Novartis and Allergan have entered a clinical trial agreement to conduct a phase IIb study for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The study will focus on a combination of a Novartis FXR agonist and Allergan’s cenicriviroc (CVC). This last one is a once-daily, oral, phase III-ready potent immunomodulator that blocks two chemokine receptors, CCR2 and CCR5, which are involved in inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways. Novartis’ farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists include a potent, non-bile acid FXR agonist, which recently received Fast Track designation from the FDA and is in a Phase II clinical trial.