Drug & Device Development

Gilead drug effective against liver disease: study

Last Updated: 2010-04-16 18:37:14 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Deena Beasley

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental drug, GS-9450, was shown in a mid-stage trial to improve markers of liver damage in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Researchers said the phase II trial, involving 124 patients, showed treatment with the drug reduced levels of alanine (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferases (AST)

The results were presented on Friday in Vienna at the International Liver Congress.

GS-9450 is a caspase inhibitor designed to block proteins that initiate apoptosis in damaged cells.

Gilead said the drug is a potential new treatment option for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Further studies are needed to evaluate the drug's efficacy and safety in larger patient populations.

The trial showed that, after four weeks, 35% of patients treated with the highest dose of GS-9450 achieved ALT levels within the normal range. Forty-eight percent achieved normal levels of AST. Placebo treatment showed no meaningful change for either enzyme.