Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ stock skyrocketed more than 200% on Monday after the biotech firm shared positive results for its drug to treat NASH.
NASH, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is a buildup of fat in the liver that is not caused by alcohol abuse. It can lead to liver damage and liver failure. Many people aren’t even aware of having it, which is why some people call it a “silent” disease.
Madrigal said in a news release Monday that its drug, called resmetirom, was safe and effective compared to the placebo group. In a trial of more than 950 patients, 26% of patients taking 80mg and 30% of patients taking 100mg of the drug showed that NASH activity, like swelling, had been reduced. The other main criteria was at least a one-stage improvement in liver damage, and both dosage groups met it, with 24% and 26% of patients showing improvement.
The placebo groups showed a 10% and 14% improvement for these two main criteria.
“These unprecedented results from the MAESTRO-NASH clinical trial signal a major turning point for the field,” Dr. Stephen Harrison, who led the studies, said in a news release.
