Intercept plunges, drags down some NASH peers after CRL from FDA - InvestingChannel

Intercept plunges, drags down some NASH peers after CRL from FDA

Shares of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT) have plunged in early morning trading after the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Complete Response Letter regarding the New Drug Application for obeticholic acid for the treatment of fibrosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. Based on the data the FDA has reviewed to date, the Agency has determined that the predicted benefit of OCA based on a surrogate histopathologic endpoint remains uncertain and does not sufficiently outweigh the potential risks to support accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with liver fibrosis due to NASH, Intercept tells investors. Following the announcement, shares of Intercept are down $25.82, or 33%, to $51.67 in pre-market trading. A number of other companies working on NASH treatments are also moving lower, with CymaBay (CBAY) down about 3% and NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NGM) fractionally lower. Other companies exploring NASH treatments include Madrigal Pharmaceuticals (MDGL), Novo Nordisk (NVO), Genfit (GNFT), Eli Lilly (LLY), and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY).