INTRODUCTION
Several conditions that damage the liver can progress to cirrhosis, which is characterized by abnormal liver structure and function (1 2,3 4 5 5,6
Dysregulated nitrogen metabolism in patients with cirrhosis involves 2 core features: amino acid (AA) imbalances and hyperammonemia, which are interrelated and contribute to debilitating complications such as sarcopenia and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (7–11 11 12 13,14 15 16,17 16 18–22 23
Currently, the recommended standard of care (SOC) for patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia is adequate protein nutrition (24–28 29 30 31,32 33–37 12,38,39 18 40,41 l -ornithine and l -aspartate [LOLA]) supplementation can mitigate elevated ammonia in patients with liver failure and recurrent HE (42–46 40,41 47
Investigations thus far have not included a combination of AAs that can simultaneously address the multiple underlying abnormalities that characterize cirrhosis and, consequently, impact anabolism, physical function, and quality of life. Using an integrated approach that included curation of published research (e.g., Devries et al., (48 21 49
METHODS
Subjects
This study enrolled male and female subjects aged ≥18 to ≤75 years with mild (CPC-A) and moderate (CPC-B) hepatic insufficiency. Most subjects had compensated cirrhosis (mostly due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as documented in the medical record); those with CPC-B presented with mild ascites. Subjects were excluded from the study if they had taken any antibiotics (including rifaximin) and/or lactulose/lactitol to treat elevated ammonia at the time of enrollment or within the 90 days before enrollment. Key inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in Table 1, Supplementary Digital Content 1, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A354
Study design
To examine the effects of AXA1665 on safety, tolerability, and hepatic/muscle physiology, a 2-part study was conducted between December 27, 2017, and June 6, 2018. Study design and procedures are shown in Figures 1a,b .
Figure 1.: Part 1 (ammonia and AAs after protein supplement) and part 2 (AXA1665 or control administered for 15 days) crossover study design (a ), part 2 procedures (b ), and subject disposition (c ). a AXA1665 (powder formulation in water [4 or 8 oz]) or control (4 or 8 oz water) were orally administered t.i.d. 1-hour post-meals on all days except day 15 (single administration). SOC: 30–40 minutes mandatory and supervised physical activity; standardized meals; daily late evening snack. AAs, amino acids; AXAhigh , AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d.; AXAlow , AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d.; CRU, clinical research unit; SOC, standard of care; t, time; t.i.d., 3 times a day.
Part 1.
On day 1, subjects were administered a commercially available standardized protein supplement (American Body Building [A.B.B.] Pure Pro 35, containing 35 g of protein) after a ≥8-hour overnight fast. Blood samples were collected immediately before protein supplement (0 hour) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after protein supplement to establish ammonia and AA baselines with a standardized protein supplement (Figure 1a ). After subjects completed part 1, they were assigned in sequential order to either AXA1665 (group 1) or control (group 2).
Part 2.
Part 2 involved a crossover design of two 15-day periods for each treatment group separated by a 14-day washout (Figure 1a ). Subjects randomly distributed to group 1 received AXA1665 14.7 g 3 times a day (t.i.d.) + SOC in period 1 and, after washout, the same subjects crossed over to control + SOC in period 2 (AXAhigh + SOC → control + SOC sequence); group 2 received control + SOC in period 1 and, after washout, crossed over to AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. + SOC in period 2 (control + SOC →AXAlow + SOC sequence). During each 15-day period (Figure 1b ), subjects were domiciled in the clinical research unit, with controlled meals and physical activity as per SOC (i.e., 30–40 minutes of supervised mandatory physical activity [walking 15–20 minutes before lunch and dinner at subject's usual pace on all study days except on days 1, 8, and 15] + standardized meals [each meal was balanced in macronutrient composition: ∼50% carbohydrates, ∼20% protein, ∼30% fat; total daily calories of approximately 2,500–2,800 kcal/d] + late evening snack [Lärabar, containing ∼4 g of protein and ∼200 kcal]).
