A Phase 2 interventional study of Rosuvastatin in Cirrhosis, Cirrhosis, Liver and Cirrhosis Early, sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Recruiting at 13 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.
Sponsored by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a double-blind, phase 2 study to evaluate safety and efficacy of rosuvastatin in comparison to placebo after 2 years in patients with compensated cirrhosis.
This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial, of 20mg of rosuvastatin by mouth, once daily. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to either once daily placebo or once daily rosuvastatin.
Patients meeting all eligibility criteria will be assigned to a randomization arm prior to initiation of a 4-week lead-in phase of the study. All participants will undergo a 4-week, open-label active run-in phase to evaluate initial safety and adherence to rosuvastatin. During this active run-phase, all participants will receive target dose rosuvastatin-- 20 mg daily. After the active run-in phase, all participants will continue with their pre-assigned randomization (1:1) treatment of rosuvastatin 20 mg daily or matching placebo.
The total duration of the study will be 96 weeks in the assigned treatment arm plus the 4-week lead-in period. The primary outcome will be the mean change in liver stiffness from the baseline measurement to the end of study liver stiffness, as measured by ultrasound-based vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE).
There are 10 participating clinical centers, and we anticipate a total of 260 patients will be recruited for the initial lead-in as we estimate 20% of participants may dropout after the lead-in (260 x 0.8 = 208 for randomization into the study drug treatment phase).
Inclusion Criteria
Clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis as defined by investigator confirmation and the following:
a. At least one liver biopsy within 5 years prior to consent showing either: Metavir stage 4 fibrosis; Ishak Stage 5-6 fibrosis, OR b. At least 2 of the following: i. Evidence on imaging: Nodular liver with either splenomegaly or recanalized umbilical vein within the past 48 weeks ii. Liver stiffness: VCTE within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥15.0 kPa or MRE within 48 weeks prior to consent or during Screening ≥5 kPa iii. Evidence of varices demonstrated on imaging or endoscopy within 3 years prior to consent or during Screening iv. Either: FIB-4>2.67 or platelets \<150/mL within 6 months prior to consent or during Screening
Two measures of VCTE: one at screening and one at the open-label dispense study visit, meeting the following criteria:
Compensated defined by:
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Known indication for statin therapy, defined as:
Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications known to cause hepatic fibrogenesis or confound endpoint assessment, defined as:
Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications which may increase risk for rosuvastatin-related myositis or DILI, defined as:
Additional medications that will be excluded:
atazanavir/ritonavir capmatinib darolutamide dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir ledipasvir/sofosbuvir elbasvir/grazoprevir erythromycin lopinavir/ritonavir regorafenib ritonavir, in any combination simeprevir sofbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir sofosbuvir/velpatasvir tafamidis tamoxifen teriflunomide
*If exposure was for 7 or less days for one of these medications can consider enrollment after 28 days from final dose.
Conditions which may confound study outcome:
a. Unstable or active inflammatory bowel disease b. Active infection c. Any malignant disease (other than squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin) within previous 3 years d. Prior solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplant e. Bariatric surgery in the last 24 weeks prior to consent or planned bariatric surgery within the next 96 weeks f. Current liver-unrelated end-stage organ failures such as end-stage renal disease on dialysis, stage 3-4 congestive heart failure (CHF), current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on home oxygen.
The following laboratory abnormalities within 90 days of screening:
a. Hemoglobin \<10 g/dL b. Albumin \<3.0 g/dL c. Prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) >1.5 d. Total bilirubin ≥ 2.0 mg/dl (unless due to Gilbert's syndrome or hemolysis as denoted by normal direct bilirubin fraction) e. Direct bilirubin ≥ 0.9 f. Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 9.5%) within past 90 days.
Kidney function abnormalities including:
Untreated chronic hepatitis B or C infection
Open-label lead-in period of 4 weeks on 20 mg rosuvastatin by mouth once daily, followed by a period of 96 weeks rosuvastatin 20 mg daily.
Drug: Rosuvastatin
Open-label lead-in period of 4 weeks on 20 mg rosuvastatin by mouth once daily, followed by a period of 96 weeks placebo.
Drug: Rosuvastatin
Patients meeting all eligibility criteria will be assigned to a randomization arm prior to initiation of a 4-week lead-in phase of the study. All participants will undergo a 4-week, open-label active run-in phase to evaluate initial safety and adherence to rosuvastatin. During this active run-phase, all participants will receive target dose rosuvastatin-- 20 mg daily . After the active run-in phase, all participants will continue with their pre-assigned randomization (1:1) treatment of rosuvastatin 20 mg daily or matching placebo.
Also known as: Rosuvastatin 20 mg
Mean change in liver stiffness
Mean change in liver stiffness as measured in kilopascal with Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography between study entry and week 96. Range: 2 to 75 kilopascal. Higher stiffness indicates increased disease progression
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to disease progression
Time to disease progression defined as time to development of decompensation event (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleed) or hepatocellular carcinoma. Analyzed as time-to-event; binary if low counts.
Time frame: 96 weeks
All-cause mortality
All-cause mortality: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to development of ascites
Ascites: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to development of overt hepatic encephalopathy
Time to development of overt hepatic encephalopathy: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to development of variceal bleed
Variceal bleed: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in spleen stiffness as measured by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)
Units: kilopascal; Range: 5 to 100 kilopascal; higher stiffness indicates increased disease progression
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in Child-Turcotte-Pugh score
Ordinal score from 5 to 15; higher score indicates further disease progression
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in Model for End Stage Liver Disease - Sodium (MELD-Na)
Unitless; Range: 6-40; higher score indicates further disease progression
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in liver stiffness via Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Units: kilopascal; Range: 0 to 20; higher stiffness indicates increased disease progression
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test
Unitless; Range: 5 to 11; Higher score is worse
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in Fibrosis-4
Unitless; Range: 0 to 10; higher score indicates more stiffness
Time frame: 96 weeks
Change in patient-reported quality of life scores
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (29-item version) Global Health T-Score: Population centered at 50 points, standard deviation of 10 (higher score signifies "better" health)
Time frame: 96 weeks
Rate of adverse events
Count
Time frame: 96 weeks
Rate of serious adverse events
Count
Time frame: 96 weeks
Rate of adverse events of special interest
Rate of adverse events of special interest (myopathy, drug-induced liver injury, cardiovascular events, cancer other than hepatocellular carcinoma, new onset diabetes as separate outcomes): Count
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to cardiovascular events
Cardiovascular events: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Time to new onset diabetes
New onset diabetes: time-to-event, binary if low counts
Time frame: 96 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — Dataset with National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Repository.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Icf
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)