Effects of ALT-801, a GLP-1 and glucagon receptor dual agonist, in a translational mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Body weight loss of ≥ 10% improves the metabolic derangements and liver disease in the majority of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, suggesting metabolic modulators may be effective in controlling disease. The pharmacodynamics of ALT-801, a GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist optimized for NASH and weight loss, were compared to semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) and elafibranor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR-α/δ, agonist) in a biopsy-confirmed, diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model of NASH (DIO-NASH). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed Amylin Liver NASH (AMLN) diet for 32 weeks. Animals with biopsy-confirmed steatosis and fibrosis received ALT-801, semaglutide, elafibranor, or vehicle daily for 12 weeks while maintained on the AMLN diet. Study endpoints included body and liver weight, liver and plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides, plasma aminotransferases, histological analysis of liver steatosis, inflammation (galectin-3) and fibrosis (collagen type 1 alpha 1), and evaluation of individual animal changes in composite Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS), and fibrosis stage. ALT-801 demonstrated significant reductions in body weight (approx. 25%), plasma aminotransferases, plasma total cholesterol and liver triglycerides/total cholesterol in conjunction with improved liver steatosis, with greater reductions (p < 0.05) compared to semaglutide and elafibranor. ALT-801 significantly reduced the inflammation marker galectin-3 and the fibrosis marker collagen type 1 alpha 1 vs. vehicle (p < 0.05), with ALT-801 producing greater reductions in galectin-3 vs. elafibranor (p < 0.05). Importantly, all animals treated with ALT-801 significantly improved composite NAS compared to the active controls. This study provides evidence for a potential role for ALT-801 in the therapeutic treatment of NASH.