89bio Reports Positive Topline Results from an Expansion Cohort of the Phase 1b/2a Trial of Pegozafermin (BIO89-100) for the Treatment of NASH
- 63% of patients achieved 2-point or greater improvement in NAS without worsening of fibrosis; clinically meaningful improvements on registration enabling endpoints of NASH resolution (32%) and fibrosis improvement (26%)
- Robust changes on multiple non-invasive liver tests, markers of cardiovascular health and glycemic control support pegozafermin’s potential as a compelling treatment option for NASH
- Phase 2b ENLIVEN trial ongoing in NASH patients with results expected in first half 2023
- Conference call and webcast today at
1:30 p.m. PST /4:30 p.m. EST
“The totality of the pegozafermin data is promising with clinically meaningful changes on histology endpoints, impressive changes on all non-invasive assessments looking at total liver health, as well as significant changes versus baseline in cardiovascular markers and glycemic control,” said
In this single-arm cohort, biopsy-confirmed, fibrosis stage F2 and F3 NASH patients were treated once weekly for 20 weeks with 27 mg of pegozafermin. At baseline, 65% of patients were fibrosis stage F3. Of the 20 patients enrolled, 19 received an end-of-treatment biopsy and the results from these 19 patients were as follows:
Table: Histology results
| 2-point or greater improvement in NAS without worsening of fibrosis1 (primary endpoint) | 63 | % |
| 2-point or greater improvement in NAS1 | 74 | % |
| NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis | 32 | % |
| One-stage improvement of fibrosis without worsening of NASH | 26 | % |
| NASH resolution or fibrosis improvement | 47 | % |
NAS = NAFLD Activity Score
1 A 2-point improvement in NAS score required a 1-point improvement in either ballooning or inflammation
Results also showed clinically meaningful and significant changes across key non-invasive tests (NITs) associated with fibrosis, risk of fibrosis or NASH resolution.
Table: Non-invasive tests (NITs) [marker of]
| Mean change from baseline at Week 20 | Responder rates by clinically relevant thresholds | |
| MRI-PDFF [liver fat content]1 | -64%*** | 100%/78% [≥ 30%/≥ 50%] |
| ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) [liver damage]2 | -46%*** | 71%3 [≥ 17 U/L] |
| FAST Score [risk for advanced fibrosis]4 | -76%*** | 88% [≤ 0.35] |
| VCTE [liver stiffness]5 | -31%*** | 72% [> 20% decrease] |
| Pro-C3 [collagen deposition]6 | -20%*** | 63% [> 15% decrease] |
*** p<0.001
1 Changes from baseline ≥ 30% and ≥ 50% have been correlated with NASH improvement
2 ALT changes ≥ 17 U/L have been correlated with histological improvement
3 In patients with elevated ALT as defined by ≥30 U/L in women and ≥40 U/L in men (n=14)
4 FAST score is a composite of imaging and blood markers and measured on 0-1 scale, a score ≤ 0.35 predicts Fibrosis Stage F0/F1 and NAS <4
5 VCTE is a Fibroscan assessment, >20% reduction has been correlated with fibrosis improvement
6 Pro-C3 is a blood-based measurement, >15% reduction has been correlated with fibrosis improvement
“NASH is a multi-faceted disease and challenging to appropriately diagnose and manage. NITs of liver health and associated measures such as liver fat content, lipids, glycemic control and body weight are critically important for the successful management of patients with NASH,” said
In addition to significant improvement in liver health, treatment with pegozafermin also had significant positive effects on glycemic control, lipids, and body weight.
Table: Cardio-metabolic endpoints
| Mean change from baseline at Week 20 | |
| HbA1c absolute change1 | -0.9%** |
| Triglycerides2 | -32%*** |
| LDL-C | -13%* |
| HDL-C | +23%*** |
| Body Weight | -4%*** |
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001
1 In patients with HbA1c ≥ 6.5% at baseline (n=10); patients were all on concomitant diabetes medications
2 In patients with elevated triglycerides at baseline (n=11); reduction was -26% across total population
In 83 patients treated with pegozafermin across the full Phase 1b/2a study, pegozafermin continues to be generally well tolerated with a favorable safety profile. There have been no drug-related serious adverse events, only one treatment-related discontinuation, no tremors and no hypersensitivity reactions have been observed. In the open-label histology cohort the most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and injection site reactions, most of which were graded as mild.
“We are very pleased with the full data from our Phase 1b/2a study showing promising efficacy and safety and the encouraging histology results in this cohort further support pegozafermin as a promising drug for the treatment of NASH,” said
Today’s Conference Call Information
89bio will host a conference call and webcast at
About pegozafermin
Pegozafermin is a potentially best-in-class fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analog and an ideal candidate for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG). FGF21 is an endogenous hormone that modulates important drivers of NASH including glycemic control, steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Pegozafermin was specifically engineered using a unique glycoPEGylated technology to extend the half-life while maintaining potency. Pegozafermin combines efficacy, best-in-class dosing convenience, and favorable safety and tolerability. Recent Phase 1b/2a data with pegozafermin in biopsy-confirmed NASH patients demonstrated clinically meaningful changes on histology endpoints and non-invasive measures of total liver health, in patients with NASH as well as many of the underlying metabolic comorbidities commonly associated with NASH. Pegozafermin is currently being evaluated in the Phase 2b ENLIVEN trial in NASH and the Phase 2 ENTRIGUE trial for the treatment of SHTG.
About 89bio
89bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of liver and cardio-metabolic diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, pegozafermin, is a specifically engineered glycoPEGylated analog of FGF21. Pegozafermin is being developed for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG). 89bio is headquartered in
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, the therapeutic potential and clinical benefits of pegozafermin for the treatment of NASH, the efficacy and safey of pegozafermin, pegozafermin’s potential as a compelling treatment option for NASH, the timing for data from the Phase 2b ENLIVEN trial and Phase 2 ENTRIGUE trial and the relationship between the results from the expansion cohort and the ongoing Phase 2 ENTRIGUE trial. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "objective," "intend," "should," "could," "can," "would," "expect," "believe," "design," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "develop," "plan" or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward looking statements. While 89bio believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties (including, without limitation, those set forth in 89bio's filings with the
Investor Contact:
Ryan Martins
Chief Financial Officer
investors@89bio.com
Media Contact:
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Source: 89bio, Inc.
