The French biotech’s PPAR agonist has significantly reduced liver fat in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients with type 2 diabetes in a mid-stage trial, raising hopes for success in an ongoing pivotal program in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

While plans to obtain accelerated approval of lanifibranor remain unchanged, Inventiva now plans to conduct the confirmatory Phase III in cirrhotic patients, meaning a shorter trial duration and possibly broader label.

California biotech also notes prior licensing deal with Gilead for mitochondrial candidate. Twentyeight-Seven acquires RNA-splicing cancer candidate from Basilea.

GSK takes equity stake in Spero, and global rights to tebipenem except for certain Asian markets. Merck KGaA gets rights to Nerviano’s next-generation PARP inhibitor for cancer.