A new oral PPAR-targeting medicine for alcoholic hepatitis
An innovative, non-thiazolidinedione pan-PPAR agonist therapeutic for alcoholic hepatitis: IND-enabling safety and toxicological evaluation
A new oral drug (PLG888) designed to help people with alcoholic hepatitis by targeting three PPAR proteins to reduce liver damage and complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pleiogenix INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Carlsbad, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330201 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have alcoholic hepatitis, researchers are preparing a new oral drug called PLG888 for human testing by completing the safety and toxicology studies the FDA requires. The medicine is designed to act on three PPAR proteins in the liver to reduce inflammation and injury while minimizing side effects linked to older PPAR drugs. Early animal experiments showed PLG888 improved survival in mouse models of alcohol-related liver injury compared with standard care. If these safety studies go well, the company will apply for permission to start clinical trials in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be adults diagnosed with moderate-to-severe alcoholic hepatitis who meet safety criteria and are not immediate candidates for liver transplant.
Not a fit: People with only mild alcohol-related liver disease, those actively drinking without stabilization, or patients whose liver disease is from non-alcohol causes may not benefit from this investigational drug.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this drug could become a first effective medication to improve survival and reduce complications for people with alcoholic hepatitis without some of the side effects of older PPAR drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Other PPAR-targeting drugs have shown promise in metabolic and fatty liver conditions, but this specific pan-PPAR oral approach for alcoholic hepatitis is novel and has not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Carlsbad, United States
- Pleiogenix INC. — Carlsbad, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manchem, Prasad — Pleiogenix INC.
- Study coordinator: Manchem, Prasad
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.