 6 months prior to screening;
16. Those with regular alcohol consumption within 3 months prior to screening, defined as more than 14 units of alcohol per week (1 unit = 360 mL beer, 45 mL spirits with 40% alcohol, or 150 mL wine); or those with a positive alcohol breath test during screening; or those unable to comply with the protocol's alcohol restrictions;
17. Those with a history of drug abuse or illicit drug use within 2 years prior to screening, or those with a positive urine drug screen before administration;
18. Smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day within 3 months prior to screening or inability to abstain from smoking during intensive PK blood sampling;
19. Those with a history of needle or blood phobia, intolerance to venipuncture, or difficulty in blood collection;
20. Those with positive results for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, or Treponema pallidum-specific antibody;
21. Alanine aminotransferase \>1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN), aspartate aminotransferase \>1.5 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase \>1.5 × ULN, or total bilirubin \>1.5 × ULN at screening;
22. Those with blood amylase or lipase \> ULN at screening;
23. Those with serum calcitonin ≥20 ng/L at screening;
24. Those with fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L or \<3.9 mmol/L at screening;
25. Those with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<90 mL/min/1.73m2 at screening;
26. Fridericia-corrected QT interval (QTcF=QT/RR0.33) \>450 ms (for male) or \>470 ms (for female) on 12-lead ECG at screening;
27. Use of strong inhibitors or inducers of hepatic metabolic enzymes (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C19, 3A4, and 3A5) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose, including strong inhibitors such as ciprofloxacin, clopidogrel, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, troleandomycin, etc., or strong inducers such as rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin sodium, St. John's wort, etc.;
28. Use of any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamin products, or Chinese herbal medicines within 2 weeks prior to the first dose;
29. Consumption of any foods or beverages affecting CYP3A4, CYP2E1, or CYP2D6 metabolic enzymes, such as grapefruit or grapefruit-containing beverages, within 48 hours prior to the first dose;
30. Ingestion of chocolate, any caffeine-containing or xanthine-rich food or beverage within 48 hours prior to the first dose;
31. Blood donation ≥200 mL, any component blood donation, or total blood loss ≥200 mL due to any reason within 3 months prior to screening, or a history of blood transfusion or blood product use;
32. Participation in other clinical trials within 3 months prior to screening (subjects who withdrew from the study before treatment, i.e., were not randomized or did not receive treatment, may be enrolled in this study);
33. Occurrence of acute illness or concomitant medication use from the signing of the informed consent form until the first dose;
34. Female subjects who are currently breastfeeding or have a positive pregnancy test result at screening;
35. Subjects deemed by the investigator to have other factors unsuitable for participation in this trial.

