HONG KONG – Following positive phase II data on Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s once-weekly GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist, efinopegdutide, in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the Seoul-based company has exclusively licensed the drug to Kenilworth, N.J.-based Merck & Co. Inc. for the indication.
Strongly positive histological data from Akero Therapeutics Inc. is being seen as setting a potentially new high bar in treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but 89bio Inc.’s NASH treatment, on a similar development timeline, is sharing in the success.
BEIJING – After his role as associate director and head of chemistry at Eli Lilly and Co., Brandeis-trained Jingye Zhou founded Eccogene Inc. in Shanghai in 2018 to focus on developing small-molecule drugs for metabolism and immune-related diseases.
LONDON – With results of its first phase I trial imminent, inflammasome specialist Nodthera Ltd. has raised $55 million in a series B round, providing funding for phase II proof-of-concept studies and to advance a second, brain-penetrant, compound to the clinic.
Two companies developing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) therapies found themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum Tuesday, with Cymabay Therapeutics Inc. potentially getting a second chance while the door slammed on Genfit SA’s hopes.
Two companies, Hightide Therapeutics Inc. and Axcella Health Inc., posted positive data from recent liver disease studies while Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc. missed its phase II liver study’s primary endpoint.
Akero Therapeutics Inc. rolled out stellar non-COVID-19 (for a change) clinical news with long-acting fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogue AKR-001 in biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but even in liver disease the pandemic became part of the discussion.
HONG KONG – Cadila Healthcare Ltd. (Zydus Cadila) has won approval for its saroglitazar to be used as the treatment of non-cirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in India. The green light from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) makes saroglitazar the first drug in the world approved for this indication.
NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc. wowed investors with positive preliminary top-line results from the 24-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled fourth cohort of an adaptive phase II study testing aldafermin in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
LONDON – Northsea Therapeutics BV has closed a $40 million series B, providing the means to complete the ongoing U.S. phase IIb trial of its lead product for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to launch clinical trials of two more products.
