Shots:

• The first patient has been dosed in the P-II trial to evaluate safety & efficacy of ASC42 (10/15mg) + Entecavir (0.5mg, PO, qd) & PEG-IFN-α-2a (180μg, SC, qw, for 12wks.) in 45 patients with CHB. Additionally, changes in HBsAg & HBV pgRNA will be measured @12wk. intervention period & 24wk. follow-up period
• In a P-I trial, ASC42 (FXR agonist) showed no pruritus & LDC-C values remained within normal range @14day treatment at 15mg dose while FGF19 increased 1780% & 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) decreased 91% on Day 14
• Additionally, in vitro studies showed that ASC42 inhibited HBV mRNA, DNA, protein production, reduced cccDNA pool size, repressed RNA transcription & viral secretion

Ref: PR Newswire | Image: Crunchbase