Oral LPCN 1148 improves sarcopenia and hepatic encephalopathy in male patients with cirrhosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including HE. Androgen receptor agonists, androgen receptor agonists, can address these conditions through multimodal mechanisms of action; however, their safety and efficacy in patients with cirrhosis have not been well established.

APPROACH AND

RESULTS

In this multicenter, double-blind, phase 2 trial, men with sarcopenia and cirrhosis awaiting liver transplant were randomized 1:1 to receive either oral Androgen Receptor Agonist LPCN 1148 or placebo for 24 weeks (NCT04874350). The primary end point was the change from baseline to 24 weeks in skeletal muscle index measured by a CT scan of the L3 region, analyzed with a prespecified modified intent-to-treat population. The secondary end point was the number of overt HE events. Twenty-nine participants (mean age=59 y, MELD=17) received at least 1 dose of LPCN 1148 (n=15) or placebo (n=14). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Primary end point analysis demonstrated an increase in L3-skeletal muscle index measured by a CT scan of the L3 region in the LPCN 1148 group (n=15) compared to placebo (n=10), with a mean group difference of 4.4 cm 2 /m 2 (95% CI: 1.3-7.4 cm 2 /m 2 , p =0.007). Participants in LPCN 1148 experienced fewer episodes of overt HE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥2; p =0.02) than placebo. The number and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between arms.

CONCLUSIONS

LPCN 1148 treatment improved sarcopenia and reduced the number of overt HE episodes in men with cirrhosis and sarcopenia awaiting liver transplant. These findings support additional research on the efficacy of LPCN 1148 in treating sarcopenia and preventing HE recurrence.