A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rencofilstat in Subjects With NASH and Advanced Liver Fibrosis

NAFLD Clinical Trial

— ASCEND  

Official title:

A Phase 2B, Randomized, Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rencofilstat in Adult Subjects With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Advanced Liver Fibrosis

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05402371
• Other study ID #: HEPA-CRV431-207
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: October 15, 2022
• Est. completion date: September 2025

Study information

• Verified date: May 2024
• Source: Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-dosing, multi-center study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Rencofilstat as evidenced by histopathological improvements in fibrosis in adult NASH subjects with F2 or F3 fibrosis (NASH CRN system). Antifibrotic biomarker activity will be evaluated on an exploratory basis.

Description:

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-dosing, multi-center study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Rencofilstat as evidenced by histopathological improvements in fibrosis in adult NASH subjects with F2 or F3 fibrosis (NASH CRN system). Antifibrotic biomarker activity will be evaluated on an exploratory basis.

This study consists of 3 phases: (i) Screening and Randomization; (ii) treatment; and (iii) follow up. During Screening, each subject will provide informed consent prior to starting any study specific procedures. The randomization of the F2/F3 NASH subjects will be performed in a 1:1:1:1 ratio between Rencofilstat 75mg, Rencofilstat 150mg, Rencofilstat 225mg, and matching placebo. Subjects will be stratified by presence or absence of Type 2 diabetes, fibrosis stage and a maximum of 34 F2 subjects in each cohort.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 120
• Est. completion date: September 2025
• Est. primary completion date: May 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 75 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria Subjects must fulfill all the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in the study.

1. Male or female between 18 and 75 years of age (inclusive).

2. Capable of giving written informed consent and able to effectively communicate with the investigator and study personnel.

3. Histologic evidence of NASH based on central readings of the screening biopsy obtained no more than 6 months before Screening defined by presence of all 3 key histological features, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS) = 4 with at least 1 point each in lobular inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning.

a. Historical biopsy may be substituted for Screening biopsy to determine eligibility if the following are met: i. Historical biopsy was obtained no more than 180 ± 5 days prior to the first day of Screening.

ii. Hepatic tissue or slides are available for central histologic evaluation. iii. No new therapeutic intervention for NASH was made 90 days prior to screening (e.g., obeticholic acid, vitamin E = 400 IU/day, pioglitazone, incretins [e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide], sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 [SGLT2] inhibitors).

iv. Subjects must have been metabolically stable since the biopsy (no significant weight loss = 7% of body weight, no major deterioration of glycemic control, and no introduction of new or investigational drugs for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes).

4. Histologic liver fibrosis stage 2 or 3 as defined by the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) scoring of liver fibrosis based on central reading of the Screening biopsy (refer to criteria 4a regarding use of a historical biopsy as a substitute for the Screening biopsy).

5. Blood pressure up to 160/100 mmHg; potential subjects who meet other eligibility requirements, but who have out of range blood pressure measurements deemed to be not clinically significant by the investigator, may still be considered for study inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria Subjects who meet any of the following criteria prior to the first dose of study drug are not eligible for randomization.

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant during the study period.

2. Known allergy to Rencofilstat, cyclosporine, or any of their inactive ingredients.

3. Positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCVAb) or human immunodeficiency virus antibodies (HIVAb). If HCVAb test is positive, then an HCV-RNA test will be performed. If this test is negative, the subject is allowed to participate in the study, as long as the subject meets all other inclusion criteria and has never been treated for HCV or was treated >2 years ago and achieved a sustained virologic response at that time.

4. Subjects with suspected and symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection identified prior to first dose.

5. Subjects with a history of clinically significant acute cardiac events within 30 days prior to Screening such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, or coronary heart disease (angina pectoris requiring therapy, myocardial infarction, revascularization procedures with left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <50% as determined by previous echocardiography or multiple gated acquisition [MUGA] scan).

6. Subjects with uncontrolled or unstable cardiac arrhythmias:

1. Severe conduction disturbance (e.g., second-degree or third-degree AV block).

2. History of congenital long QT syndrome, congenital short QT syndrome, Torsades de Pointes, or Wolff Parkinson White syndrome.

7. Subjects with transaminases >5 x upper limit of normal (ULN).

8. Subjects with ALP >2 x ULN.

9. Subjects with total serum bilirubin >1.5 x ULN.

10. Subjects with a platelet count <100,000/mm3.

11. Subjects with an INR = 1.3 in the absence of anticoagulants.

12. Subjects with albumin <3.5 g/dL.

13. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score >12, unless due to an alternate etiology such as therapeutic anticoagulation.

14. Current or previous (within the past 6 months) Child-Pugh (CP) score = 7 for F2 or F3 subjects, unless due to an alternative etiology such as Gilbert's syndrome or therapeutic anticoagulation.

15. An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration [CKD-EPI] method).

16. Subjects with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >9.5%.

17. Subjects with any history or presence of decompensated cirrhosis including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding.

