Ark Clinical Research Announces Advancing Accessibility for Obesity Through Innovative Research Trials on GLP-1 drugs

Eastern Daylight Time

April 16, 2024 08:18 AM 


LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ark Clinical Research (“Ark”) is advancing accessible solutions for obesity and obesity-related diseases through clinical research and a free health clinic, which administers health assessments and manages patient care. Ark is a research organization with sites in Long Beach and Fountain Valley, California. While the clinical research organization conducts Phase I-IV clinical trials in various therapeutic areas, the company is particularly focused on weight loss studies and accessibility of these drugs for those in need, particularly for low-income and minority patients.

More than 100 million Americans are currently faced with the challenge of excess weight or obesity. These statistics are alarming, because obesity is often associated with other serious medical conditions such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Cardiovascular and Fatty Liver Disease. Although new medical treatments have given hope for patients who suffer from obesity and obesity-related diseases, this positive impact has been limited, particularly for those in socially disadvantaged communities. Despite approved weight loss treatments playing a crucial role in improved health outcomes, many Americans cannot afford them or get access to them. Inadequate insurance coverage exacerbates the issue by denying individuals coverage, and monthly out-of-pocket expenses for medications can range from $900 to $1300, which is often out-of-budget for patients.

These hurdles can be particularly frustrating especially when these drugs can have very real impact on losing weight and patients’ health. Ark’s Investigators have witnessed patients losing up to 36% of their body mass and shedding 20-85 pounds in under a year. For example, a patient reportedly lost over 85 pounds during the study. Science has shown that there are certain people with genetic predispositions that make it very difficult to lose weight through diet or exercise, and yet patients have difficulty getting access to drugs without paying out of pocket. At Ark, studies with drugs that have a weight-loss component are often of particular interest to patients who are obese or have obesity-related conditions. While these studies are placebo controlled, they can provide another avenue for GLP-1 drugs or other obesity drugs.

Increasingly, the FDA as well as the pharmaceutical industry have recognized the need for diverse patients in clinical research; given Ark’s prime locations in Southern California and diverse leadership, the research organization has been on the forefront of recruiting from diverse patient populations. Over the last year, 72% of Ark’s patients participating in obesity research were minorities. Ark ensures inclusive participation so medical advancements are shared more equitably across people of color, striving for high-quality research that is diverse, affordable, and accessible to all people.

Dr. Kenneth Kim, Founder and Executive Chairman, and Samira Moran, CEO, appreciate the necessity of clinical trials for those who genuinely need access to effective care. As part of Ark’s strategic planning, Ark will employ mobile unit technology by Summer 2024 to further the goal of healthcare for all. The mobile unit will work with local communities and organizations, overcoming the barriers of access to healthcare and research. With the launch of groundbreaking treatments, accessible, affordable, and diverse healthcare is more vital than ever before.