In the race to produce the first NASH treatment, Gilead Sciences' most advanced candidate has failed the first of two Phase 3 trials. There were already low expectations around Selonsertib's potential for treating NASH, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, for which there are currently no FDA-approved treatments. The spread of the condition is being driven by widespread obesity and can cause liver failure, requiring a transplant. Big pharmaceutical firms, including Gilead, have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire NASH candidates. Intercept Pharmaceuticals and Xconomy San Francisco look best set to report their own Phase 3 data later this year.
In the race to produce the first NASH treatment, Gilead Sciences' most advanced candidate has failed the first of two Phase 3 trials. There were already low expectations around Selonsertib's potential for treating NASH, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, for which there are currently no FDA-approved treatments. The spread of the condition is being driven by widespread obesity and can cause liver failure, requiring a transplant. Big pharmaceutical firms, including Gilead, have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire NASH candidates. Intercept Pharmaceuticals and Genfit look best set to report their own Phase 3 data later this year.