News

A research team led by Professor WONG Hoi-leong Xavier secures a grant of HK$1.48 million from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), administered by the Food and Health Bureau. The funding will support a pioneering clinical trial titled “Efficacy and Safety of Artesunate Treatment for Patients with Obesity: A Randomised Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study”.

The project aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of artesunate, a compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, as a potential treatment for obesity. Artesunate’s unique pharmacological profile and emerging evidence of its metabolic benefits position it as a promising candidate for addressing obesity and its related complications. In preclinical animal studies published in Nature Communications, Professor Wong’s research team demonstrated that artesunate significantly reduced body weight, improved metabolic health (including enhanced insulin sensitivity and better cholesterol profiles), and suppressed appetite in obese mice and non-human primates, all without adverse effects. Building on these encouraging results, the team is now advancing to human trials, with the goal of validating artesunate’s potential as a safe and effective therapy for obesity and its associated conditions.

This project exemplifies the integration of traditional Chinese medicine with modern clinical research, aiming to deliver innovative solutions to pressing global health challenges. The support from HMRF highlights the importance of advancing scientific knowledge and expanding effective treatment options for obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The School takes pride in the team’s achievement and will continue to provide full support to our faculty members in advancing innovative projects to enhance human health and well-being.

Related news: https://scm.hkbu.edu.hk/en/news-and-events/news/2024/0313-Xavier-Wong.html