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NCT04104321: ARMOR

A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Aramchol in Subjects With NASH (ARMOR)

Suspended Phase 3 Results posted Last updated 11 February 2026
What this trial tests

Phase 3 trial testing Aramchol free acid in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in 157 participants. Suspended.

Timeline
23 September 2019
Primary endpoint
8 December 2022
30 June 2027

Quick facts

Lead sponsorGalmed Research and Development, Ltd.
PhasePhase 3
StatusSuspended
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designsingle group
Maskingquadruple
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment157
Start date23 September 2019
Primary completion8 December 2022
Estimated completion30 June 2027
Sites2 locations across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Galmed Research and Development, Ltd. — full company profile →

Who can join

Adults 18 to 75, any sex, with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Open Label Part: Improvement of Fibrosis Based on Liver Biopsy Primary · Up to 72 or 120 weeks

Improvement of fibrosis was defined by the following: 1. One stage or more reduction in fibrosis stage as assesed by the NASH-CRN classification 2. Ranked paired assessment between post-baseline compared to baseline biopsies (i,proved, worsened or stable fibrosis) 3. Reduction in the the continous phenotypic Fibrosis composite severity (Ph-FCS) score ≥0.3 in absolute value or ≥25% in relative value

Fibrosis improvement NASH-CRN≥1 stage
GroupValue95% CI
Aramchol31.419.1 – 45.9
NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis
GroupValue95% CI
Aramchol26.514.9 – 37.5
Fibrosis improvement by ranked assessment
GroupValue95% CI
Aramchol51.036.6 – 65.2
Fibrosis improvement (absolute FCS score reduction ≥0.3
GroupValue95% CI
Aramchol74.560.4 – 85.7
Fibrosis improvement (relative FCS reduction by ≥25% AI cutoff)
GroupValue95% CI
Aramchol41.227.6 – 55.8

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: Up to 124 weeks. Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Patients Randomized to the OL Part of the ARMOR Study
Serious: 1/154 (1%)
Deaths: 154/154

Serious adverse events (19 terms)

ReactionSystemPatients Randomized to the…
coronary artery diseaseCardiac disorders
Coronary artery stenosisCardiac disorders
Retinal detachmentEye disorders
Non-cardiac chest painGeneral disorders
Cholecystitis acuteHepatobiliary disorders
Cholecystitis chronicHepatobiliary disorders
COVID-19Infections and infestations
COVID-19 pneumoniaInfections and infestations
PneumoniaInfections and infestations
Lumbar vertebral fractureInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Post-procedural complicationInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Post-procedural haemorrhageInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Rotator cuff syndromeMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Lung adenocarcinomaNeoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
DizzinessNervous system disorders
DyspnoeaRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
PneumothoraxRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Pulmonary embolismRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Pulmonary fibrosisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Other adverse events (7 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemPatients Randomized to the…
COVID-19Infections and infestations
HeadacheNervous system disorders
HypertensionCardiac disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
Procedural painSurgical and medical procedures

Most-reported serious reactions: coronary artery disease, Coronary artery stenosis, Retinal detachment, Non-cardiac chest pain, Cholecystitis acute, Cholecystitis chronic, COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04104321 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

An Open-Label Part was added: This part will enroll in selected sites which are less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 150 subjects with NASH and fibrosis confirmed by liver histology (F1-F3) will be randomized into 3 groups according to the post-baseline biopsy. The objective of the Open-Label Part is: * To evaluate the safety and PK of twice daily administration (BID) of Aramchol 300mg in subjects with NASH and liver fibrosis. * To explore the kinetics of histological outcome measures and Non-Invasive Tests (NITs) associated with NASH and fibrosis for the treatment duration of 24, 48 and 72 weeks. All patients will be allocated to Aramchol. Double Blind Part: This part is double blind, placebo controlled randomized in subjects with NASH and fibrosis stages 2-3 who are overweight or obese and have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The primary objectives of this part of the study are to evaluate the effect of Aramchol as compared to placebo on NASH resolution, fibrosis improvement and clinical outcomes related to progression of liver disease. Subjects will be randomized to receive Aramchol 300mg BID or matching placebo in a 2:1 randomization ratio. This double-blind phase of the study will recruit patients once the study will be continued.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Targeting fibrosis, mechanisms and cilinical trials.
    Zhao M, Wang L, Wang M, Zhou S, et al · · 2022 · cited 352× · PMID 35773269 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-022-01070-3
  2. NAFLD: Mechanisms, Treatments, and Biomarkers.
    Nassir F. · · 2022 · cited 245× · PMID 35740949 · DOI 10.3390/biom12060824
  3. Targeted therapeutics and novel signaling pathways in non-alcohol-associated fatty liver/steatohepatitis (NAFL/NASH).
    Xu X, Poulsen KL, Wu L, Liu S, et al · · 2022 · cited 235× · PMID 35963848 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-022-01119-3
  4. Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Review of Its Mechanism, Models and Medical Treatments.
    Peng C, Stewart AG, Woodman OL, Ritchie RH, et al · · 2020 · cited 178× · PMID 33343375 · DOI 10.3389/fphar.2020.603926
  5. Aramchol in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial.
    Ratziu V, de Guevara L, Safadi R, Poordad F, et al · · 2021 · cited 167× · PMID 34621052 · DOI 10.1038/s41591-021-01495-3
  6. Pathogenesis and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and its fibrosis.
    Lee KC, Wu PS, Lin HC. · · 2023 · cited 145× · PMID 36226471 · DOI 10.3350/cmh.2022.0237
  7. Combination therapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: rationale, opportunities and challenges.
    Dufour JF, Caussy C, Loomba R. · · 2020 · cited 145× · PMID 32381514 · DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319104
  8. New targets for NAFLD.
    Parlati L, Régnier M, Guillou H, Postic C. · · 2021 · cited 128× · PMID 34667947 · DOI 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100346

Verify or expand the search:

Other recruiting trials for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Galmed Research and Development, Ltd. trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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