The dominos fell as expected in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) R&D space as Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced late on 22 June that it had received a second complete response letter from the US Food and Drug Administration for obeticholic acid (OCA) in pre-cirrhotic NASH and told investors it was ending activity in the space. What remains unknown is how the fate of OCA, an FXR agonist, may read through to the rest of the burgeoning and varied NASH development race.
Intercept Ends NASH Development, But Other Firms’ FXR Agonist Programs Ongoing
While Intercept is calling it quits in NASH with its FXR agonist obeticholic acid following a second complete response letter, other companies are staying the course with Phase II molecules in the class.

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Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.
The small interference RNA therapeutic can be used by patients regardless of inhibitor status.