Rivus Pharmaceuticals’ experimental cardiometabolic drug, HU6, nailed a mid-stage trial in obese patients with heart failure, finding that patients notched a statistically significant reduction in weight.
Tuesday’s interim readout is a key benchmark for the company, which is backed by RA Capital and Bain Capital, among others. In the study, Rivus said patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction who were treated with HU6 had a statistically significant reduction in weight and met “several secondary efficacy and pharmacodynamic endpoints.”
More data are expected to be presented at the Heart Failure Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting in late September.
The asset — Rivus’ lead candidate — is among the crop of next-generation obesity treatments that aims to help patients lose weight without losing muscle mass. Rivus said that HU6 was well-tolerated and had a “favorable safety profile.” It plans to launch a Phase 3 study in 2025.
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