Author information

¹University of Oxford, UK; Pinnacle Clinical Research, San Antonio TX. Electronic address: sharrison@pinnacleresearch.com.

²Velocity Clinical Research, Los Angeles CA. Electronic address: jfrias@velocityclinical.com.

³Lucas Research, Morehead NC. Electronic address: jeannie.lucas@lucasresearch.org.

⁴Tandem Clinical Research, Marrero LA. Electronic address: drreiss@tandemclinicalresearch.com.

⁵Covenant Metabolic Specialists, LLC; Sarasota, FL; Covenant Research and Clinics LLC, Ft. Myers FL. Electronic address: guy.neff@covresearch.com.

⁶Tampa Bay Medical Research, Clearwater, FL. Electronic address: bollepalli@tbmr.net.

⁷Medpace, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: y.su@medpace.com.

⁸Akero Therapeutics, South San Francisco CA.

⁹Akero Therapeutics, South San Francisco CA. Electronic address: reshma@akerotx.com.

Abstract

Background & aims: In phase 2 studies, efruxifermin, an Fc-FGF21 analog, significantly reduced steatohepatitis and fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), for which there is no approved treatment. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are prevalent among patients with MASH and increasingly treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of efruxifermin in patients with MASH, fibrosis, and T2D taking a GLP-1RA.

Methods: Cohort D was a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b study in adults with T2D and MASH with fibrosis (F1-F3) on stable GLP-1RA therapy randomized (2:1) to receive efruxifermin 50 mg or placebo, once weekly for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability of efruxifermin added to a stable dose of GLP-1RA. Secondary endpoints included changes in hepatic fat fraction (HFF), markers of liver injury and fibrosis, and metabolic parameters.

Results: Adults (N=31) with T2D and MASH fibrosis (F1-F3) on a stable GLP-1RA (semaglutide, 48.4%; dulaglutide, 45.2%; liraglutide, 6.5%) received efruxifermin 50 mg (N=21) or placebo (N=10) for 12 weeks. The addition of efruxifermin to a GLP-1RA appeared safe and well tolerated. The most frequent efruxifermin-related adverse events were mild-moderate gastrointestinal events. One patient receiving efruxifermin discontinued due to nausea, and another withdrew consent. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events. After 12 weeks, efruxifermin reduced HFF by 65% (P<.0001 vs placebo) compared to a 10% reduction for placebo (GLP-1RA alone). Efruxifermin also improved noninvasive markers of liver injury, fibrosis, glucose, and lipid metabolism while maintaining GLP-1RA-mediated weight loss.

Conclusions: The tolerability profile of efruxifermin added to GLP-1RA appeared comparable to that of either drug alone, while also significantly reducing HFF and noninvasive markers of fibrosis in patients with MASH and T2D. Liver health in patients already on a GLP-1RA may be further improved by addition of efruxifermin.

Clinicaltrials: gov no. NCT05039450.