AXA1665 (leucine 0.8889 g, isoleucine 0.4444 g, valine 0.8889 g, lysine acetate 0.4703 g, histidine 0.3333 g, threonine 0.3333 g, and ornithine aspartate 1.6667 g in each stick pack) was administered orally as an orange-flavored drink. Each administration was composed of either 1 stick pack (4.9 g of AXA1665 reconstituted in 4 oz of water) t.i.d. (14.7 g/d) or 3 stick packs (14.7 g of AXA1665 reconstituted in 8 oz of water) t.i.d. (44.1 g/d). Control was 4 or 8 oz of water only. Dosing occurred 1 hour after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Subjects were discharged from the clinical research unit for washout, during which no study products (either AXA1665 or late evening snack) or over-the-counter AAs/protein supplements were dispensed/consumed as verified by subject food diaries. After washout, hemoglobin ≥9.5 g/dL was required to enter period 2. On days 1, 8, and 15 of each period, blood and urine samples and physiological measurements (body composition, hand grip strength, chair stand, and balance) were taken after an ≥8-hour overnight fast; on days 1 and 15, standardized protein supplement was administered 1 hour before AXA1665 or control (Figure 1b ).
Measurements
Baseline assessments.
Demographics (age and sex) and clinical characteristics (disease status, AA ratios, laboratory values, body composition, and physical function) were collected on day 1 (baseline) in both parts 1 and 2 and summarized using descriptive statistics.
PK assessments.
Plasma concentrations of AXA1665 constituent AAs (AAs within AXA1665) and AXA1665 nonconstituent AAs (endogenous AAs not in AXA1665) were determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LabCorp, McLeansville, NC) (50 max ) and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0–5 hours (AUC0–5 h ) on days 1 and 15, and 0–4 hours (AUC0–4 h ) and 5–9 hours (AUC5–9 h ) on day 8 during part 2. PK parameters were calculated using standard noncompartmental methods (Phoenix WinNonlin version 6.3, Certara USA, Princeton, NJ). AUC was calculated using the linear trapezoidal method and reported as either baseline uncorrected or AUC control corrected (part 2 control data) for AUC0–4 h and AUC5–9 h to account for AAs consumed through standardized food given with AXA1665. AUC and Cmax data are expressed as mean ± SD on day 1 and day 15 and as geometric mean ratios and associated 90% confidence intervals on day 8 of part 2.
AA assessments.
The FR (sum of plasma valine, leucine, and isoleucine divided by the sum of plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine) and VPR were calculated for each subject at 0 hour (fasted/basal values). FR and VPR are expressed as mean percentage change (±SE) from baseline (day 1 of part 2) at day 15 and as absolute fasted mean changes (±SE) over 15 days (days 1, 8, and 15).
Ammonia assessments.
Venous blood samples for ammonia measurements were obtained without use of a tourniquet and immediately placed on ice. Whole blood ammonia concentration was measured immediately using a commercially available bedside ammonia measuring device (PocketChem BA Blood Ammonia Analyser, Woodley Equipment Company, Horwich, Bolton, UK) (51 52 0–5 h ) were expressed as mean percentage change (±SE) from baseline to day 15.
Assessment of body composition.
Body fat, lean body mass (LBM), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were determined using the InBody 770 system (InBody USA, Los Angeles, CA), a validated tool for assessing whole body composition and segmental lean mass (53
Assessment of physical function.
Dominant hand grip strength (kg) was assessed using the average of 3 measurements from a calibrated hydraulic hand dynamometer (Jamar, Fabrication Enterprises, White Plains, NY). Balance was assessed by the time (seconds) subjects could hold 3 positions (feet side-by-side, staggered, and in tandem) for a maximum of 10 seconds each. Chair stands measured time (seconds) to stand up and sit down in a chair 5 times with arms crossed over the chest. Values obtained from these 3 functional assessments were used to derive the LFI for each individual subject at each time point using the online calculator (https://liverfrailtyindex.ucsf.edu/ 23
Safety assessments.
Clinical adverse events (AEs) were recorded and physical examinations, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and standard safety laboratory assessments (chemistry and hematology) were performed during both study parts.
Statistical Analysis
Intrasubject comparisons were performed with paired t tests to analyze absolute change or percentage change from baseline at day 8 or day 15 after AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. (period 1) vs control (period 2) (AXAhigh + SOC→control + SOC sequence) and control (period 1) vs AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. (period 2) (control + SOC→ AXAlow + SOC sequence). A repeated-measures analysis of variance compared the 2 treatments over time. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. No multiplicity adjustment was made. All analyses used SAS statistical software (version 9.4, Cary, NC).
