Larger of two doses of the NGF inhibitor hit two efficacy endpoints, but the rate of joint health outcomes on a composite measure was higher than control by a statistically significant margin.

After disappointing top-line Phase II data in diabetic peripheral neuropathy with NYX-2925, Aptinyx says the full dataset shows significance across endpoints in patients four years or more past diagnosis; a second Phase II study in this subgroup is planned.

Start-up Insitro will attempt to optimize up to five NASH targets for Gilead under three-year alliance. Catalent buys gene therapy CDMO Paragon for $1.2bn, Boehringer partners with PureTech in GI cancer, while Fibrocell inks gene therapy pact with Castle Creek.

Biotech thinks its PPAR delta agonist will prove much more potent than Genfit’s elafibranor from the same class and will offer a better tolerability profile than Intercept’s OCA.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was a focal point of EASL’s conference. Madrigal becomes the fifth company into Phase III in NASH, but Viking’s competing THR agonist is progressing also.

Pfizer has high hopes for ketohexokinase inhibition and other fat-reducing mechanisms in NASH. Data from a small study reported at EASL also suggest its KHK inhibitor could have utility in diabetes.