GENFIT Announces Discontinuation of its VS-01 Program in ACLF: VS-01 Development Refocused on UCD

Core Viewpoint - GENFIT has decided to discontinue its VS-01 program in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) and will focus on developing VS-01 for Urea Cycle Disorder (UCD) due to safety concerns and the need for additional data [1][2][3] Company Strategy - The decision to halt the VS-01 program in ACLF was influenced by a Serious Adverse Event (SAE) reported during the UNVEIL-IT® clinical trial, leading to a review by the independent Data Monitoring Committee [2] - GENFIT will continue preclinical evaluation of VS-01 in UCD, which presents a significant unmet medical need, particularly for children [3] - The company remains committed to ACLF and related conditions, aiming to accelerate the development of four other assets in this area, which utilize different mechanisms of action [4] Financial Implications - The discontinuation of the VS-01 program is expected to lead to a substantial reduction in operating expenses, providing strategic flexibility and extending the projected cash runway by at least one year [6][11] - GENFIT anticipates sharing Phase 1b data for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) by year-end, indicating ongoing investment in other life-threatening indications [5] Research and Development Focus - GENFIT has a diversified R&D portfolio targeting various liver diseases, including ACLF, Acute Decompensation (AD), Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), UCD, and CCA [7] - The company has engaged with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and received positive feedback on its clinical strategy for ACLF, reinforcing confidence in its development plans [4]