- Source: PXL065
PXL065 (d-R-pioglitazone) is a drug candidate for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is the deuterium-stabilized (R)-enantiomer of pioglitazone which lacks PPARĪ³ agonist activity and the associated side effects of weight gain and edema. PXL065 (formerly known as DRX-065) has demonstrated preclinical efficacy for both NASH and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). In 2022, it successfully completed a 9 month Phase 2 trial in biopsy-proven NASH patients where it met the primary endpoint for reduction in liver fat without weight gain or edema.
PXL065 was discovered and advanced to Phase 1 by DeuteRx, LLC using the strategy of deuterium-enabled chiral switching (DECS). In August 2018, PXL065 and a portfolio of deuterated thiazolidinediones (TZDs) was acquired by Poxel SA.