RESULTS
Subject disposition and baseline characteristics
Twenty-five subjects were screened for inclusion in part 1, and 23 were enrolled. Seventeen subjects completed part 1 and continued to part 2. Sixteen subjects completed both periods 1 and 2 of part 2 (Figure 1c ).
Mean age of the cohort entering part 2 was 53.1 years and most were patients with CPC-A cirrhosis (Table 1 ). Subjects assigned to group 1 compared with group 2 were mostly men and had greater mean body mass index, higher percentage body fat, and lower percentage LBM. However, height, baseline ammonia, LFI, FR, and VPR were similar between groups. Average baseline LFI in part 2 was 3.6, with 88% of the cohort in prefrail (LFI 3.2–4.5), 12% in robust (LFI <3.2), and none in frail (LFI >4.5) categories (23
Table 1.: Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics
PK of AXA1665 constituent AAs and nonconstituent AAs on days 1 and 15
Despite protein supplement consumption 1 hour before AXA1665/control on days 1 and 15, supraphysiological concentrations of the AXA1665 constituent AAs were observed with both doses of AXA1665 relative to control (AUC increase of 6%–80% over control), except for threonine with high-dose AXA1665 on days 1 and 15 and aspartate with low-dose AXA1665 on day 15 (Table 2 ). Day 15 AUC0–5 h with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. was ∼21%–26% lower for the nonconstituent endogenous AAAs (phenylalanine and tyrosine) and methionine with compared with control (Table 2 ), AAs that were intentionally excluded from AXA1665 composition. Plasma glutamine exposure (AUC0–5 h ) remained largely unchanged with both AXA1665 doses (Table 2 ). PK profiling revealed that systemic exposures (AUC0–5 h and Cmax ) were dose dependent for AXA1665 constituent AAs, except for lysine on day 1 and threonine on days 1 and 15 (Table 2 ).
Table 2.: Amino acid exposure (AUC0–5 and Cmax ) on day 1 and day 15 of part 2
Representative time–concentration profiles of constituent AAs (leucine and ornithine) and nonconstituent AAAs (tyrosine and phenylalanine) on days 1 and 15 are in Figure 1, Supplementary Digital Content 2, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A351 max within 1–2 hours and returned to baseline 5 hours postadministration. By contrast, plasma concentrations of tyrosine and phenylalanine were decreased, as indicated by a 21%–24% reduction of AUC0–5 h with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. vs control by day 15. Minimal accumulation of constituent and nonconstituent AAs over 15 days was observed with both AXA1665 doses as indicated by similar AUC0–5 h values on days 1 and 15 (Table 2 ). Nonconstituent AA plasma concentrations were generally similar between AXA1665 and control groups over the 15-day dosing period (see Table 2, Supplementary Digital Content 3, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A355
Impact of food on AXA1665 constituent and nonconstituent AA plasma concentrations on day 8
AXA1665 administration on day 8 in fasted and fed states (0–4 hours and 5–9 hours after standard meal) resulted in significant dose-dependent increases in constituent AAs leucine (fasted, P < 0.0001; fed, P < 0.001) and ornithine (fasted, P < 0.001; fed, P < 0.01) and decreased trends in nonconstituent AAAs tyrosine and phenylalanine vs corresponding controls (Figure 2 ). Systemic exposures (AUC and Cmax ) and AUC after control correction (i.e., AUCAXA1665 –AUCcontrol ) of all AXA1665 constituent AAs at both doses in fasted and fed conditions indicate that food did not alter AUC but slightly lowered Cmax (up to 37%) for certain constituent AAs such as aspartate (see Table 3, Supplementary Digital Content 4, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A356
Figure 2.: Plasma concentration–time profile of AXA1665 constituent AAs leucine (a ) and ornithine (b ) and nonconstituent AAs tyrosine (c ) and phenylalanine (d ) in the fasted and fed states on day 8. AXA1665 dose-dependently increased constituent AAs with decreased trends in nonconstituent AAs vs corresponding controls. Data are presented as mean ± SD. AAs, amino acids; t.i.d., 3 times a day.
