Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition which causes fat to accumulate in the liver. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of the disease in which the patient also experiences inflammation and damage to the liver’s cells. These conditions, as well as other fibrotic-inflammatory disorders such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and systemic sclerosis currently have limited treatment options. But companies like ChemomAb are trying to change that.
ChemomAb has just announced that the first patient in their Phase 1b trial for NAFLD has just received treatment. The company is examining the effect of CM-101. Their hope is that the drug will prevent the progression of NAFLD into NASH. CM-101 is a type of CCL24 neutralizing antibody which researchers believe could reduce inflammation and fibrosis (the scarring of connective tissue). CCL24 is one of the drivers of fibrosis in conditions like NASH. CM-101 has shown efficacy and safety in pre-clinical studies utilizing animal models.
The Trial
ChemomAb’s Phase 1b trial for CM-101 is double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled. Specifically, it will be evaluating the tolerability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and of course safety of the drug in NAFLD patients.
Participants in the trial will receive CM-101 or placebo (determined by randomization) for a period of 12 weeks. Following this treatment period there will be a recovery phase.
The company is also working to examine the effect of the treatment for systemic sclerosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Hopefully, we will hear positive results from this Phase 1b clinical trial in the near future. In the meantime, you can read more about ChemomAb’s work and this specific evaluation of CM-101 here.
