A Phase 3 Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Denifanstat in Patients With MASLD and MASH

Phase 3

Withdrawn

• Conditions: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver; MASLD; MASH; NASH; Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease; Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis
• Interventions: Drug: denifanstat; Drug: Placebo

• Registration Number: NCT06692283
• Lead Sponsor: Sagimet Biosciences Inc.

Brief Summary

A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and tolerability of denifanstat 50 mg compared to placebo in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MALSD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) after 52 weeks of treatment.

Detailed Description

Up to 2000 patients will be randomized to receive either denifanstat 50 mg or placebo.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-09-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-11-14
• Study First Posted: 2024-11-18
• Study Start: 2025-03
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-12
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-15
• Primary Completion: 2026-06
• Study Completion: 2027-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: WITHDRAWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2000

Inclusion Criteria

1. Willing and able to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

2. Adults between 18 and 75 years of age.

3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m2 for Asian patients and ≥25 kg/m2 for patients of other races.

4. Presence of metabolic risk factor(s), as follows:

5. T2DM

   OR

6. At least 2 out of 4 of the following:

   • BMI ≥30 kg/m2,
   • Hypertension, or on active antihypertensive treatment
   • Elevated fasting serum TGs or on active treatment for hypertriglyceridemia
   • Reduced fasting serum HDL-c, or on active treatment for dyslipidemia.

7. For patients with T2DM:

8. HbA1c ≤9.5%

9. If treatment naive: patients must have been diagnosed for at least 12 weeks prior to screening

10. Suspected or confirmed diagnosis of MASH or MASLD or non-invasively diagnosed MASH or MASLD

11. Stable ALT and AST levels

Exclusion Criteria

1. Previous intake of an approved MASH medication

2. Exclusionary laboratory values:

3. ALT and/or AST >5 × ULN.

4. ALP ≥2 × ULN.

5. Total serum bilirubin concentration >1.3 mg/dL.

6. Serum albumin concentration <3.5 g/dL.

7. International normalized ratio (INR) >1.3, except for patients receiving anticoagulant treatment.

8. Platelet count <140,000/μL.

9. Fasting TG level ≥500 mg/dL.

10. eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2.

11. History of excessive alcohol intake for a period of more than 3 consecutive months within 1 year prior to screening.

12. Presence of cirrhosis on liver histology and/or cross-sectional imaging evidence consistent with cirrhosis and/or portal hypertension.

13. Current or historical clinically evident hepatic decompensation.

14. Evidence of another form of active liver disease.

15. Positive serologic evidence of current infectious liver disease.

16. MELD score ≥12.

17. Planned or history of liver transplantation.

18. Prior or planned bariatric surgery.

19. Gain or loss of >5% of body weight in the 3 months or >10% of body weight in the 6 months prior to screening, qualifying liver biopsy, and the baseline visit (V1).

20. Any of the following conditions or procedures within 6 months prior to the baseline visit (V1):

21. Myocardial infarction

22. Cardiac revascularization surgery

23. Unstable angina

24. Transient ischemic attack, stroke, or cerebrovascular disease

25. Unstable or undiagnosed arrhythmias.

26. Uncontrolled high BP.

27. Malignancy with a complete remission date within 5 years prior to the baseline visit (V1).

28. Any current or history of hepatocellular carcinoma.

29. Diabetes other than T2DM

30. Uncontrolled hypothyroidism.

31. Any other known serious disease or other disease which in the Investigator's opinion would exclude the patient from participating in the study.

32. Use of a nonpermitted concomitant medication within 30 days or 5 half-lives prior to screening.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Denifanstat 50 mg	denifanstat	Denifanstat tablet, orally, once daily
Placebo	Placebo	Placebo tablet, orally, once daily

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Primary Safety Outcome Measure: TEAEs	52 weeks	Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in patients with MASLD/MASH treated with denifanstat 50 mg compared to placebo after 52 weeks of treatment.