Effect of AXA1665 on FR, VPR, and ammonia
At day 15, AXA1665 dose-dependently increased fasted FR and VPR from baseline (day 1 of part 2) compared with control: AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. control-adjusted change of 44.3 ± 2.7% and 47.2 ± 3.9%, respectively; P < 0.0001 for both (Figure 3a,b ). Absolute changes over time for fasted FR and VPR showed that low basal values at day 1 were normalized as early as day 8 and were sustained to day 15 with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d., but not in the AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. group vs control (see Figure 2, Supplementary Digital Content 5, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A352
Figure 3.: Change from baseline (day 1 of part 2) for fasted plasma FR (a ), VPR (b ), and ammonia (c ) at day 15. AXA1665 dose-dependently increased fasted FR and VPR and decreased fasted plasma ammonia vs controls. Data are presented as mean ± SE. *P < 0.0001. SOC included 30–40 minutes mandatory physical activity, standardized meals, and daily late evening snack. AXAhigh , AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d.; AXAlow , AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d.; FR, Fischer ratio; SOC, standard of care; t.i.d., 3 times a day; VPR, valine-to-phenylalanine ratio.
AXA1665 (4.9 g t.i.d. and 14.7 g t.i.d.) tended to decrease fasted plasma ammonia at day 15 (31.1% and 21.1%, respectively) vs control (22.4% and 3.8%, respectively; P > 0.05 for both) (Figure 3c ), despite provision of additional nitrogen through AAs within AXA1665. Effects were dose dependent as demonstrated by a control-adjusted decrease in fasted plasma ammonia concentration at day 15 of 17.2% with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. vs 8.7% with AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. AXA1665 did not increase the AUC0–5 h or Cmax of ammonia over 15 days (day 15/day 1 ratio ≤0.95) when assessed by standard clinical laboratory methods (see Table 4, Supplementary Digital Content 6, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A357 max were observed when ammonia concentration in whole blood was measured using a bedside device (data not shown). A composite of 71 paired ammonia assessments showed strong positive linear correlation (R 2 = 0.8605) between laboratory and bedside methods (see Figure 3, Supplementary Digital Content 7, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A353
Effect of AXA1665 on body composition and physical function
AXA1665 administration resulted in a leaner body composition as indicated by decreased mean percentage body fat with greater mean percentage LBM and SMM, a key component of LBM vs control at day 15 (Figure 4 ). These effects were seen without concomitant change in overall body weight (data not shown). Body composition changes were more pronounced with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. relative to AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. Dose-dependent effects were supported by a control-adjusted decrease of 0.97% for percentage body fat and increase of 1.01% for percentage LBM with AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d., corresponding to a 1.3-lb decrease in body fat mass and 1.8-lb increase in LBM from day 1 to day 15. No differences in body composition changes were observed between AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. and control groups.
LFI showed significant improvements in both absolute reduction (−0.70 vs −0.14, P < 0.05) and percentage change (20.5% reduction vs 5.0%, P < 0.05) from baseline to day 15 in the AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. group vs control group (Figure 5a,b ). No LFI differences were observed between AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d. and control groups. The proportion of subjects who achieved >0.5 reduction in LFI from baseline at day 15 was 2.5 times higher in the AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. group vs control group (Figure 5c ).
Figure 4.: Absolute change from baseline (day 1 of part 2) in percentage body fat (a ), percentage lean body mass (b ), and percentage skeletal muscle mass (c ) at day 15. AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. reduced mean percentage body fat and increased mean percentage LBM and SMM vs controls. Data are presented as mean ± SE. SOC included 30–40 minutes mandatory physical activity, standardized meals, and daily late evening snack. AXAhigh , AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d.; AXAlow , AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d.; LBM, lean body mass; SMM, skeletal muscle mass; SOC, standard of care; t.i.d., 3 times a day.
Figure 5.: Absolute change in LFI (a ), percent change in LFI (b ), and proportion of subjects who achieved an absolute LFI reduction >0.5 (c ) from baseline (day 1 of part 2) at day 15. AXAhigh significantly reduced LFI vs control (mean ± SE), indicating improvement in physical function. AXAhigh led to increased proportion of subjects achieving absolute LFI reduction >0.5. *P < 0.05. a n = 9 for control t.i.d. SOC included 30–40 minutes mandatory physical activity, standardized meals, and daily late evening snack. AXAhigh , AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d.; AXAlow , AXA1665 4.9 g t.i.d.; LFI, Liver Frailty Index; SOC, standard of care; t.i.d., 3 times a day.
