Cirius Suspects Insulin Resistance Is Underlying Key To NASH

The former Octeta is expanding the ongoing Phase IIb study of its second-generation insulin sensitizer. An insulin sensitizer with a better safety profile than first-generation drugs like Actos may provide a backbone therapy for NASH, the company believes.

With $40m in Series A cash and led by a new, experienced executive team, Cirius Therapeutics Inc. is expanding a Phase IIb dose-finding trial of its insulin sensitizer MSDC-0602K in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the hopes that a safer, second-generation drug can address the disease's underlying metabolic pathology.

Formerly known as Octeta Therapeutics, the company builds upon the research of Jerry Colca, one of the project leaders behind...

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