Liver Cirrhosis Network Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States (LCN RESCU)

September 23, 2026 updated by: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Liver Cirrhosis Network (LCN) Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States (RESCU): A Double-Blind Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

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).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
260

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92035
        • Recruiting
        • University of California San Diego NAFLD Research Center
        • Contact:
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94110
        • Recruiting
        • UCSF/Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
        • Contact:
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33122
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55901
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10021
      • New York, New York, United States, 10031
        • Recruiting
        • Columbia University Iriving School of Medicine
        • Contact:
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44192
        • Recruiting
        • Cleveland Clinic
        • Contact:
    • Virginia
      • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Age 18-75 years

  2. Cirrhosis due to NAFLD, ALD, or chronic viral hepatitis (treated HBV or HCV)

  3. 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

  4. Two measures of VCTE: one at screening and one at the open-label dispense study visit, meeting the following criteria:

    1. The first measure must be ≥ 15.0 kPa.
    2. The two measures must be at least 2 hours apart and no more than 60 days apart from one another.
    3. The mean of two measurements must be ≥ 15.0 kPa.
    4. Additionally, both screening and open-label dispense liver stiffness measures must be ≤50 kPa

  5. Compensated defined by:

    1. Absence of ascites/hydrothorax, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding currently or in the last 48 weeks, as determined clinically by investigator.
    2. If prior history of decompensation, must be without current symptoms of decompensation and no longer requiring treatment of complications for the last 48 weeks, including the use of diuretics for the treatment of ascites, and/or rifaximin or lactulose for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Use of non-selective beta blockers will be allowed.
    3. Child-Pugh score <8

  6. Provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria

  1. Currently on a statin or any statin exposure within 24 weeks prior to consent.

  2. Known indication for statin therapy, defined as:

    1. Prior peripheral vascular, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event for which statins are indicated for secondary prevention, OR
    2. Documented familial hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, OR
    3. Fasting LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL

  3. Myocardial infarction, Unstable angina, transient ischemic events, or stroke within 24 weeks of screening.

  4. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) total score of ≥8 at screening.

  5. Patients with limitations in attending study visits.

  6. Prisoners.

  7. Known prior or current hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma.

  8. Known transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), balloon retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) or porto-systemic shunt surgery regardless of time of occurrence.

  9. Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications known to cause hepatic fibrogenesis or confound endpoint assessment, defined as:

    1. amiodarone
    2. methotrexate
    3. warfarin

  10. Current (in past 24 weeks prior to consenting) use of medications which may increase risk for rosuvastatin-related myositis or DILI, defined as:

    1. fenofibrate

    2. erythromycin

    3. gemfibrozil

    4. niacin (500 mg or more)

    5. HIV protease inhibitors (darunivar, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir)

    6. colchicine

    7. cyclosporin

    8. 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.

  11. Presence of portal or hepatic vein thrombosis

  12. Diagnosis of untreated hypothyroidism or on unstable treatment regimen for hypothyroidism

  13. Receiving an elemental diet or parenteral nutrition

  14. Chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency

  15. Etiology of cirrhosis other than ALD, NAFLD, or viral hepatitis (excluded diagnoses include cryptogenic immune-mediated such as AIH, PSC and PBC, cardiac cirrhosis or Fontan-associated liver disease, A1AT, Wilson's disease, etc.)

  16. 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.

  17. Known current medical or psychiatric conditions which, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for the study for safety reasons or interfere with or prevent adherence to the protocol.

  18. 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.

  19. Kidney function abnormalities including:

    1. Dialysis
    2. Baseline eGFR < 30 cc/min with CKD-Epi equation
    3. Known nephrotic proteinuria, defined as 3g or greater of protein in 24-hour urine collection

  20. Recent (within 48 weeks) or present hepatic decompensation with ascites/hydrothorax, hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding

  21. Untreated chronic hepatitis B or C infection

    1. HCV eligible for enrollment if HCV RNA negative at baseline or documentation of prior SVR12
    2. HBV eligible if an HBV DNA <100 IU/mL within the last 48 weeks and on treatment

  22. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 200 U/L within the past 24 weeks or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥ 300.

  23. Documented history of intolerance to statins

  24. Serious comorbid medical disease which in the investigator's opinion renders a life-expectancy less than 96 weeks

  25. Active illicit substance use (other than THC), including inhaled or injected drugs, in the 24 weeks prior to screening

  26. Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or breastfeeding

  27. Current participation in active medication treatment trials (within 24 weeks prior to randomization) or planned participation in active medication treatment trials simultaneous to participation in present trial.

  28. Significant existing muscle pain or tenderness or prior history of myasthenia gravis as determined by a site physician.

  29. Failure or inability to provide informed consent.

  30. East Asian Descent within one degree of relatedness (e.g., if the participant's parents are of East Asian descent)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Active

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

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.

Other Names:
  • Rosuvastatin 20 mg
Placebo Comparator: Placebo

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.

Other Names:
  • Rosuvastatin 20 mg

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change in liver stiffness
Time Frame: 96 weeks

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
96 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to disease progression
Time Frame: 96 weeks

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.
96 weeks
All-cause mortality
Time Frame: 96 weeks

All-cause mortality: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Time to development of ascites
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Ascites: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Time to development of overt hepatic encephalopathy
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Time to development of overt hepatic encephalopathy: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Time to development of variceal bleed
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Variceal bleed: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Time to development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Hepatocellular carcinoma: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Change in spleen stiffness as measured by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Units: kilopascal; Range: 5 to 100 kilopascal; higher stiffness indicates increased disease progression
96 weeks
Change in Child-Turcotte-Pugh score
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Ordinal score from 5 to 15; higher score indicates further disease progression
96 weeks
Change in Model for End Stage Liver Disease - Sodium (MELD-Na)
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Unitless; Range: 6-40; higher score indicates further disease progression
96 weeks
Change in liver stiffness via Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Units: kilopascal; Range: 0 to 20; higher stiffness indicates increased disease progression
96 weeks
Change in Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Unitless; Range: 5 to 11; Higher score is worse
96 weeks
Change in Fibrosis-4
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Unitless; Range: 0 to 10; higher score indicates more stiffness
96 weeks
Change in patient-reported quality of life scores
Time Frame: 96 weeks

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)
96 weeks
Rate of adverse events
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Count
96 weeks
Rate of serious adverse events
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Count
96 weeks
Rate of adverse events of special interest
Time Frame: 96 weeks

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
96 weeks
Time to cardiovascular events
Time Frame: 96 weeks

Cardiovascular events: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks
Time to new onset diabetes
Time Frame: 96 weeks

New onset diabetes: time-to-event, binary if low counts
96 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Mayo Clinic
University of California, San Diego
University of Miami
Columbia University
University of Michigan
The Cleveland Clinic
Duke University
University of Southern California
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
University of California, San Francisco
Virginia Commonwealth University
LAC+USC Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Abigail Smith, PhD, Northwestern University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 7, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 24, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 14, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pro00070580
  • 5U24DK130164-04 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Dataset with National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Repository.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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