Organovo Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for FXR314 in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) Showing Both Reduction in Liver Fat Content and Strong Safety and Tolerability Compared to Placebo

SAN DIEGO, April 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organovo Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:ONVO), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel treatment approaches based on demonstration of clinical promise in three-dimensional (3D) human tissues, today released the complete details of its 16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 2 study of the non-steroidal, non-bile acid FXR agonist FXR314 for the treatment of metabolic function-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Study results demonstrated statistically significant reduction in liver fat content from baseline in patients receiving FXR314 compared to placebo.

Study subjects receiving FXR314 achieved statistically significant reduction in liver fat content from baseline, with LS mean percent reduction at end of treatment of 22.8% (p=0.0010) with 3 mg and 17.5% (p=0.0267) with 6 mg doses of FXR314 compared to 6.1% in the placebo group. The proportion of subjects with >30% magnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) reduction was 29.2% (p=0.0023) and 32.2% (p=0.0020) for 3 mg and 6 mg FXR314, respectively, compared to 9.5% with placebo. Investigators observed improvements in hepatocellular damage and liver function based on serological measures, with no evidence of worsening of liver fibrosis.

	FXR314 3 mg		FXR314 6 mg		Placebo
Liver fat reduction (LS mean reduction from baseline, SE)	22.8 + 3.6% p=0.0010		17.5 + 3.7% p=0.0267		6.1 + 3.5%
Subjects with >30% MRI-PDFF reduction	29.2% p=0.0023		32.2% p=0.0020		9.5%
Pruritus	2.8%		4.2%		2.8%
Pruritus-related treatment discontinuation	0%		0%		0%

FXR314 was also found to be safe and well tolerated. Treatment-emergent adverse events were mostly mild to moderate in severity, with incidence comparable between FXR314 3 mg, 6 mg, and placebo. Drug-related treatment discontinuation was minimal and similar across groups. There was also no evidence with FXR314 of adverse events considered common in the FXR class, including measures of pruritus (3 mg 2.8%, 6 mg 4.2% and placebo 2.8%) and LDL-C levels (change from baseline of 1.5%, 4.5% and -3.6% for 3mg, 6mg, and placebo groups respectively).