Effect of AXA1665 on safety and tolerability
No AEs were reported in part 1. Five AEs were reported in 4 subjects (17.4%) in part 2: 1 subject (10.0%) in the AXA1665 14.7 g t.i.d. group (mild headache) and 3 subjects (18.8%) in the control group (period 1: 2 of 7 subjects [28.6%] experienced 3 AEs, including moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease in 1 subject and mild musculoskeletal pain and neck pain in 1 subject; period 2: 1 of 9 subjects [11.1%] experienced mild musculoskeletal chest pain). No AEs were considered related to AXA1665 or led to discontinuation; there were no deaths or serious AEs. No clinically significant safety findings in laboratory, vital signs, physical examination, or electrocardiogram assessments were noted. Absolute increases (within normal range) from day 1 in fasted blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were observed at both AXA1665 doses vs controls on day 15 (see Table 5, Supplementary Digital Content 8, https://links.lww.com/CTG/A358 https://links.lww.com/CTG/A358
DISCUSSION
AXA1665 impacted AA regulation, tended to decrease fasted plasma ammonia despite the additional nitrogen load delivered by AXA1665, led to a leaner body composition, improved physical function, and was safe and well tolerated. AXA1665 resulted in supraphysiological concentrations of most constituent AAs, which remained increased vs corresponding endogenous AAs, even after consuming standard protein supplement.
AXA1665 increased anabolism-associated AAs (e.g., leucine and valine) and concomitantly decreased ammoniagenic AAAs (e.g., phenylalanine and tyrosine). Basal FR and VPR levels were significantly increased after AXA1665high but not after AXA1665low or control. Similar to BCAAs and AAAs, methionine metabolism is defective in cirrhosis (54,55
The pattern of lowered ammonia and increased BUN implies that AXA1665 activates the urea cycle and improves nitrogen handling by skeletal muscles; however, muscle protein synthesis and nitrogen balance studies are needed for confirmation. These findings differentiate effects of AXA1665 on plasma ammonia from previous BCAA or high-protein supplementation studies, which showed paradoxical ammonia increase (18,56
AXA1665 administration led to a leaner body composition and improved physical function, as indicated by significantly improved LFI. Previous studies have shown that LFI ≥4.5 indicates increased frailty associated with mortality (57 23 58
A key strength of this study is the highly controlled nature of assessments performed in a domiciled setting, which minimized several confounding factors. Although the 2-period crossover design was imbalanced, it allowed investigation of 2 AXA1665 doses simultaneously and evaluation of dose responsiveness on key physiologic parameters. Other limitations include a small cohort size and few subjects with CPC-B (n = 3). Effects of AXA1665 in subjects with severe hepatic insufficiency (CPC-C) also remain to be determined. Although bioimpedance analysis, a point-of-care testing approach, was appropriately used to assess body composition in this population, we acknowledge that cross-sectional imaging (e.g., computerized tomography/MRI) remains the gold standard and that further studies using such techniques might be required to confirm observed effects of AXA1665 on body composition. Because subjects with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were excluded, future trials should consider the impact of AXA1665 on renal function, by inclusion of patients with an eGFR up to 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 . Finally, additional studies are needed to examine the effects of AXA1665 in a chronic liver disease population with LFI >4.5.
