Allergan collaboration adds further strength to Novartis' NASH program

Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) and Ireland-incorporated drugmaker Allergan (NYSE: AGN) have entered into an agreement to trial a combination of drugs as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The deal, financial details of which have not been disclosed, will see the companies conduct a Phase IIb study involving the combination of a Novartis FXR agonist and Allergan's cenicriviroc (CVC).

NASH is the progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, inflammation and fibrosis, and can eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. It is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and the leading cause of liver transplants for people under 50 in the USA.