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. 2022 Feb 14;43(5):1200–1209. doi: 10.1038/s41401-022-00874-x

Table 2.

Clinical trials in NASH patients with histological outcomes (phase II–III with results).

Author [ref.] Target Treatment Phase Duration Histological outcome measurement
NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis Fibrosis improvement without worsening of NASH
Drug (%) Placebo (%) Drug (%) Placebo (%)
Navarro [46] Antioxidant

Silymarin; 420 mg, 26;

700 mg, 27; PL, 25

2 48–50 week

NAS improvement ≥2 points

19 (420 mg)/15 (700 mg)

12
Unpublished FXR agonist

Tropifexor (LJN452);

140 μg, 11;

200 μg, 11; PL, 11

2 (adaptive design) 48 week

NASH resolution as secondary outcome

10.5 (140 μg)/20.0 (200 μg)

7.1

Secondary outcome

28.9 (140 μg)

31.4 (200 μg)

26.2
Newsome [47] Apical sodium-dependent Bile Acid Transporter inhibitor Volixibat (SHP626); 5 mg, 11; 10 mg, 11; 20 mg, 8; PL, 13 2 48 week (terminated at 24 week)

NAS improvement ≥2 points

36.4 (5 mg)/18.2 (10 mg)/37.5 (20 mg)

38.5
Harrison [14] ASK1 inhibitor

Selonsertib (GS-4997), F3:18 mg, 322; 6 mg, 321; PL 159

F4:18 mg, 354; 6 mg, 351; PL 172

3 48 week

F3:9.6 (18 mg) /12.1 (6 mg)

F4: 14.4(18 mg)/12.8(6 mg)

F3: 13.2

F4: 12.8

Loomba [50]

FXR agonist;

ACC inhibitor;

ASK1 inhibitor

Selonsertib, 18 mg, 7; Firsocostat, 20 mg, 33; Cilofexor, 30 mg, 34; SEL + FIR, 71; SEL + CILO, 68; FIR + CILO, 67; PL, 38 2b 48 week

Selonsertib 28.6/Firsocostat 12.1/Cilofexor 11.8

SEL + FIR 15.5

SEL + CILO 19.1

FIR + CILO 20.9

10.5
Ratziu [16] CCR2/CCR5 antagonist

Cenicriviroc (CVC), 150 mg, 145;

PL, 144

2b 52 week

NAS improvement ≥2 points

15.9

18.8

Secondary outcome

20.0

10.4
Sven [77] Pan-PPAR agonist

Lanifibranor (IVA337), 1200 mg, 83; 800 mg, 83;

PL, 81

2b 24 week

SAF improvement ≥2 points

49.4 (1200 mg)

41.0 (800 mg)

27.2

Secondary outcome

42.2 (1200 mg)

27.7 (800 mg)

23.5
Newsome [49] GLP-1 receptor agonist Semaglutide, 0.1 mg, 57; 0.2 mg, 59; 0.4 mg, 56; PL, 58 2 72 week

NASH resolution

40.4 (0.1 mg)

35.6 (0.2 mg)

58.9 (0.4 mg)

17.2

Secondary outcome

49.1 (0.1 mg)

32.2 (0.2 mg)

42.9 (0.4 mg)

32.8
Neuschwander-Tetri [21] FXR agonist

Obeticholic Acid, 25 mg,110;

PL, 109

2 72 week

NAS improvement ≥2 points

45.5

21.1

Secondary outcome

35.3

19.4
Sanyal [20]

PPARγ agonist;

Antioxidants

Pioglitazone, 30 mg, 80;

Vitamin E, 800IU, 84;

PL, 83

3 96 week

NAS ≤ 3, or NAS improvement ≥2 points

Pioglitazone 33.8

Vitamin E 42.9

19.3

Secondary outcome

Pioglitazone 44.3

Vitamin E 41.3

30.6
Loomba [48] Insulin sensitizing agents Metformin, 2000 mg, 23 2 48 week

NAS improvement ≥3 points

34.6

No
Unpublished PPARγ agonist Pioglitazone, 30 mg, 18 2 48 week

NAS improvement ≥3 points

66.7

No
Unpublished ACC inhibitor Aramchol, 600 mg, 98; 400 mg, 101; PL, 48 2b 52 week

Secondary outcome

NASH Resolution

16.7 (600 mg)/7.5(400 mg)

5

Secondary outcome

29.5 (600 mg)/21.3 (400 mg)

17.5
Sanyal [78] SREBP inhibitor Ethyl icosapentate, 2700 mg, 64; 1800 mg, 55; PL, 55 2b 52 week

NAS ≤ 3, or NAS improvement ≥2 points

32.7 (1800 mg)

31.3 (2700 mg)

32.7
Dasarathy [79] Potent activators of PPARα and PPARγ agonist Polyunsaturated fatty acids (Opti-EPA), (360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA), 18; PL, 19 2 48 week

NAS improvement ≥2 points

44.4

47.4
Harrison [15] Insulin sensitizer MSDC-0602K, 62.5 mg, 84; 125 mg, 82; 250 mg, 86; PL, 74 2b 52 week

NAS improvement ≥2 points

29.8 (62.5 mg)

32.9 (125 mg)

39.5 (250 mg)

29.7

Secondary outcome

23.8 (62.5 mg)

28 (125 mg)

29.1 (250 mg)

Ratziu [80] Dual PPARα/δ agonist Elafibranor (GFT505), 80 mg, 93; 120 mg, 91; PL, 92 2 52 week

Disappearance of NASH

23 (80 mg)

21 (120 mg)

17

FXR farnesoid X receptor, ACC acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ASK1 apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, PPAR peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, CCR2/CCR5 antagonist C–C chemokine receptors type 2 and 5 dual antagonist, GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1, SREBP sterol response element binding protein.