This is a multi-center, proof-of-principle, open-label study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of MN-001 in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) subjects with hypertriglyceridemia.

The study will consist a Screening Phase (up to 4 months) followed by a Treatment Phase (12 weeks), and a Follow-up visit (within 1 week after the last dose). A total of 40 male and female subjects ≥18 years of age are planned to be enrolled. During the Screening Phase, subjects will be assessed for study eligibility. After signing the informed consent form, the following assessments will be performed: medical history including review of prior and current medications, physical examination including height and body weight, waist circumference, vital signs and an electrocardiogram. Clinical labs, routine chemistries, hematology, coagulation profile, urinalysis and a serum pregnancy test will be collected as well as cytokeratin-18 (CK-18), a biomarker for NASH diagnosis. An alcohol consumption questionnaire will be administered and a MRI scan of the liver will be performed. Serum fibrosis markers, the Fib-4 index (age, AST, ALT, PLT) and NAFLD fibrosis score (age, BMI, AST/ALT ratio, IFG/DM, PLT, Albumin) will be calculated.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

• Written informed consent is obtained and willing and able to comply with the protocol in the opinion of the Investigator.

• Male or female subjects ≥ 18 years of age

• Histologically proven NASH (NAFLD activity score of 3 or greater with at least 1 point being ballooning) based on liver biopsy performed within the last 36 months or abdominal ultrasound confirmation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

• Fasting serum triglyceride level > 150 mg/dL (confirmed at screening)

• Serum ALT, AST, ALP and total bilirubin levels at Screening (- 120 days to -30 days) and Lab Visit values (- 1 week ± 5 days) are stable or changes at the Lab visit are < 20% of the values from Screening.

• BMI ≤ 45 kg/m2

• Subjects on the following medications can be enrolled if these medications are necessary, cannot be stopped, and the dose has been stable for 4 months or more prior to baseline:

  • Stable doses of anti-diabetic medications
  • Stable doses of fibrates, statins, niacin, ezetimibe.
  • Stable doses of Vitamin E for at least 8 weeks

• Less than 21 units of alcohol/week for men and 14 units of alcohol/week for women over a 2-year time frame

• Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum ß-hCG at screening and must be willing to use appropriate contraception (as defined by the investigator) for the duration of study treatment and 30 days after the last dose of study treatment.

• Males should practice contraception as follows: condom use and contraception by female partner.

• Subject is in good physical health on the basis of medical history, physical examination, and laboratory screening, as defined by the investigator.

• Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol assessments and visits, in the opinion of the study nurse/coordinator and the Investigator.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

• Diagnosis of other known cause of liver disease (autoimmune, viral, genetic, drug- or alcohol-induced, or storage disease)
• Decompensated or severe liver disease defined by one or more of the following:
• biopsy-proven cirrhosis
• INR >1.5
• Total bilirubin (TBL) > 1.5 x ULN, or > 2 x ULN for unconjugated bilirubin
• serum albumin <2.8 g/dL
• ALT or AST > 10 x ULN
• evidence of portal hypertension including splenomegaly, ascites, encephalopathy and/or esophageal varices
• Current diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or suspicion of HCC clinically or on ultrasound
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus Type 2
• History of bariatric surgery
• Greater than 10-pound weight gain or loss in the last 6 months
• Clinically significant cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, including myocardial infarct within last 6 months, coronary artery intervention, coronary artery bypass, unstable ischemic heart disease, heart failure class III or IV, angina or cerebral vascular accident.
• Resting pulse < 50 bpm, SA or AV block, uncontrolled hypertension, or QTcF > 450 ms
• History of stomach or intestinal surgery or any other condition that could interfere with or is judged by the Investigator to interfere with absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of study drug.
• Any significant laboratory abnormality which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may put the subject at risk
• History of malignancy < 5 years prior to signing the informed consent, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or in situ cervical cancer.
• History of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HBV, HCV (cured HCV is not excluded), EBV CMV or other active infection.
• Currently has a clinically significant medical condition including the following: neurological, psychiatric, metabolic, immunologic, hematological, pulmonary, cardiovascular (including uncontrolled hypertension), gastrointestinal, urological disorder, or central nervous system (CNS) infection that would pose a risk to the subject if they were to participate in the study or that might confound the results of the study. Note: Active medical conditions that are minor or well-controlled are not exclusionary if, in the judgment of the Investigator, they do not affect risk to the subject or the study results. In cases in which the impact of the condition upon risk to the subject or study results is unclear, the Medical Safety Monitor should be consulted.
• CYP2C8 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., paclitaxel) within 15 days prior to study and throughout the study are prohibited.
• CYP2C9 substrate with narrow therapeutic index (e.g., phenytoin, S-warfarin, tolbutamide) within 15 days prior to study and throughout the study are prohibited.
• Macrolide or quinolone class antibiotics within 15 days of Screening Visit and throughout the study are prohibited.
• Steroids within 30 days prior to study drug dosing and throughout the study unless administered for a short term treatment course during the study are prohibited.
• History of alcohol or substance abuse (DSM-IV-TR criteria) within 3 months prior to screening or alcohol or substance dependence (DSM-IV-TR criteria) within 12 months prior to screening. The only exceptions include caffeine or nicotine abuse/dependence.
• Poor peripheral venous access that will limit the ability to draw blood as judged by the Investigator.
• Currently participating, or has participated in, a study with an investigational or marketed compound or device within 3 months prior to signing the informed consent.
• Unable to cooperate with any study procedures, unlikely to adhere to the study procedures and keep appointments, in the opinion of the Investigator, or was planning to relocate during the study.

13 weeks