MAD

1. Those diagnosed with type 1, type 2, or other types of diabetes before screening;
2. Those diagnosed with overweight or obesity caused by other diseases or medications, such as Cushing's syndrome;
3. History or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), thyroid C-cell hyperplasia, or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) during screening, or genetic predisposition to MTC;
4. Acute, chronic, or suspected pancreatitis during screening, or prior pancreatectomy;
5. Those diagnosed with any malignancy within 5 years before screening (except for basal cell carcinoma treated curatively and considered cured);
6. Presence of clinically significant diseases at screening, including but not limited to gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, neurological, hematological, endocrine, oncological, pulmonary, immunological, psychiatric, or cardiovascular disorders (excluding weight-related comorbidities);
7. Any of the following diseases or medical histories within 6 months prior to screening or before randomization: cardiac insufficiency (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class III or IV), myocardial infarction, unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmias requiring treatment (including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, second- to third-degree atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, etc.), coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention (diagnostic angiography allowed), cerebrovascular accident (ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack), cirrhosis, etc.;
8. Diseases or conditions affecting gastric emptying or gastrointestinal nutrient absorption during screening;
9. Major surgery within 3 months before screening or planned surgery during the study;
10. History of hypersensitivity to the investigational product or any of its components, or to acetaminophen and its excipients, or allergic constitution (allergy to two or more drugs or foods);
11. Use of medications (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, Chinese herbal medicines, health supplements, etc.) within 3 months prior to screening that, in the investigator's judgment, significantly affect body weight;
12. Subjects taking lipid-lowering or antihypertensive medications with unstable doses within 30 days prior to screening;
13. Individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery prior to screening;
14. Those with a history of recurrent skin disorders (e.g., urticaria) or skin lesions at the administration site;
15. Those who received chronic (lasting more than 2 weeks) systemic glucocorticoid therapy (excluding topical, intraocular, intranasal, intra-articular, or inhaled formulations) within 3 months prior to screening, or systemic glucocorticoid therapy within 1 month prior to screening;
16. Female subjects with HbA1c \<110 g/L or male subjects with HbA1c \<120 g/L at screening, or any other known condition that interferes with HbA1c measurement;
17. Those with suicidal behaviors or ideation within 6 months prior to screening;
18. History of depression or other psychiatric disorders within 6 months prior to screening;
19. Use of GLP-1R, GLP-1R/GIPR, GLP-1R/GCGR, or GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR agonists within 6 months prior to screening;
20. Those with regular alcohol consumption within 3 months prior to screening, defined as more than 14 units of alcohol per week (1 unit = 360 mL beer, 45 mL spirits with 40% alcohol, or 150 mL wine); or those with a positive alcohol breath test during screening; or those unable to comply with the protocol's alcohol restrictions;
21. Those with a history of drug abuse or illicit drug use within 2 years prior to screening, or those with a positive urine drug screen before the first dose;
22. Smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day within 3 months prior to screening or inability to abstain from smoking during intensive PK blood sampling;
23. Those with a history of needle or blood phobia, intolerance to venipuncture, or difficulty in blood collection;
24. Resting seated blood pressure at screening: systolic blood pressure \>160 mmHg or \<90 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg or \<55 mmHg;
25. Heart rate at screening \>100 beats per minute or \<50 beats per minute;
26. Those with positive results for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, or Treponema pallidum-specific antibody;
27. Alanine aminotransferase \>2 × ULN, aspartate aminotransferase \>2 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase \>1.5 × ULN, or total bilirubin \>1.5 × ULN at screening;
28. Blood amylase or lipase \> ULN at screening;
29. Those with serum calcitonin ≥20 ng/L at screening;
30. Fasting triglyceride levels ≥5.6 mmol/L at screening;
31. Fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L or \<3.9 mmol/L at screening; or OGTT 2-hour ≥11.1 mmol/L;
32. Those with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<90 mL/min/1.73m2 at screening;
33. Fridericia-corrected QT interval (QTcF=QT/RR0.33) \>450 ms (for male) or \>470 ms (for female) on 12-lead ECG at screening; or severe arrhythmia (second-degree or higher atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, etc.);
34. Use of strong inhibitors or inducers of hepatic metabolic enzymes (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C19, 3A4, and 3A5) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose, including strong inhibitors such as ciprofloxacin, clopidogrel, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, troleandomycin, etc., or strong inducers such as rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin sodium, St. John's wort, etc.;
35. Consumption of any foods or beverages affecting CYP3A4, CYP2E1, or CYP2D6 metabolic enzymes, such as grapefruit or grapefruit-containing beverages, within 48 hours prior to the first dose;
36. Ingestion of chocolate, any caffeine-containing or xanthine-rich food or beverage within 48 hours prior to the first dose;
37. Blood donation ≥200 mL, any component blood donation, or total blood loss ≥200 mL due to any reason within 3 months prior to screening, or a history of blood transfusion or blood product use;
38. Participation in other clinical trials within 3 months prior to screening (subjects who withdrew from the study before treatment, i.e., were not randomized or did not receive treatment, may be enrolled in this study);
39. Occurrence of acute illness or concomitant medication use from the signing of the informed consent form until the first dose;
40. Female subjects who are currently breastfeeding or have a positive pregnancy test result at screening;
41. Subjects deemed by the investigator to have other factors unsuitable for participation in this trial.

Where this trial is running

Hefei, Anhui

• The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University is a Grade A Tertiary General — Hefei, Anhui, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Wei Hu, Doctor of Medicine

Conditions Healthy Subjects