Sagimet Biosciences Inc. stock (NASDAQ:SGMT) more than doubled Jan. 22 as shares closed 170% higher at $18.42 each as a phase IIb study of lead candidate denifanstat performed well against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) compared to placebo. Top-line data from the 52-week, randomized, double-blind Fascinate-2 trial showed the oral fatty acid synthase inhibitor resulted in statistically significant improvements in biopsy-confirmed NASH patients with stage 2 or stage 3 fibrosis, which is moderate to severe disease, at week 52.
Astrazeneca AB has synthesized fibroblast activation protein-α (FAPα) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), among others.
There are several factors that induce cirrhosis. During cirrhosis, there is an increased intrahepatic resistance to blood flow, leading to portal hypertension, among others, where portal vein pressure is increased.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, are widely used in cancer immunotherapy. CTLA-4 blockers such as Yervoy (ipilimumab, Bristol Myers Squibb Co.) stimulate antitumoral immune responses, but may also induce toxicity, such as colitis, a common immune-related adverse event that can lead to treatment discontinuation.
Researchers from Hefei University and Anhui Medical University have reported the discovery of novel nitric oxide (NO) inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of acute colitis.
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH’s start to the new year includes two fresh deals across two continents. BI struck one deal with Kunshan, China-based Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd. and its Mölndal, Sweden-based subsidiary, Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, to develop small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatments for nonalcoholic or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. It struck a second deal with San Francisco-based 3T Biosciences Inc. to develop cancer immunotherapies, which builds on an earlier collaboration formed last year. Combined, the two deals are worth more than $2.5 billion.
Patients with celiac disease have gluten-specific CD4+ T cells that recognize gluten via disease-associated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, specifically HLA-DQ2.5, leading to immune activation and enteropathy.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG has identified 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13; 17-β-HSD 13) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).