New hives drug shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT06927999

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests a new medication called ARS-2 for people with chronic spontaneous urticaria (long-term hives). It aims to see if ARS-2 can quickly reduce itching and hives during flare-ups. The trial involves 42 adults who will receive either ARS-2 or a placebo during separate flare events. Participants must be 18-65 years old and have regular moderate-to-severe hives despite daily treatment.

Why investors are watching

ARS Pharmaceuticals is running a small Phase 2b trial of its drug ARS-2 in 42 patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria, a skin condition that causes hives and itching. For a micro-cap company, this readout is a major event because a positive result could validate ARS-2 as a new treatment option and drive the company's future value. The trial uses a crossover design, meaning each patient receives the drug and a placebo at different times, which can make the results more reliable with a small group.

If it works: If ARS-2 shows a clear reduction in symptoms compared to placebo, the company could advance the drug to later-stage trials or attract a partner to help fund development. A positive signal in this small study would be a meaningful step toward a potential new medicine for a condition with limited treatment options.

If it fails: Phase 2 trials often fail, and a negative or unclear result could set the program back or force the company to rethink its strategy. For a company this small, a setback in its lead drug candidate could have a large impact on its prospects, as it may have few other assets to fall back on.

AI-written from the trial record. Speculative, and not investment advice.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

About 42 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jul 2025

Expected to finish

Jun 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Is a male or female between the ages of 18 and 65 years, inclusive. * Has been clinically diagnosed with CSU and experiences an acute flare of moderate to severe urticaria symptoms (itch and hive severity UAS score ≥ 2) approximately 1-2 times a month or every other month consistently during the past year while on a chronic treatment. * Has been on a daily chronic treatment for ≥ 6 weeks. * Is willing to use a smartphone study application to record study assessments and AEs. * Has body weight more than 15 kilogram (kg). * Has no medical history of clinically significant hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the last 10 years * If female, is not pregnant or breastfeeding based on a negative urine pregnancy test at baseline. * Is able to communicate clearly with the Investigator and staff; able to read, complete questionnaires, and perform study procedures on the smartphone study application. * Is willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to participating in the study. * Controlled hypertension without beta blocker confirmed by the Investigator is acceptable. * At screening, has stable vital signs in the following ranges (after 5 minutes of rest): * Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥90 and ≤140 milliliters of mercury (mmHg) * Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥50 and ≤90 mmHg * Heart rate (HR) ≥45 and ≤100 beats per minute (bpm) Exclusion Criteria: * Has a history of clinically significant gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, endocrine, oncologic, pulmonary, immunologic, psychiatric, or cardiovascular disease or any other condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the subject or impact the validity of the study results. * Has any clinically significant medical condition or PE finding as deemed inappropriate by the Investigator. * Has abnormal cardiovascular exam at screening including any prior history of myocardial infarction or clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) * Has had significant traumatic injury or major surgery within 30 days prior to study screening. * Known hypersensitivity to any compound in the test product, or any other closely related compound (e.g., dihydropyridine-derived molecules). * Has participated in a clinical trial within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. * Has an immediate family member of the Investigator, or an employee of the study center, with direct involvement in the proposed study, or other studies under the direction of the Investigator or study center or is in a dependent relationship with a study center employee who is involved in the conduct of this study (e.g., spouse, parent, child, sibling), or may consent under duress.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    3 sites in 2 countries. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Bernstein Clinical Research Center, LLC

    RECRUITING

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236, United States

  • Endeavor Health Clinical Trials Center

    RECRUITING

    Glenview, Illinois, 60026, United States

  • Institute of Allergology IFA Charité - Campus Benjamin Franklin | Hindenburgdamm 30

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Berlin, 12203, Germany

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