18. Other well documented causes of chronic liver disease according to standard diagnostic procedures including, but not restricted to:

1. Suspicion of drug-induced liver disease.

2. Alcoholic liver disease.

3. Autoimmune hepatitis.

4. Wilson's disease.

5. Primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis.

6. Genetic hemochromatosis (Homozygosity for C282Y or C282Y/H63D compound heterozygote).

7. Known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

8. History or planned liver transplant.

9. Clinical evidence of portal hypertension such as esophageal varices, ascites, history of hepatic encephalopathy, or splenomegaly.

19. History of hepatic decompensating events or subjects who develop manifestations of hepatic decompensation between screening and enrollment should not be randomized, inclusive of new or worsening jaundice and ascites, new esophageal varices, etc.

20. Subjects with Type 2 diabetes who have recent (< 3 months) changes in medication class or dose of the following antidiabetic medications: Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, thiazolidinediones (TZD).

21. Received an investigational drug or investigational vaccine or used an investigational medical device within 60 days prior to first dose of study drug.

22. Received any investigation products being evaluated for the treatment of liver fibrosis or NASH in the 6 months prior to the Screening liver biopsy.

23. Inability to undergo MRE procedure due to unremovable metal or foreign object(s) or contraindication for any other reason including but not limited to pacemaker, shrapnel injury, extensive tattoos, severe claustrophobia, ear (cochlea) implant.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fatty Liver
• Fibrosis
• Fibrosis, Liver
• Liver Cirrhosis
• NAFLD
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
• Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Intervention

Drug:
• Rencofilstat
Rencofilstat soft gel capsule
• Placebo
placebo soft gel capsule

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
France	Hopital du Haut Leveque	Pessac
Mexico	Centro de Investigacion y Gastroenterologia SC	Mexico City
United States	Pinnacle Clinical Research-Austin	Austin	Texas
United States	Delta Research Partners	Bastrop	Louisiana
United States	Synergy Healthcare, LLC	Bradenton	Florida
United States	South Texas Research Institute	Brownsville	Texas
United States	Arizona Liver Health-Chandler	Chandler	Arizona
United States	Tampa Bay Medical Research, Inc.	Clearwater	Florida
United States	Top Medical Research, Inc.	Cutler Bay	Florida
United States	Southeast Clinical Research Center	Dalton	Georgia
United States	Integrity Clinical Research, LLC	Doral	Florida
United States	South Texas Research Institute	Edinburg	Texas
United States	AIG Digestive Disease Research, LLC	Florham Park	New Jersey
United States	Mid-Atlantic GI Research, LLC	Greenbelt	Maryland
United States	Evolution Clinical Trials, Inc.	Hialeah Gardens	Florida
United States	National Research Institute	Huntington Park	California
United States	Medical Affiliated Research Center	Huntsville	Alabama
United States	Borland Groover Clinical Research	Jacksonville	Florida
United States	Ocala GI Research	Lady Lake	Florida
United States	Accel Research Sites-Lakeland CRU	Lakeland	Florida
United States	Preferred Research Partners, Inc.	Little Rock	Arkansas
United States	National Research Institute	Los Angeles	California
United States	Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, PC	Marietta	Georgia
United States	Entrust Clinical Research	Miami	Florida
United States	Future Care Solutions, LLC	Miami	Florida
United States	United Reseach Group	Miami	Florida
United States	Bon Secours Liver Institute of Hampton Roads	Newport News	Virginia
United States	Arkansas Gastroenterology	North Little Rock	Arkansas
United States	Omega Research Consultants, LLC	Orlando	Florida
United States	National Research Institute	Panorama City	California
United States	LinQ Research, LLC	Pearland	Texas
United States	Arizona Liver Health	Peoria	Arizona
United States	Progressive Medical Research	Port Orange	Florida
United States	GI Select Health Research, LLC	Richmond	Virginia
United States	Pinnacle Clinical Research-San Antonio	San Antonio	Texas
United States	National Research Institute	Santa Ana	California
United States	Covenant Research and Clinics	Sarasota	Florida
United States	Digestive Research Alliance of Michiana, LLC	South Bend	Indiana
United States	Velocity Clinical Spokane	Spokane	Washington
United States	Adobe Clinical Research, LLC	Tucson	Arizona
United States	Arizona Liver Health-Tuscon	Tucson	Arizona

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Countries where clinical trial is conducted

United States,  France,  Mexico, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 1 stage (NASH CRN system) OR NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 1 stage (NASH CRN system), regardless of effect on NASH.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 2 stages (NASH CRN system), regardless of effect on NASH.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 2 stages (NASH CRN system) AND no worsening of NASH.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Change from baseline in ALT.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Change from baseline in AST.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period
Secondary	Change from baseline in Pro-C3, type III collagen neo-epitopes.	Efficacy	dosing period of 1 year with 1 month observation and follow up period