Last night, Inventiva reported positive results from its Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial in patients with both MASH/NASH and type 2 diabetes.

The biopharmaceutical company, which specializes in the clinical development of orally-administered small molecules, reports that the study met its primary efficacy endpoint.

According to the biotech, a "significant" reduction in hemoglobin HbA1c was observed in the groups receiving its lanifibranor, either alone or in combination with empagliflozin, compared with the placebo group.

A statistical effect was also demonstrated for several markers of liver damage, glycemic and lipid metabolism, as well as hepatic steatosis, Inventiva points out.

Patients treated with lanifibranor in combination with empagliflozin maintained a stable weight throughout the 24-week study, remedying the moderate and metabolically healthy weight gain that can be observed in some patients treated with lanifibranor.

Treatment with lanifibranor alone and in combination with empagliflozin reduced the ratio of subcutaneous visceral to abdominal fat, reflecting a shift from pro-inflammatory visceral fat to metabolically healthy adipose tissue.

Finally, treatment with lanifibranor at a dose of 800mg/ once daily alone or in combination with empagliflozin for 24 weeks was well tolerated, with no safety issues reported.

Following this announcement, analysts at Canaccord Genuity reiterated their Buy recommendation on the stock, with a price target of $12 for the Nasdaq-listed stock.

They explained that they were optimistic about the results of the Phase III clinical trial evaluating lanifibranor in NASH, with results expected by the end of 2026.

Despite these positive comments, Inventiva shares were down 3% on the Paris Bourse on Tuesday, with some observers pointing out that the NASH treatment market remains highly competitive.

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