Almost 80% of novel agent submissions from the biggest companies were approved in recent years, compared with a 60% approval rate for the rest of the industry, according to a Pink Sheet analysis of FDA approval decisions since 2021.

When the first non-alcoholic steatohepatitis drugs reach market, the health cost watchdog says payers will be justified in setting step-therapy including weight-management efforts, while early prescribing should be by specialists.

An FDA advisory committee’s “no” votes for Intercept’s obeticholic acid in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis could augur tough reviews for other NASH candidates. But some could enjoy smoother regulatory tides than OCA.

Competing with Madrigal in the THRβ agonist class in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Viking’s VK2809 reports stronger efficacy and better safety and tolerability than resmetirom at that stage.