SAN DIEGO, June 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metacrine, Inc., an innovative biotechnology company developing therapies to benefit patients with liver, gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases, today announced dosing of the first subjects in a Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) trial of its lead product candidate MET409. The trial is a single and multiple ascending oral dose administration design that will be conducted in healthy male subjects. The trial is being conducted in the Netherlands.
MET409 is a potent oral non-bile acid small molecule farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist. Leveraging its highly experienced internal team in biology and chemistry, Metacrine believes it has identified key factors in regards to FXR engagement that are important for efficacy as well as safety. Developed as a best-in-class FXR agonist, MET409 has the potential to treat patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
“The completion of the first dosing cohort with MET409 is a great milestone for the company as we continue clinical development of MET409,” said Ken Song, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Metacrine.
Following the completion of the Phase 1 study in healthy male subjects, Metacrine plans to evaluate MET409 in several parallel Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with NASH, IBS-D and IBD. Metacrine recently completed a $65 million Series C financing to help fund these studies.
About Metacrine
Metacrine is developing best-in-class and first-in-class therapies to benefit patients with liver, gastrointestinal, and metabolic diseases. Metacrine’s lead program for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), MET409, focuses on the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and is based on a novel non-bile acid chemical scaffold. Additional programs are underway in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the company has a research collaboration with Novo Nordisk in type 2 diabetes. Privately held Metacrine is headquartered in San Diego. For additional information, please visit www.metacrine.com.
Contacts:
Investor Inquiries
Westwicke Partners
Robert H. Uhl
Managing Director
858.356.5932
robert.uhl@westwicke.com