Aardvark Therapeutics Announces FDA Submission and IRB Approval of Amended Trial Protocol for Lead Candidate ARD-101, Expanding Eligibility in Phase 3 Study of Prader-Willi Syndrome

Core Viewpoint - Aardvark Therapeutics has received IRB approval for an amended protocol in its Phase 3 HERO trial, allowing participation of children aged 7 and older with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) in the United States, aiming to enhance access and capture the potential impact of ARD-101 on hyperphagia in this population [1][2][3] Group 1: Trial Details - The HERO trial is a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing ARD-101 for hyperphagia in PWS patients, with plans to enroll 90 patients across multiple countries including the U.S., Australia, Canada, the UK, and South Korea [4] - The primary endpoint of the trial is the change in the Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials (HQ-CT) score from baseline to Week 12, with secondary measures including changes in Caregiver Global Impression of Severity (CaGI-S) and Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) scores [4] Group 2: Drug Information - ARD-101 is a gut-restricted small molecule agonist targeting specific taste receptors, stimulating the release of gut-peptide hormones like GLP-1 and cholecystokinin (CCK) to mediate hunger [5] - The drug has shown potential in reducing hunger both alone and in combination with existing GLP-1 therapies, and has received Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA for PWS [5][6] Group 3: Company Overview - Aardvark Therapeutics is focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics aimed at suppressing hunger for the treatment of PWS and other metabolic diseases, with ARD-101 being the lead compound in Phase 3 clinical development [7] - The company is also working on ARD-201, a fixed-dose combination of ARD-101 with a DPP-4 inhibitor, through two separate Phase 2 trials to address limitations of current GLP-1 therapies [8]