Target
Our most advanced program, NGM282 (aldafermin) is an engineered variant of the human hormone fibroblast growth factor 19, or FGF19, which we are developing as a once-daily injection for the treatment of NASH. FGF19 is a highly specific and potent regulator of liver fat metabolism and bile acid synthesis that we believe is responsible for some of the beneficial effects of gastric bypass surgery on NASH.

Data
Preliminary results from Phase 2 clinical trials have provided clinical proof of concept of NGM282 (aldafermin) by demonstrating statistically significant reductions in liver fat, liver transaminases and biomarkers of fibrosis, which has translated to improvements in liver histology and fibrosis at 12 weeks.

Clinical Development Status
We are currently underway with our Phase 2b dose range-finding ALPINE 2/3 study, which will assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NGM282 (aldafermin) compared to placebo in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and stage F2-F3 liver fibrosis.

Target
NGM313 is an agonistic antibody binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor 1c-beta-klotho, or FGFR1c/KLB, which regulates insulin sensitivity, blood glucose and liver fat. NGM313, being developed as a once-monthly injection, has the potential to be a best-in-class insulin sensitizer for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and NASH. NGM313 works by selectively activating the FGFR1c/KLB co-receptor complex, which regulates energy expenditure and glucose uptake in fat cells and other tissues.

Data
In November 2018, NGM presented preliminary data at AASLD’s The Liver Meeting® in San Francisco from a Phase 1b proof-of-concept clinical trial of NGM313 in obese, insulin resistant subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. The data demonstrated that a single dose of NGM313 resulted in a statistically significant reduction in liver fat content and improvements in multiple metabolic parameters.

Program Status and Upcoming Milestone
In January 2019, Merck exercised its option to license NGM313 (now renamed MK-3655). This one-time option to license NGM313, part of the original agreement announced by NGM and Merck in 2015, was triggered by NGM’s completion of the Phase 1b clinical study of NGM313. Based on the findings of this study, Merck intends to advance MK-3655 into a Phase 2b study to evaluate the effect of MK-3655 on liver histology and glucose control in NASH patients with or without diabetes.

Target
NGM120 is a first-in-class antagonistic antibody that binds glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) and inhibits growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) signaling for the potential treatment of cancer and cancer anorexia/cachexia syndrome (CACS).

NGM’s preclinical research suggests the central role of the GDF15/GFRAL pathway in promoting tumor-associated appetite suppression and weight loss. In addition, GDF15 levels are elevated in numerous tumor types and, based on available scientific literature, increased serum GDF15 levels are associated with worse prognosis in prostate, colorectal, esophageal and ovarian cancers. In preclinical studies of NGM120, our team has demonstrated that blocking the interaction between GFRAL and GDF15 is able to both reduce tumor-associated weight loss and slow tumor growth and could potentially provide a novel treatment for CACS and cancer.

Clinical Development Status
In February 2020, we announced the initiation of a Phase 1a/1b multi-site clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of NGM120 as a monotherapy in patients with select advanced solid tumors (Cohort 1) and of NGM120 in combination with gemcitabine and Abraxane® in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (Cohort 2). Each cohort will consist of an open-label dose-escalation portion followed by a dose-expansion portion. Approximately 90 patients with elevated serum levels of GDF15 are expected to be enrolled in the concurrently run cohorts. Preliminary evidence of anti-tumor and anti-cachexia activity will be assessed by measuring tumor response rates, body mass and composition, patient-reported outcomes and functional status.

The Phase 1a/1b study followed the successful completion of a Phase 1 safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics study of NGM120 in healthy adult subjects in 2019.

NGM217 is a long-acting antibody binding an undisclosed target, designed to restore pancreatic islet function and increase insulin production in patients with diabetes. NGM217 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial where we are assessing its safety and tolerability profile in adults with diabetes.

NGM621 is an inhibitory antibody binding complement C3, a key node of all three complement pathways. Human genetics data suggest that inhibition of complement can effectively slow the progression of vision loss in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. A Phase 1 clinical study is underway to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of up to two intravitreal doses of NGM621 in patients with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry AMD.

Target

NGM395 is an engineered long-acting variant of the human hormone known as growth differentiation factor 15, or GDF15. GDF15 drives profound metabolic activity by regulating fuel flux and has been considered a challenging therapeutic target. NGM discovered that metabolic activity of GDF15 is mediated by glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like, or GFRAL, which is located in a region of the brain stem outside of the blood-brain barrier. NGM395 is designed to stimulate a pathway that modulates the autonomic nervous system and, possibly, the neuroendocrine axis to modify body weight and fat levels in the body.