Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Study of ADI-PEG 20 Versus Placebo in Subjects With NASH

A Phase 2A, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Center Trial of ADI-PEG 20 or Placebo in Subjects With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Study of ADI-PEG 20 Versus Placebo in Subjects With NASH (NCT05842512) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), sponsored by Polaris Group. 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

Evaluate efficacy and safety of ADI-PEG 20 in patients with NASH

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) 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 60 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) 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. Males and non-lactating, pregnancy test negative females between 18 - 80 years of age with biopsy proven F1 - F4 (compensated cirrhosis, Child-Pugh A, score ≤6) NASH. Limit F1 fibrosis to ≤ 20% of total subject population. 2. Willingness to use appropriate contraceptive measures throughout study treatment and for 90 days thereafter (see Appendix A). 3. Body mass index (BMI) \> 23 kg/m2 4. Must have confirmation of ≥ 5 % liver fat content on MRI-PDFF at screening. 5. Biopsy-proven NASH confirmed by a central pathologist. Must have had a liver biopsy either during the screening period or a historical biopsy conducted within the last 6 months prior to pre-screening with fibrosis stage 1 to 4 (F score, F1-F4) and a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) of ≥ 4 with at least a score of 1 in each of the following NAS components: 1. Steatosis (scored 0 to 3), 2. Ballooning degeneration (scored 0 to 2), and 3. Lobular inflammation (scored 0 to 3). 6. Must have no evidence of worsening of ALT and AST (within 50%) measurements within 2 months prior to screening (-8 weeks) visits. 7. Screening laboratory parameters, as determined by the central laboratory: 1. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min, as calculated by the Cockcroft- Gault equation; 2. HbA1c ≤ 9.5% (or serum fructosamine ≤ 381 μmol if HbA1c is unable to be resulted); 3. blood count (hemoglobin) at least 11 g/dL; 4. INR ≤ 1.3, unless due to therapeutic anticoagulation; 5. Direct bilirubin ≤ 0.5 mg/dL; 6. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.3 x upper limit of normal (ULN), unless due to an alternate etiology such as Gilbert's syndrome or hemolytic anemia; 7. Creatinine kinase \< 3 x ULN; 8. Platelet count ≥ 150,000/μL; 9. Serum triglyceride level ≤ 500 mg/dL; 10. ALT \< 6 x ULN; 11. AST \< 6 x ULN; 12. ALP \< 2 x ULN. 8. FibroScan® measurement \> 7.0 kPa and \< 20.0 kPa. ...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. Males and non-lactating, pregnancy test negative females between 18 - 80 years of age with biopsy proven F1 - F4 (compensated cirrhosis, Child-Pugh A, score ≤6) NASH. Limit F1 fibrosis to ≤ 20% of total subject population. 2. Willingness to use appropriate contraceptive measures throughout study treatment and for 90 days thereafter (see Appendix A). 3. Body mass index (BMI) \> 23 kg/m2 4. Must have confirmation of ≥ 5 % liver fat content on MRI-PDFF at screening. 5. Biopsy-proven NASH confirmed by a central pathologist. Must have had a liver biopsy either during the screening period or a historical biopsy conducted within the last 6 months prior to pre-screening with fibrosis stage 1 to 4 (F score, F1-F4) and a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) of ≥ 4 with at least a score of 1 in each of the following NAS components: 1. Steatosis (scored 0 to 3), 2. Ballooning degeneration (scored 0 to 2), and 3. Lobular inflammation (scored 0 to 3). 6. Must have no evidence of worsening of ALT and AST (within 50%) measurements within 2 months prior to screening (-8 weeks) visits. 7. Screening laboratory parameters, as determined by the central laboratory: 1. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min, as calculated by the Cockcroft- Gault equation; 2. HbA1c ≤ 9.5% (or serum fructosamine ≤ 381 μmol if HbA1c is unable to be resulted); 3. Hemoglobin ≥ 11 g/dL; 4. INR ≤ 1.3, unless due to therapeutic anticoagulation; 5. Direct bilirubin ≤ 0.5 mg/dL; 6. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.3 x upper limit of normal (ULN), unless due to an alternate etiology such as Gilbert's syndrome or hemolytic anemia; 7. Creatinine kinase \< 3 x ULN; 8. Platelet count ≥ 150,000/μL; 9. Serum triglyceride level ≤ 500 mg/dL; 10. ALT \< 6 x ULN; 11. AST \< 6 x ULN; 12. ALP \< 2 x ULN. 8. FibroScan® measurement \> 7.0 kPa and \< 20.0 kPa. 9. Subjects on non-insulin dependent diabetic, weight loss, or lipid-modifying medication(s) must be on stable dose(s) for at least 3 months prior to the diagnostic liver biopsy through randomization. 10. Subjects on vitamin E and pioglitazone must maintain a stable dosage before the diagnostic liver biopsy and during the study period. