While neither company reported new data from their ongoing trials at AASLD, the firm’s competing THRβ agonists are viewed as leading lights in the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis competition.

Good news in the biopharma industry and the US economy gave public drug developers the boost they needed to raise cash, including Karuna’s $750m offering. Private company financings slowed during the second week of August, but Prellis and Vector BioPharma raised venture capital.

Metacrine halts development of its FXR agonist compounds in NASH and turn its focus to inflammatory bowel disease. Firm plans Phase II ulcerative colitis study in 2022 with MET642.

Biotech is determining which of its mid-stage FXR candidates – MET409 and MET642 – will offer the best overall profile to take into Phase IIb. It is also studying ‘409 in combination with Jardiance and will test the FXR class in inflammatory bowel disease.