Aims: To assess the therapeutic potential of fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibition with FT-4101, a potent, selective, orally bioavailable, small-molecule by (a) evaluating the dose-response of single FT-4101 doses (3, 6 and 9 mg) on hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in healthy participants (Study 1) and (b) demonstrating the safety, tolerability and efficacy on hepatic steatosis after 12 weeks of FT-4101 dosing in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; Study 2).
Materials and methods: In Study 1, three sequential cohorts of healthy men (n = 10/cohort) were randomized to receive a single dose of FT-4101 (n = 5/cohort) or placebo (n = 5/cohort) followed by crossover dosing after 7 days. Hepatic DNL was assessed during fructose stimulation from 13 C-acetate incorporation. In Study 2, men and women with NAFLD (n = 14) randomly received 12 weeks of intermittent once-daily dosing (four cycles of 2 weeks on-treatment, followed by 1 week off-treatment) of 3 mg FT-4101 (n = 9) or placebo (n = 5). Steady-state DNL based on deuterated water labelling, hepatic steatosis using magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction and sebum lipids and circulating biomarkers were assessed.
Results: Single and repeat dosing of FT-4101 were safe and well tolerated. Single FT-4101 doses inhibited hepatic DNL dose-dependently. Twelve weeks of 3 mg FT-4101 treatment improved hepatic steatosis and inhibited hepatic DNL. Decreases in sebum sapienate content with FT-4101 at week 11 were not significant compared to placebo and rebounded at week 12. Biomarkers of liver function, glucose and lipid metabolism were unchanged.
Conclusions: Inhibition of FASN with 3 mg FT-4101 safely reduces hepatic DNL and steatosis in NAFLD patients.
Keywords: drug development; drug mechanism; fatty liver disease; pharmacodynamics; phase I−II study; randomized trial.
© 2020 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.