Sagimet Biosciences Secures $125M Runway, Outlines MASH and Acne Trial Timelines
With $125 million cash, Sagimet Biosciences funds operations through end-2027 and will initiate a Phase II F4 MASH study with resmetirom, targeting 26-week and 52-week readouts in 2028. Denifanstat delivered pronounced fibrosis reductions in F2/F3 MASH patients and Ascletis’s 12-week Phase III acne trial met all endpoints with manageable safety through 52 weeks.
1. Cash Runway and Financial Outlook
Sagimet Biosciences reported $125 million in cash, sufficient to fund operations through year-end 2027, supporting planned clinical milestones including a Phase II F4 MASH combination study and next-generation acne Phase II proof-of-concept readout.
2. Denifanstat’s Mechanism and MASH Results
Denifanstat targets fatty acid synthase to inhibit fat accumulation directly, and its Phase II MASH study produced pronounced fibrosis reductions in F2/F3 patients, with 11 of 13 AI-diagnosed F4 participants showing one- or two-stage improvement.
3. Upcoming F4 Combination Study
Later this year, Sagimet will launch a Phase II study combining denifanstat with resmetirom in cirrhotic MASH patients, aiming for a 26-week biomarker readout in the first half of 2028 and a 52-week interim assessment in the second half.
4. Acne Program Phase III Success
Sagimet’s partner Ascletis enrolled 480 patients in a 12-week Phase III denifanstat trial for moderate-to-severe acne, met all primary and secondary endpoints, and an open-label extension up to 52 weeks reported only manageable dry skin and eye events.