Selonsertib for Patients with Bridging Fibrosis or Compensated Cirrhosis Due to NASH: Results from Randomized Ph III STELLAR Trials

ABSTRACT Background & Aims Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) plays a key role in hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We evaluated the safety and anti-fibrotic effect of selonsertib, a selective inhibitor of ASK1, in patients with advanced fibrosis due to NASH. Methods We conducted two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials of selonsertib in patients with NASH and bridging fibrosis (F3, STELLAR-3) or compensated cirrhosis (F4, STELLAR-4). Patients were randomized 2:2:1 to receive selonsertib 18 mg, selonsertib 6 mg, or placebo once daily for 48 weeks. Liver biopsies were performed at screening and week 48 and noninvasive tests of fibrosis (NITs) were evaluated. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with ≥1-stage improvement in fibrosis without worsening of NASH at week 48. Additional endpoints included changes in NITs, progression to cirrhosis (in STELLAR-3), and liver-related clinical events. Results Neither trial met the primary efficacy endpoint. In STELLAR-3, fibrosis improvement without worsening of NASH was observed in 10% (31/322, p=0.49 vs placebo), 12% (39/321, p=0.93 vs placebo), and 13% (21/159) of patients in the selonsertib 18 mg, selonsertib 6 mg, and placebo groups, respectively. In STELLAR-4, the primary endpoint was achieved in 14% (51/354; p=0.56), 13% (45/351; p=0.93), and 13% (22/172) of patients, respectively. Although selonsertib led to dose-dependent reductions in hepatic phospho-p38 expression indicative of pharmacodynamic activity, it had no significant effect on liver biochemistry, NITs, progression to cirrhosis, or adjudicated clinical events. The rates and types of adverse events were similar among selonsertib and placebo groups. Conclusions Forty-eight weeks of selonsertib monotherapy had no anti-fibrotic effect in patients with bridging fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis due to NASH.