ZACKS·2026-01-12 17:20Core Insights - Madrigal Pharmaceuticals has acquired exclusive global rights to ervogastat from Pfizer, enhancing its pipeline for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) [1][6] - Ervogastat is a mid-stage, oral DGAT-2 inhibitor that reduces liver triglyceride levels and inflammation [1][5] - Madrigal's shares have increased by 69.3% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 4.6% [1] Company Developments - The acquisition of ervogastat aims to develop combination therapies with Madrigal's approved therapy, Rezdiffra, to improve clinical outcomes and commercial potential for MASH treatment [3][6] - Rezdiffra is already approved in the U.S. for adult patients with noncirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis [4][7] Clinical Efficacy - In a phase II study, ervogastat showed significant efficacy, with 72% of patients achieving a 30% reduction in liver fat and 61% achieving a 50% reduction [5][6] - The treatment was well tolerated, and improvements in liver enzymes and stiffness were observed [5] Future Plans - Madrigal plans to conduct a drug-to-drug interaction study with Rezdiffra and consult the FDA for a phase II combination study [7][8] - The combination of ervogastat and Rezdiffra is expected to provide greater benefits due to their distinct mechanisms [8] Financial Aspects - Madrigal will make a $50 million upfront payment to Pfizer, with additional milestone and royalty payments contingent on successful development and commercialization of ervogastat [9]