Rivus Pharmaceuticals' HU6 Shows Promise in MASH and Obesity Treatment

Rivus Pharmaceuticals has announced positive results from a phase 2 trial of its drug candidate HU6, demonstrating significant potential in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) while also showcasing promising effects on obesity. The controlled metabolic accelerator has shown a unique ability to reduce liver fat and body weight without compromising muscle mass, a key differentiator in the competitive landscape of metabolic disorder treatments.

Phase 2 Trial Results Highlight HU6's Efficacy

The mid-stage study, involving 221 adults with MASH, evaluated HU6 at doses of 150 mg, 300 mg, and 450 mg over a six-month period. The trial met its primary endpoint, achieving a statistically significant reduction in liver fat compared to placebo across all dose cohorts, with a p-value of less than 0.01. Additionally, a statistically significant proportion of patients experienced a more than 30% reduction in liver fat.

While not powered to determine reductions in body weight, fat mass, and blood pressure, the study demonstrated improvements in these areas as well. Notably, HU6 was associated with "entirely fat-specific weight loss," with three-quarters of the fat loss observed being visceral fat.

Muscle-Sparing Potential Sets HU6 Apart

David Grainger, Ph.D., Rivus' Chairman of Development, emphasized the importance of these findings: "The topline results from M-ACCEL, the longest study of HU6 to date, indicate that HU6 has a competitive efficacy and safety profile for the treatment of MASH." He added that the data "provide continued confirmation of the potential of HU6, and our pipeline of controlled metabolic accelerators, to deliver entirely fat-specific weight loss with a marked propensity for visceral fat reduction for people with obesity and resulting cardiometabolic disease."

This muscle-sparing characteristic positions HU6 as a potentially attractive option in the pharmaceutical industry's ongoing quest for obesity drugs that do not reduce muscle mass. The drug's mechanism of action as a controlled metabolic accelerator is designed to increase a patient's resting metabolic rate and boost the body's conversion of fat into energy.

Implications for MASH and Obesity Treatment Landscape

The positive results from this phase 2 trial build upon HU6's previous success in a phase 2 study last year, which demonstrated weight reduction in patients with obesity-related heart failure. These consistent findings across different patient populations underscore the drug's potential versatility in addressing multiple aspects of metabolic disorders.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to explore the intersection of MASH and obesity treatments, HU6's performance in this trial positions it as a noteworthy contender in both therapeutic areas. The drug's ability to target liver fat reduction while also addressing weight loss could potentially offer a comprehensive approach to treating patients with complex metabolic conditions.