MOTS-c for Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Prediabetes and Overweight/Obesity

Prior treatment

• Known hypersensitivity to peptide therapeutics or any component of the investigational product formulation.

Other illness

• History of bariatric surgery or planned weight-loss surgery during the study period.
• Clinically significant cardiovascular disease within 6 months (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina) or uncontrolled hypertension.
• Active malignancy requiring treatment (except adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer).
• Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with study participation or interpretation of results (e.g., inability to comply with study procedures).

Lab values

• Diabetes mellitus (e.g., HbA1c 6.5% or higher, fasting plasma glucose 126 mg/dL or higher, or 2-hour glucose 200 mg/dL or higher at screening).
• Use of glucose-lowering medications (including metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors) within 3 months prior to screening.
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2, clinically significant hepatic disease, or ALT/AST \> 2.5x upper limit of normal at screening.

Other

• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study period.

• Age 18 to 65 years at the time of consent.
• Body mass index (BMI) 27.0 to 40.0 kg/m\^2.
• Prediabetes documented at screening by any of the following: (a) HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4%; (b) fasting plasma glucose 100 to 125 mg/dL; or (c) 2-hour plasma glucose 140 to 199 mg/dL during a 75 g OGTT.
• Stable body weight (less than 5% change) for at least 3 months prior to screening.
• Willingness to maintain stable diet and physical activity patterns during the 12-week treatment period.
• For participants of childbearing potential: agreement to use highly effective contraception for the study duration and for a protocol-specified period after last dose.
• Ability to understand and sign informed consent.