Abdominal obesity and type-2 Diabetes are associated with chronic liver disorders resulting from the accumulation of fat in the liver (steatosis), which may progress towards hepatitis and possibly lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NAFLD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) is considered as the most common form of chronic liver disease in adults in the United States, Australia, Asia and Europe. In the USA, the estimated prevalence of NAFLD is 20-30% of the adult population. Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressing form of NAFLD, which corresponds to hepatic steatosis associated with inflammation and liver cell injury upon microscopic examination of a liver biopsy. This condition may lead to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis and deserves serious medical management. Up to now, there is no effective drug which has clearly demonstrated therapeutic efficacy which may help lifestyle and dietary recommendations in the resolution of NASH. In this context, GENFIT is developing a new liver targeted drug candidate, GFT505, for the treatment of NASH and the reduction of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 Diabetes. This phase IIb study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of GFT505 80mg and 120mg once daily for 52 weeks on the reversal of NASH without worsening of fibrosis, based on liver biopsy assessments.

The study duration per patient will be 80 weeks. A screening period (from 4 to 16 weeks) will precede a 52-week double-blind treatment period and a 3 months follow-up period. The study will be conducted in 270 patients (90 patients in the placebo arm, 90 patients in the GFT505 80mg arm, and 90 patients in the GFT505 120mg arm). Enrollment will be performed in two phases: during the first phase, the patients will receive either GFT505 at a dose of 80 mg either the placebo. An independent expert committee will review the safety data when 45 patients receiving the dose at 80 mg will have been treated for 6 months. The committee approval will be necessary to start the second phase, while the patients will receive either GFT505 at a dose of 80 mg, or GFT505 at a dose of 120 mg or the placebo.