Namodenoson in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in subjects with a diagnosis of NASH and F1-3 fibrosis. Subjects will undergo Screening procedures during the 6 weeks preceding Baseline. Subjects (n = ~114) will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to oral doses of namodenoson 25 mg every 12 hours or matching placebo every 12 hours for 36 weeks. Subjects will be evaluated regularly for safety, and efficacy biomarkers will be measured at Baseline and Weeks 6, 12, 24, and 36. At Week 36, all subjects will undergo post-treatment liver biopsy, which will be interpreted by a blinded expert hepatopathologist. Subjects will return for a follow-up visit 6 weeks after completion of the last dose of study drug.

Inclusion criteria

• At least 18 years of age.
• AST at Screening of ≥20 IU/L.
• FibroScan LSM ≥8.5 kPa
• Diagnosis of NASH by biopsy at Screening showing NAS ≥4 by central read, with a score of at least 1 point in each of the 3 histologic categories of steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocellular ballooning (Kleiner 2005). If the subject has had a qualifying liver biopsy within 6 months prior to Baseline and the slides are available for central read prior to randomization, this biopsy can be waived.
• Concomitant biopsy-proven Stage 1-3 hepatic fibrosis by NASH CRN criteria by central read (Kleiner 2005).
• At least 2 of the following criteria for the metabolic syndrome:

• Obesity, defined waist circumference >88 cm for women or >102 cm for men
• Hypertriglyceridemia, defined as >150 mg/dL (>1.7 mmol/L) or on drug treatment for hypertriglyceridemia
• Reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, defined as <40 mg/dL (<1.03 mmol/L) in men or <50 mg/dL (<1.3 mmol/L) in women
• History of hypertension, currently controlled in the judgment of the Investigator
• Elevated fasting glucose, defined as ≥100 mg/dL (≥5.6 mmol/L).
• Acceptable hepatic metabolic and synthetic function, as indicated at Screening by:

• Serum albumin ≥3.5 gm/dL
• International normalized ratio ≤1.3
• Serum total bilirubin ≤2.0 mg/dL (unless subject has known Gilbert's Syndrome).
• The following laboratory values must be documented at Screening:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1.0 x 109/L
• Platelet count at least 150 x 109/L
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥50 mL/min/1.73m2
• Female subjects may be enrolled if they are not of childbearing potential, permanently sterile or are post-menopausal, defined as no menses for at least 1 year without an alternative medical cause and FSH levels in the post-menopausal range.
• Male subjects must refrain from sperm donation during treatment and until at least 90 days after the end of study drug dosing. Male subjects with fertile or pregnant partners must agree to use condoms throughout the course of the trial and for 3 months after.
• Patients taking herbal supplements, homeopathic medications, or other alternative treatments, must be on a stable regimen for at least 3 months prior to randomization.
• Understand and provide written informed consent to participate.
• Willing to undergo 2 liver biopsies.
• Willing to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, laboratory assessments, and other study-related procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or other clinical evidence of cirrhosis.
• Other active acute or chronic liver disease, such as autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Seropositivity for markers of viral hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at Screening.
• Weight loss of >5% within 3 months prior to Baseline.
• History of bariatric surgery within 5 years of Screening.
• Diabetes mellitus other than Type II.
• Hemoglobin A1c >9.0% (subjects with diabetes).
• Any contraindication to percutaneous liver biopsy.
• Daily alcohol intake >20 g (2 units)/day for women and 30 g (3 units)/day for men (on average), as per Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire.
• Treatment with therapeutic doses of Vitamin E (≥800-1000 IU daily), or any of the following anti-diabetic medications: GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Januvia [sitagliptin], Byetta [incretin], etc.), pioglitazone, or SGLT2 inhibitors ("gliflozin" drugs); unless the dose and regimen has been stable for at least 3 months.
• Active rheumatoid arthritis treated with small-molecule (including methotrexate) or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agent concurrently or within 1 year.
• Use of any immunosuppressive medication, anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody treatment, or chronic systemic corticosteroids >10 mg prednisone-equivalent concurrently or within 1 year.
• More than 7 days of treatment with valproic acid, tamoxifen, amiodarone, or anti-cholinergic agents within 3 months.
• Uncontrolled or clinically unstable thyroid disease.
• Uncontrolled arterial hypertension or congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Classification 3 or 4), or other heart disease which is, in the Investigator's judgment, clinically unstable.
• Angina, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft surgery, transient ischemic attack, or pulmonary embolism within 3 months.
• QTcF interval on Screening Visit ECG or an average of triplicate Baseline Visit ECGs > 450 milliseconds (msec) for males or > 470 msec for females.
• A condition which increases proarrhythmic risk, including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or congenital Long QT Syndrome.
• Ongoing or planned use of a concomitant medication that is on the CredibleMedsTM list of drugs known to cause Torsades des Pointes.
• Active gastrointestinal disease which could interfere with the absorption of oral medication.
• Any severe, acute, or chronic medical or psychiatric condition, or laboratory abnormality that would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study.