Organovo Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for FXR314 in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis

Organovo Holdings, Inc. recently released the complete details of its 16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 2 study of the non-steroidal, non-bile acid FXR agonist FXR314 for the treatment of metabolic function-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Study results demonstrated statistically significant reduction in liver fat content from baseline in patients receiving FXR314 compared to placebo.

Study subjects receiving FXR314 achieved statistically significant reduction in liver fat content from baseline, with LS mean percent reduction at end of treatment of 22.8% (p=0.0010) with 3 mg and 17.5% (p=0.0267) with 6 mg doses of FXR314 compared to 6.1% in the placebo group. The proportion of subjects with >30% magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) reduction was 29.2% (p=0.0023) and 32.2% (p=0.0020) for 3 mg and 6 mg FXR314, respectively, compared to 9.5% with placebo. Investigators observed improvements in hepatocellular damage and liver function based on serological measures, with no evidence of worsening of liver fibrosis.

FXR314 was also found to be safe and well tolerated. Treatment-emergent adverse events were mostly mild to moderate in severity, with incidence comparable between FXR314 3 mg, 6 mg, and placebo. Drug-related treatment discontinuation was minimal and similar across groups. There was also no evidence with FXR314 of adverse events considered common in the FXR class, including measures of pruritus (3 mg 2.8%, 6 mg 4.2% and placebo 2.8%) and LDL-C levels (change from baseline of 1.5%, 4.5% and -3.6% for 3mg, 6mg, and placebo groups respectively).

“The key findings of this study are that once daily oral FXR314 demonstrated statistically significant liver fat reduction and excellent tolerability.   Whereas other FXR agonists have had challenges in providing clear benefit without significant pruritus or other adverse events, or have had lack of efficacy potentially related to lack of sustained exposure, we are pleased to note FXR314’s data demonstrate it clearly rises above previous problems seen with the class,” stated Keith Murphy, Organovo’s Executive Chairman. “Given these exciting findings, we believe the data are supportive of further clinical development of FXR314 in MASH.”

The clinical trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacological activity of FXR314, as measured by reductions in liver fat content with magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), changes in liver enzymes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and incidence of pruritus. The treatment population were MASH patients diagnosed via biopsy, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), or transient elastography (TE FibroScan), and who had liver fat content ≥ 10% as measured by MRI-PDFF.   A total of 214 patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to either 3 mg or 6 mg of FXR314, or placebo. Treatment was administered orally once daily for 16 weeks. The Company expects that detailed findings of this study will be presented at an upcoming conference.

Organovo is a clinical stage biotechnology company that is developing drugs that are demonstrated to be effective in three-dimensional (3D) human tissues as candidates for drug development. The company’s lead molecule, FXR314, is on the path for Phase 2 investigation in inflammatory bowel disease and has applications in metabolic liver disease and oncology. The company has proprietary technology used to build 3D human tissues that mimic key aspects of native human tissue composition, architecture, function, and disease.  For more information visit, www.organovo.com.