ALG-055009, a thyroid hormone receptor agonist, significantly reduced liver fat in MASH patients after 12 weeks of treatment. ALG-055009 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events
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The HERALD study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2a clinical trial conducted by Aligos Therapeutics. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of ALG-055009 over a 12-week period in 102 MASH patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 0.3 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.7 mg, 0.9 mg of ALG-055009 or placebo. Results showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in liver fat at 12 weeks at doses of 0.5 mg to 0.9 mg. Furthermore, 70% of participants achieved a relative reduction of 30% or more in liver fat compared to baseline. ALG-05509 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Patients receiving ALG-055009 had a similar incidence of gastrointestinal disorders compared to placebo.
doctor’s perspective
Improper diet and lack of exercise can lead to fat deposits in the liver, leading to a condition known as metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MASLD). MASLD is estimated to occur in approximately 30% of the world’s population. MASLD can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) when the body develops an inflammatory response to fat deposits. The prevalence of MASH in the United States is projected to increase from 16.5 million people in 2015 to 27 million people by 2030. MASH has a high risk of progressing to cirrhosis (extensive scarring and dysfunction of the liver) and even cancer. Treatment primarily focuses on optimizing risk factors through lifestyle changes and strict control of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Due to its potent mechanism of action, ALG-055009 has shown the ability to significantly reduce fat accumulation within the liver and potentially inhibit the progression to severe liver scarring.
molecular target
ALG-055009 is a thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-β) agonist. THR-β is the main form of thyroid hormone receptor expressed in the liver and plays an important role in lipid metabolism. THR-β agonists act on these receptors in the liver, increasing cholesterol and fat metabolism, reducing overall fat deposits in the liver, and preventing further fibrosis.
Company history
Aligos Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company focused on best-in-class treatments for liver and viral diseases. Their mission is to improve patient outcomes by applying new research and development to develop new treatments for viruses with high unmet medical need, such as hepatitis B and coronaviruses, and for MASH.
More information: https://investor.aligos.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aligos-therapeutics-announces-positive-topline-results-phase-2a
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