Aligos Therapeutics Reports Positive Phase IIa Results for MASH Treatment, Despite Investor Skepticism

Positive Phase IIa Results:
Aligos Therapeutics announced positive topline results from the Phase IIa HERALD study of ALG-055009, a thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-β) agonist, in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

Liver Fat Reduction:
Patients treated with 0.5-mg, 0.7-mg, and 0.9-mg doses of ALG-055009 showed significant liver fat reductions, with median placebo-adjusted relative reductions of 24.1%, 46.2%, and 43.6%, respectively.

Favorable Safety Profile:
ALG-055009 demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile, with no serious adverse events or episodes of clinical hyper- or hypothyroidism, and most treatment-emergent toxicities were mild to moderate.

Investor Skepticism:
Despite positive results, investors are skeptical due to an unusual placebo effect observed in the trial, which may impact the drug's efficacy perception.

Future Development Plans:
Aligos plans to complete activities required for a Phase IIb study by mid-2025 and is in early discussions with potential partners to fund the continued development of ALG-055009.