Routine physical activity or late evening snack alone leads to reversal of anabolic resistance, sarcopenia, and improvements in both survival and health-related quality of life parameters in patients with cirrhosis (30,33,59 60
AXA1665 can provide specificity and potency distinct from SOC to regulate both nonconstituent endogenous AAs and key cirrhosis-related molecular mediators. Based on our findings, we postulate that AXA1665 might exert its multifactorial effects through interorgan crosstalk, involving multiple biochemical pathways that simultaneously impact ureagenesis, nitrogen metabolism, ammonia detoxification, and protein synthesis (Figure 6 ). Lowered ammonia and increased BUN after AXA1665 treatment suggest that AXA1665 activates the urea cycle to enable nitrogen incorporation into urea and reduces blood ammonia. The reduction in blood ammonia could lead to additional salutary effects, including (i) reduction of further muscle breakdown by dampening muscle BCAA catabolism for ammonia detoxification; (ii) interruption of the vicious cycle of glutamine production and ammonia generation by the intestine; and (iii) restoration of myogenesis by decreasing myostatin (61,62 41 63
Figure 6.: Schematic of the proposed multifactorial effects of AXA1665 to modulate multiple metabolic pathways through interorgan crosstalk in subjects with cirrhotic sarcopenia. AXA1665 is postulated to modulate metabolic pathways that improve ammonia handling, rebalance AAs, increase protein synthesis, and, consequently, enhance muscle mass and function. AA, amino acid; Arg, arginine; Asp, aspartate; Cit, citrulline; Gln, glutamine; Glu, glutamic acid; His, histidine; Ile, isoleucine; Leu, leucine; Lys, lysine; Met, methionine; mTORC1, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1; NH3 , ammonia; Orn, ornithine; Phe, phenylalanine; Thr, threonine; Tyr, tyrosine; Val, valine.
In conclusion, these results support AXA1665 as a promising approach to mitigate dysregulated AA metabolism, hyperammonemia, and muscle wasting associated with cirrhosis and its complications, such as sarcopenia. Additional studies are needed to confirm whether these effects of AXA1665 would be sustained and/or amplified with long-term administration in an ambulatory setting in patients with cirrhosis.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Guarantor of the article: Manu V. Chakravarthy, MD, PhD.
Specific author contributions: Study design and conduct of the study: M.V.C., S.C., P.Z., N.T., S.R., and W.C. Collection, analysis, and interpretation of data: M.V.C., S.R., W.C., and A.J.S. Statistical analysis of the data: P Z. and M.V.C. Drafting of the manuscript: M.V.C. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: A.J.S., N.T., S.R., W.C. M.V.C., J.N., S.C., and P.Z. N.T., S.R., W.C., M.H., T.T., S.C., R.A., and A.J.S. have critically reviewed and approved the final draft.
Financial support: Medical writing support was provided by Claire Stevens and Sarah Thornburg of Fishawack Communications. Thomas Hanlon contributed to this research. This support was funded by Axcella Health.
Potential competing interests: M.V.C., S.C., P.Z., N.T., S.R., W.C., M.H., T.T., S.C., and R.A.: current or former employees of Axcella Health and might own stock options in the company. A.J.S.: President of Sanyal Biotechnologies; stock options: Genfit, Tiziana, Indalo, Durect, Exhalenz, and Galmed; consultant: Gilead, Intercept, Allergan, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Astra Zeneca Medimmune, Novartis, Pfizer, Genentech, Merck, Bristol Myers, Boehringer Ingelheim, Immuron, Echosense, GE, OWL, Bird Rock Bio, Tern, Sunrise, RedX, IFMO, Lipocine, Innovate, Zydus, AMRA, and Hemoshear; grant support: Bristol Myers, Intercept, Gilead, Allergan, Merck, Echosense, Novartis, and Boehringer Ingelheim. J.N.: nothing to disclose.Study Highlights
WHAT IS KNOWN
✓ AA imbalance and hyperammonemia are core features commonly seen in patients with cirrhosis that contribute to sarcopenia and HE.
✓ The SOC for patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia includes dietary protein/AA supplementation, physical activity, and provision of a late evening snack.
✓ However, dietary protein and BCAA supplementation have been associated with increased plasma ammonia, which could worsen HE risk.
✓ There is a critical need for novel oral therapies that could mitigate core metabolic derangements associated with cirrhosis and its complications.
WHAT IS NEW HERE
✓ AXA1665 is a specifically designed, novel investigational composition of 8 AAs.
✓ AXA1665 oral administration for 2 weeks in subjects with mild and moderate hepatic insufficiency (CPC A and B) was generally safe and well tolerated.
✓ AXA1665 tended to reduce plasma ammonia despite the additional nitrogen load delivered by AXA1665.
✓ Subjects receiving AXA1665 also had a leaner body composition with improved physical function.
TRANSLATIONAL IMPACT
✓ AXA1665 has the potential to directly address core metabolic derangements associated with complications of cirrhosis, including sarcopenia and HE.
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