MitoQ cuts ALT levels in chronic HCV patients

The USA's Antipodean Pharmaceuticals' lead compound MitoQ (mitoquinone) successfully met the primary clinical endpoint, the reduction of elevated liver enzymes, in a Phase II, 28-day, 30-patient, hepatitis C virus trial, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, in Milan, Italy.

Researchers measured baseline levels of aminotransferase, an enzyme released into the blood that indicates liver damage. The fall from baseline was 26.4% (p<0.002) for patients in the 40mg MitoQ dose group and 28% (p<0.05) in the 80mg arm, suggesting that the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant can reduce necroinflammation and may halt disease progression to fibrosis or cirrhosis, the firm noted, adding that the drug was well tolerated with no significant safety issues.

"In patients with chronic liver disease, including the two patient populations with the largest unmet need - patients with chronic hepatitis C, who have failed current standard-of-care, and patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, there are currently no therapeutic options available to prevent progression to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer," said lead investigator Edward Gane. "In the future, these patients may benefit from maintenance therapy with interventions such as MitoQ, which block either hepatic necroinflammation or fibrogenesis," he added. In the coming year, Antipodean plans to explore and develop its lead compound for the treatment of hepatological diseases, particularly NAFLD, and is actively seeking a partner to take it further.