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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health concern. Its natural history, the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis, is highly variable, prone to endogenous (e.g., genetics, microbiota) and exogenous (e.g., nutrition, alcohol, physical activity) disease modifiers, and can fluctuate over time. The complexity of its pathophysiology is reflected by the multitude of pharmacological targets in development. NASH clinical trials have provided valuable insight that is applicable to future trial design. Endpoints for NASH have evolved over the past decade and will continue to be refined. Currently accepted endpoints for conditional approval include resolution of NASH without worsening of fibrosis and/or improvement in fibrosis without worsening of NASH by standardized evaluation of paired liver histology. In pediatric NASH, practical obstacles, pubertal hormonal changes, and stringent safety requirements mandate adaptations in trial design. In adult patients with NASH-related cirrhosis, clinical events (e.g. decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, transplantation, death) are more prevalent and thereby are viable primary endpoints. Consideration of the natural fluctuation of disease, the clinical implication of the chosen primary endpoint, and factors that may affect placebo response will facilitate an accurate determination of efficacy of emerging therapeutics for NASH. Conclusion: The June 2018 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and European Association for the Study of the Liver joint workshop on NAFLD endpoints summarized important findings from ongoing and completed trials, defined the scientific evidence supporting distinct endpoints, and provided guidance for future trial design., (© 2019 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.)

Background & Aims: Lysyl oxidase-like 2 contributes to fibrogenesis by catalyzing cross-linkage of collagen. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of simtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against lysyl oxidase-like 2, in two phase 2b trials of patients with advanced fibrosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis., Methods: We performed a double-blind study of 219 patients with bridging fibrosis caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis who were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups given weekly subcutaneous injections of simtuzumab (75 or 125 mg) or placebo for a planned duration of 240 weeks. We performed a separate study of 258 patients with compensated cirrhosis randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups given intravenous infusions of simtuzumab (200 or 700 mg) or placebo every other week. The studies were performed from January 2013 through July 2014 at 80 sites in North America and Europe. Biopsy specimens were collected and analyzed at screening and at weeks 48 and 96; clinical information and serum levels of fibrosis biomarkers were collected throughout the study. The primary end point was change from baseline to week 96 in hepatic collagen content, measured by morphometry of liver specimens, in patients with bridging fibrosis; for patients with cirrhosis, the primary end point was change in hepatic venous pressure gradient from baseline to week 96., Results: The 2 studies were stopped after week 96 because of lack of efficacy. All 3 groups of patients with bridging fibrosis-including those given placebo-had significant decreases in hepatic collagen content, but there was no statistically significant difference in decrease between patients receiving simtuzumab 75 mg and those receiving placebo (-0.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.3 to 1.0, P = .77) or between patients receiving simtuzumab 125 mg and those receiving placebo (-0.4%, 95% CI -1.5 to 0.8, P = .52). In patients with cirrhosis, the mean difference in hepatic venous pressure gradient between the 2 simtuzumab groups and the placebo group was 0.1 mm Hg (95% CI -1.2 to 1.5, P = .84 for 200 mg; 95% CI -1.2 to 1.4, P = .88 for 700 mg). Simtuzumab did not significantly decrease fibrosis stage, progression to cirrhosis in patients with bridging fibrosis, or liver-related clinical events in patients with cirrhosis. Rates of adverse events were similar among groups., Conclusion: In two phase 2b trials of patients with bridging fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, simtuzumab was ineffective in decreasing hepatic collagen content or hepatic venous pressure gradient, respectively. Clinicaltrials.govNCT01672866 and NCT01672879., (Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)