Can Conatus Pharmaceuticals Duplicate Intercept's Success?

Conatus Pharmaceuticals (CNAT-$6.03) is developing a first-in-class, orally active pan-caspase protease inhibitor, called emricasan, which is designed to reduce the activity of the caspase family of related enzymes that mediate inflammation (measured as serum ALT) and cell death, or apoptosis (measured as biomarker cCK18).

It is postulated that by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and subsequent profibrogenic activity, emricasan’s dual mechanism of action could offer a viable therapeutic option to slow progression across the entire spectrum of fibrotic liver disease(s).  

The share price of CNAT has slipped some 35% from its summer high of $9.48 a share, due to a pullback in small capitalization stock valuations and an announced delay for release of topline results from a pivotal NASH trial.

To read about possible upside, value-creating catalysts at CNAT, subscribe to PropThink.com, one of the top-rated biotech stock blogs: WHY CONATUS FELL OUT OF BED IN THE SECOND HALF

Editor David J Phillips no longer holds a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.