A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, PK and PD of AP303 in DKD Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female participants, ≥30 years of age at the time of signing the informedconsent form.

2. BMI (body mass index) 18-30 kg/m².

3. Patient has a clinical diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and is taking at leastone type of hypoglycemic drugs, before screening visits, the doses of hypoglycemicdrugs, including insulin, need to be stable for at least two weeks..

4. Patient must be on a stable dose of angiotensin converting anzyme inhibitior (ACEI)or Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) for at least 4 weeks prior to screening.

5. Hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% but ≤10.5% at the screening visit.

6. Estimated GFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73m² but < 60 mL/min/1.73m² at the screening visit.

7. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ≥ 30 mg/g at the screening visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chronic kidney disease other than type 2 diabetic kidney disease.

2. Patient receiving corticosteroid immunotherapy or other immunosuppressants (such ascalcineurin inhibitors ciclosporin, cyclophosphamide, or mycophenolate mofetil) inthe past 3 months before screening.

3. Recently having acute kidney injury or received renal surgery within the last 6months before screening visit, or have received renal transplantation.

4. Congestive heart failure classified New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to IVwithin the last 3 months before the screening visit.

5. Peripheral edema above the ankle level at the screening or randomization visit.

6. Confirmed (based on the average of 2 separate resting blood pressure measurements ina sitting position, after at least 5 minutes rest) systolic BP greater than 160 orless than 90 mmHg, and diastolic BP greater than 100 or less than 50 mmHg atscreening.

7. Myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack,cardiovascular surgery within 6 months prior to the screening visit.

8. Abnormalities of ECG parameters and abnormal shape of ECG wave on screening ECG:e.g.

• QTc interval (QTcF > 450 ms for male and QTcF > 470 ms for female) based on theaverage interval on triplicate ECGs obtained after 5 minute's rest in a supineposition

• Notable resting bradycardia (mean HR < 40 bpm)

• Notable resting tachycardia (mean HR > 100 bpm)

• ECG with QRS and/or T wave judged to be unfavorable for a consistently accurateQT measurement (e.g., neuromuscular artifact that cannot be readily eliminated,indistinct QRS onset, low amplitude T wave, merged T- and U-waves, prominent Uwaves)

• Any other significant abnormality

9. Implantation of cardiac pacemaker or clinically significant arrhythmia, e.g. atrialfibrillation, atrial flutter, right or left bundle branch block,Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

10. Current or previous treatment with a thiazolidinedione (e.g., medications containingpioglitazone or rosiglitazone, like Actos, Avandia, ActoplusMet, Avandamet,Avandaryl), PPARa agonist (like fenofibrate) or any dual/multiple PPARa/g agonist (e.g., Chiglitazar Sodium) in the 3 months preceding screening visit.

11. Previous treatment with CYP2C8 inducer or strong/moderate inhibitor (refer to thelist in Appendix 4) in the 1 month preceding screening visit.

12. Chronic therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (exceptprophylactic stable low dose aspirin, defined as its dose not higher than 100 mgdaily; paracetamol/acetaminophen was allowed) in the last month before screening.

13. ALT or AST >1.5 × ULN, or laboratory tests revealed other clinically significantabnormalities in liver function at screening.

14. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevated > 3 x ULN at screening visit or history ofdrug-induced myopathy.

15. History of malignancy within 5 years before screening (exceptions: squamous andbasal cell carcinomas of the skin and carcinoma of the cervix in situ, or amalignancy that in the opinion of the investigator, with concurrence with thesponsor's medical monitor, is considered cured with minimal risk of recurrence).

16. Participants who have had significant acute infection, e.g., COVID-19, influenza,local infection, acute gastrointestinal symptoms or any other clinically significantillness within two weeks before study drug administration.

17. Positive test at screening of any of the following: Hepatitis B (HBsAg), Hepatitis C (HCVAb), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV Ab) or syphilis AB.

18. Dosed with a small-molecule investigational drug within 3 months, or biologicinvestigational drug within 3 months or 5 half-lives (whichever is the longer) priorto first dose of this study.

19. History of drug and/or alcohol abuse or addiction. History (within 3 months ofscreening) of alcohol consumption exceeding 3 and 2 standard drinks per day onaverage (1 standard drink = 10 grams of alcohol) for male and female, respectively.

20. Within 2 weeks prior to admission, use of >5 cigarettes or equivalentnicotine-containing product per day.

21. Medical or social conditions that would potentially interfere with the participant'sability to comply with the study visit schedule or the study assessments.