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Weight gain or loss \> 5% in the 3 months prior to randomization or \> 10% in the 6 months prior to screening. 2. Type 1 and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. 3. Poorly controlled hypertension (blood pressure \[BP\] \> 160/100 mmHg). 4. Prior history of decompensated liver disease including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy (HE), or variceal bleeding. 5. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] positive. 6. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (HCV antibody \[Ab\] and HCV ribonucleic acid \[RNA\] positive). Subjects cured of HCV infection less than 1 year prior (based on date of RNA polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\] negative confirmation following conclusion of treatment) to the screening visit are not eligible. 7. Prior or planned (during the study period) bariatric surgery (e.g., gastroplasty, roux-en-Y gastric bypass), surgery reversal or removal of intragastric balloon \> 2 years prior to enrollment would be eligible. 8. Other causes of liver disease based on medical history and/or centralized review of liver histology, including but not limited to alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune disorders (e.g., primary biliary cholangitis \[PBC\], primary sclerosing cholangitis \[PSC\], autoimmune hepatitis), drug-induced hepatotoxicity, Wilson disease, clinically significant iron overload, or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency requiring treatment. 9. History of liver transplantation. 10. Subjects with primary cancer, including co-existent second malignancy, with the exception of primary solid tumor with no known active disease present in the opinion of the Investigator which will not affect subject outcome in the setting of current diagnosis. 11. Alcohol intake above an average limit of 2 drinks per day for women and 3 drinks per day for men. An alcoholic drink is defined as 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol, 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol. 12. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 13. Unstable cardiovascular disease in the 6 months prior to screening. 14. Life expectancy less than 2 years. 15. Use of any investigational medication within 30 days or within 5 half-lives of the investigational medication, whichever is longer, prior to screening and throughout the study is prohibited. 16. Subjects with a history of (12 months prior to baseline) or current use of prescription drugs associated with liver steatosis (e.g., methotrexate, amiodarone, high-dose estrogen, tamoxifen, systemic steroids, anabolic steroids, valproic acid) should be excluded. However, subjects currently using silymarin should maintain their current dosage throughout the trial period. 17. Contraindication of magnetic resonance imaging. These include but are not limited to devices or metal foreign bodies, such as Pacemaker, defibrillator or wires other than sternal wires, metallic foreign body in the eye, "triggerfish" contact lens, gastric reflux device, and insulin pumps. 18. MELD score \>12 19. Subjects with esophageal or gastric varices with recent bleeding episodes (within 1 year).

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

ADI-PEG20

Treatment for NASH

OTHER

Placebo

Treatment for NASH

Locations (10)

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.

Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital;Chiayi Christian Hospital (CYCH)
Chiayi City, Taiwan, Taiwan
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital(KMUH)
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan
E-Da Hospital (EDH)
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan
Chang Gung Medical Foundation-Kaohsiung (CGMF-KS)
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taiwan
Chang Gung Medical Foundation-Keelung (CGMF-KL)
Keelung, Taiwan, Taiwan
National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH)
Tainan, Taiwan, Taiwan
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH)
Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan
Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TPVGH)
Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan
Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital (FJCUH)
Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan
Chang Gung Medical Foundation-Linkou (CGMF-LK)
Taoyuan District, Taiwan, Taiwan

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05842512), the sponsor (Polaris Group), 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 NCT05842512 clinical trial studying?

Evaluate efficacy and safety of ADI-PEG 20 in patients with NASH The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05842512?

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 NCT05842512?

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 NCT05842512. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05842512. 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.