Although the data are from a small cohort of an ongoing study, Akero’s FGF21 analog reduces fibrosis score by at least one stage in 33% of cirrhotic NASH patients.

Public Company Edition: 2020 started with two $200m-plus initial public offerings plus five health care-focused special purpose acquisition corporations IPOs. Also, a Pfizer initiative backs three public companies, Fate’s $432m offering led recent FOPOs and Biocon Biologics receives more investment. 

Newly public Aligos will team with Merck & Co. on oligonucleotide therapies for NASH. Maze Therapeutics launches ophthalmology and CV-focused spinouts with Alloy and BridgeBio.

With still no approved therapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Intercept, Madrigal, Inventiva and others used the liver meeting to build the cases for their NASH candidates.