Novartis exercises option to license NASH inhibitor from Conatus

Novartis notified Conatus Pharmaceuticals of the company’s intention to exercise the option to an exclusive license agreement for the global development and commercialization of emricasan, an investigational oral pan-caspase inhibitor for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, according to a press release.

“We are pleased to add another important medicine to our liver portfolio with emricasan, which has shown potential in patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis,” Vas Narasimhan, MD, global head of drug development and chief medical officer at Novartis, said in the release. “We look forward to advancing our broad portfolio of NASH and chronic liver disease programs to address this growing unmet need.”

The license agreement was signed on Dec. 19, 2016, and will be effective upon receipt of all required anti-trust approvals and payment of $7 million option exercise fee to Conatus.

Previous phase 2 efficacy trials of emricasan demonstrated significant, rapid and sustained reductions in elevated levels of key biomarkers of inflammation and cell death.

As part of the collaboration, Conatus will conduct multiple phase 2b clinical trials of emricasan. If results of the 2b trials are positive, Novartis will conduct phase 3 studies of emricasan as a single treatment as well as a combination therapy with an farnesoid X receptor agonist.

Reference: www.novartis.com

Disclosure: Narasimhan is employed by Novartis.