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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Liver Cirrhosis Network Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States

Liver Cirrhosis Network (LCN) Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States (RESCU): A Double-Blind Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study

Liver Cirrhosis Network Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States (NCT05832229) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Cirrhosis and Cirrhosis, Liver, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a double-blind, phase 2 study to evaluate safety and efficacy of rosuvastatin in comparison to placebo after 2 years in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Cirrhosis and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 256 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Cirrhosis subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Age 18-75 years 2. Cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, or chronic viral hepatitis (treated hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus) 3. Clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis as defined investigator confirmation and the following: 1. At least one liver biopsy within 5 years prior to consent showing either: Metavir stage 4 fibrosis; Ishak Stage 5-6 fibrosis, OR 2. At least 2 of the following: i. Evidence on imaging: Nodular liver with either splenomegaly or recanalized umbilical vein within the past 48 weeks ii. Liver stiffness: vibration-controlled transient elastography within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥15 kilopascal or magnetic resonance elastography within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥5 kilopascal iii. Evidence of varices demonstrated on imaging or endoscopy within 3 years prior to consent or during Screening iv. Either: Fibrosis-4\>2.67 or platelets \<150/mL within 6 months prior to consent or during Screening 4. Two measures of vibration-controlled transient elastography: one at screening and one at the randomization study visit, meeting the following criteria: 1. The first measure must be ≥ 15 kilopascal. 2. The two measures must be at least 2 hours apart and no more than 60 days apart from one another. 3. The mean of two measurements must be ≥ 15 kilopascal. 4. Additionally, both screening and open-label dispense liver stiffness measures must be ≤50 kPa 5. Compensated defined by: 1. Absence of ascites/hydrothorax, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding currently or in the last 48 weeks, as determined clinically by investigator. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18-75 years 2. Cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, or chronic viral hepatitis (treated hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus) 3. Clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis as defined investigator confirmation and the following: 1. At least one liver biopsy within 5 years prior to consent showing either: Metavir stage 4 fibrosis; Ishak Stage 5-6 fibrosis, OR 2. At least 2 of the following: i. Evidence on imaging: Nodular liver with either splenomegaly or recanalized umbilical vein within the past 48 weeks ii. Liver stiffness: vibration-controlled transient elastography within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥15 kilopascal or magnetic resonance elastography within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥5 kilopascal iii. Evidence of varices demonstrated on imaging or endoscopy within 3 years prior to consent or during Screening iv. Either: Fibrosis-4\&amp;gt;2.67 or platelets \&amp;lt;150/mL within 6 months prior to consent or during Screening 4. Two measures of vibration-controlled transient elastography: one at screening and one at the randomization study visit, meeting the following criteria: 1. The first measure must be ≥ 15 kilopascal. 2. The two measures must be at least 2 hours apart and no more than 60 days apart from one another. 3. The mean of two measurements must be ≥ 15 kilopascal. 4. Additionally, both screening and open-label dispense liver stiffness measures must be ≤50 kPa 5. Compensated defined by: 1. Absence of ascites/hydrothorax, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding currently or in the last 48 weeks, as determined clinically by investigator. 2. If prior history of decompensation, must be without current symptoms of decompensation and no longer requiring treatment of complications for the last 48 weeks, including the use of diuretics for the treatment of ascites, and/or rifaximin or lactulose for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Use of non-selective beta blockers will be allowed. 3. Child-Pugh score \&amp;lt;8 6. Provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Currently on a statin or any statin exposure within 24 weeks prior to consent. 2. Known indication for statin therapy, defined as: 1. Prior peripheral vascular, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event for which statins are indicated for secondary prevention, OR 2. Documented familial hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, OR 3. Fasting LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL 3. Myocardial infarction, Unstable angina, transient ischemic events, or stroke within 24 weeks of screening. 4. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) total score of ≥8 at screening. 5. Patients with limitations in attending study visits. 6. Prisoners. 7. Known prior or current hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma. 8. Known transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), balloon retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) or porto-systemic shunt surgery regardless of time of occurrence. 9. Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications known to cause hepatic fibrogenesis or confound endpoint assessment, defined as: 1. amiodarone 2. methotrexate 3. warfarin 10. Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications which may increase risk for rosuvastatin-related myositis or DILI, defined as: 1. fenofibrate 2. erythromycin 3. gemfibrozil 4. niacin (500 mg or more) 5. HIV protease inhibitors (darunivar, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir) in patients of East Asian descent 6. colchicine 7. cyclosporin 8. Additional medications that will be excluded: atazanavir/ritonavir capmatinib darolutamide dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir ledipasvir/sofosbuvir elbasvir/grazoprevir erythromycin glecaprevir/pibrentasvir lopinavir/ritonavir regorafenib ritonavir, in any combination simeprevir sofbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir sofosbuvir/velpatasvir tafamidis teriflunomide \*If exposure was for 7 or less days for one of these medications can consider enrollment after 28 days from final dose. 11. Presence of portal or hepatic vein thrombosis 12. Diagnosis of untreated hypothyroidism or on unstable treatment regimen for hypothyroidism 13. Receiving an elemental diet or parenteral nutrition 14. Chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency 15. Etiology of cirrhosis other than ALD, NAFLD, or viral hepatitis (excluded diagnoses include cryptogenic immune-mediated such as AIH, PSC and PBC, cardiac cirrhosis or Fontan-associated liver disease, A1AT, Wilson's disease, etc.) 16. Conditions which may confound study outcome: 1. Unstable or active inflammatory bowel disease 2. Active infection 3. Any malignant disease (other than squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin) within previous 3 years 4. Prior solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplant 5. Bariatric surgery in the last 24 weeks prior to consent or planned bariatric surgery within the next 96 weeks 6. Current liver-unrelated end-stage organ failures such as end-stage renal disease on dialysis, stage 3-4 congestive heart failure (CHF), current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on home oxygen. 17. Known current medical or psychiatric conditions which, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for the study for safety reasons or interfere with or prevent adherence to the protocol. 18. The following laboratory abnormalities within 90 days of screening: 1. Hemoglobin \<10 g/dL 2. Albumin \<3.0 g/dL 3. Prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) \>1.5 4. Total bilirubin ≥ 2.0 mg/dl (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome or hemolysis as denoted by normal direct bilirubin fraction) 5. Direct bilirubin ≥ 0.9 6. Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 9.5%) within past 90 days. 19. Kidney function abnormalities including: 1. Dialysis 2. Baseline eGFR \< 30 cc/min with CKD-Epi equation 3. Known nephrotic proteinuria, defined as 3g or greater of protein in 24-hour urine collection 20. Recent (within 48 weeks) or present hepatic decompensation with ascites/hydrothorax, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding 21. Untreated chronic hepatitis B or C infection 1. HCV eligible for enrollment if HCV RNA negative at baseline or documentation of prior SVR12 2. HBV eligible if an HBV DNA \<100 IU/mL within the last 48 weeks and on treatment 22. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 200 U/L, or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥ 300 within the past 24 weeks. 23. Documented history of intolerance to statins 24. Serious comorbid medical disease which in the investigator's opinion renders a life-expectancy less than 96 weeks 25. Active illicit substance use (other than THC), including inhaled or injected drugs, in the 24 weeks prior to screening 26. Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or breastfeeding 27. Current participation in active medication treatment trials (within 24 weeks prior to randomization) or planned participation in active medication treatment trials simultaneous to participation in present trial. 28. Significant existing muscle pain or tenderness or prior history of myasthenia gravis as determined by a site physician. 29. Failure or inability to provide informed consent.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Rosuvastatin

Patients meeting all eligibility criteria will be assigned to a randomization arm prior to initiation of a 4-week lead-in phase of the study. All participants will undergo a 4-week, open-label active run-in phase to evaluate initial safety and adherence to rosuvastatin. During this active run-phase, all participants will receive target dose rosuvastatin-- 20 mg daily (10 mg daily for participants of East-Asian ancestry or on a protease inhibitor). After the active run-in phase, all participants will continue with their pre-assigned randomization (1:1) treatment of rosuvastatin 20 mg daily (10 mg daily for participants of East-Asian ancestry or on a protease inhibitor) or matching placebo.

Locations (13)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

University of California San Diego NAFLD Research Center
La Jolla, California, United States
Keck Medical Center of USC
Los Angeles, California, United States
LAC + USC Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
UCSF/Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
San Francisco, California, United States
UCSF Medical Center
San Francisco, California, United States
University of Miami Health System
Miami, Florida, United States
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
New York, New York, United States
Columbia University Iriving School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
Duke Liver Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05832229), the sponsor (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05832229 clinical trial studying?

This is a double-blind, phase 2 study to evaluate safety and efficacy of rosuvastatin in comparison to placebo after 2 years in patients with compensated cirrhosis. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05832229?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05832229?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05832229. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05832229. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.