Conatus Announces Top-line Results from ENCORE-NF Phase 2b Clinical Trial in NASH Fibrosis

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced top-line results from the company’s Phase 2b ENCORE-NF clinical trial in patients with biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis. The trial’s primary endpoint was a ≥1 CRN fibrosis stage improvement with no worsening of steatohepatitis compared with placebo at week 72.

“Although emricasan did not have the desired effect in these earlier-stage NASH fibrosis patients, we believe its demonstrated biomarker activity across a broad spectrum of liver disease warrants continued evaluation in more advanced-stage NASH cirrhosis patients,” said Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Conatus. “We look forward to seeing the additional data readouts expected over the coming months and reviewing the totality of these results with our collaborators at Novartis to determine the most appropriate path forward.”

Consistent with safety results from 18 previously completed clinical trials, emricasan was generally well-tolerated in the ENCORE-NF clinical trial.

David T. Hagerty, M.D., Executive Vice President of Clinical Development at Conatus, said, “We are most grateful to the NASH fibrosis patients, principal investigators, clinical site staffs and the support teams who participated in the ENCORE-NF clinical trial.”