Clinical trial of MK-6024 in adults with liver scarring from MASH

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Phase 2a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Efinopegdutide (MK-6024) in Adults With Compensated Cirrhosis Secondary to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis

  • IRAS ID

    1009803

  • Contact name

    - -

  • Contact email

    N/A

  • Sponsor organisation

    Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT06465186

  • Research summary

    Researchers are looking for ways to treat a type of fatty liver disease called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
    MASH is liver damage caused by fat building up in liver cells. It happens when the body stores extra fat in the liver, which causes liver inflammation and scarring . Over time, the scarring can stop the liver from working well. MASH often happens in people who are overweight, have diabetes, or have high cholesterol.
    Researchers want to learn if a study medicine called efinopegdutide can treat MASH. Efinopegdutide is in a group of medicines that can help weight loss and may also treat MASH.
    The goals of this study are to learn:
    • If efinopegdutide can lower the amount of fat, inflammation, and scarring in the liver.
    • About the safety of efinopegdutide and how well people tolerate it.

    About 80 people with MASH, 18 to 80 years old will join the study. People will:

    • Have liver scarring or liver damage caused by MASH.
    • Have controlled type 2 diabetes, or do not have type 2 diabetes.
    • Not have another liver disease.

    People will have an equal chance of receiving one of these treatments:
    • Efinopegdutide, the study medicine.
    • Placebo, which looks like the study medicine but has no study medicine in it.

    People will receive their treatment as a weekly injection for about 7 months. Neither the people in the study nor the researchers will know which treatment a person is taking.

    People will give blood samples, have liver imaging tests, have physical examinations, and answer questions about how they are feeling. People may be in this study for about 11 months.

    People may benefit because the study medicine may treat MASH or stop it from getting worse. There may be risks because the study medicine may not work or may cause health problems.

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/LO/0374

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 Jul 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion