D&D Pharmatech's MASH Treatment DD01 Selected as LBA at EASL Congress

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 20 Apr.2026 14:51(KST)

D&D Pharmatech, a company specializing in the development of new drugs in the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) class, announced on April 20 that the Phase 2 clinical study of its MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) treatment candidate ‘DD01,’ currently being conducted in the United States, has been selected as a 'Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA)' for the EASL Congress 2026, the annual academic conference hosted by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), which will be held in Spain starting on May 27.

DD01 is a dual agonist for GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, developed in-house by D&D Pharmatech. The company has completed a 48-week Phase 2 clinical trial in MASLD/MASH patients in the United States and is currently conducting a data analysis. The top-line data, including the 48-week liver biopsy results, are expected to be available after mid-May.

D&D Pharmatech's MASH Treatment DD01 Selected as LBA at EASL Congress

The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), established in 1966, is the largest liver disease research society in Europe, where experts from around the world gather to share the latest research and treatment methods. At the EASL Congress, held annually, the latest guidelines and clinical data for major liver diseases such as MASH, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis are presented. The 2026 event will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from May 27 to 30, and is expected to attract more than 10,000 healthcare professionals and researchers from around the world.

The LBA session is a highly anticipated track at the congress, providing opportunities for the presentation of the most academically valuable and innovative recent studies, even after the regular abstract submission deadline. For this event, while 2,200 to 2,300 general abstracts have been selected, only about 50 studies have been chosen for the LBA track, reflecting the session’s rigorous standards.

D&D Pharmatech has completed dosing and safety follow-up for all patients and is conducting subsequent statistical analyses. The company expects to confirm the top-line data, including the 48-week biopsy results, after mid-May. The selection of the study as an LBA is considered recognition of DD01’s differentiated liver-targeted glucagon-based mechanism, the rapid improvement in fatty liver and related indicators observed at 12 and 24 weeks, and its potential for improving liver fibrosis, even prior to obtaining final biopsy data. As the 48-week biopsy data are expected to be confirmed before the start of EASL, the company plans to include these results in the LBA presentation materials.

Notably, this presentation will mark the first public release of the 48-week liver biopsy results for DD01, which is expected to draw significant attention from global pharmaceutical companies and academia. The selected abstract is titled "Weight loss-independent Glucagon effect led to rapid, clinically significant reductions in MASH severity, including steatosis and liver stiffness, during a 48-week randomized controlled trial of dual agonist DD01," and the specific study findings will be released in accordance with the timing of the congress.

The principal investigator for this study is Professor Mazen Noureddin, a world-renowned authority in the field of MASH and liver diseases, and the lead principal investigator for the Phase 2 trial of DD01. Following his presentation of the 12-week results at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in November last year, Professor Noureddin is now leading the announcement of the 48-week data at EASL, continuing to drive both the clinical development and academic validation of DD01.

Seulgi Lee, CEO of D&D Pharmatech, stated, "The selection of our latest clinical abstract for EASL once again demonstrates the differentiated clinical value and potential of DD01. With the liver fibrosis and histological improvement data, to be confirmed through 48-week biopsies, being disclosed for the first time, we will focus the company's efforts on achieving tangible results such as global partnering, starting with this academic presentation."