A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Two Aramchol Doses Versus Placebo in Patients With NASH

This is a multicenter, Phase IIb, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two Aramchol doses in subjects that are 18 to 75 years of age, with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) confirmed by liver biopsy performed in a period of 6 months before entering the study, with overweight or obesity and who are pre diabetic or type II diabetic. Eligible subjects will be enrolled into three treatments arms: Aramchol 400 and 600 mg tablets and placebo tablets in ratio 2:2:1. The subjects will be evaluated at study sites for 11 scheduled visits: at screening (visit 1(weeks -4 - 0)), baseline (visit 2 (day 0)), visit 3 (week 2), visit 4 week 4), visit 5 (week 8), visit 6 (week 12), visit 7 (week 24), visit 8 (week 32), visit 9 (week 40) and visit 10 (week 52 - (End of Treatment/early termination visit)). After completion of the study treatment period, the subjects will be followed for an additional period of 13 weeks without study medication (until visit 11 (week 65)). During the screening period, the severity of the disease will be evaluated with blood tests, liver biopsy and NMRS. During the study the following assessments will be performed: * Vital signs will be measured at each study visit. * A physical examination will be performed at the screening visit, 24 weeks, End of Treatment/early termination and week 65 visit. The following blood tests will be performed: complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry (including electrolytes, liver enzymes, direct and total bilirubin, glucose, lipid profile which include triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL, CPK, creatinine, urea, albumin, alkaline phosphatase), ESR and urinalysis during the screening visit, baseline, week 2, 4, 8, 24, 40, 52 and 65 (end of follow up) visits. Serology (HBV, HCV and HIV) will be performed during the screening visit. Coagulation (fibrinogen, PT/INR, aPTT) will be measured during screening and at baseline, week 24, End of Treatment/early termination and week 65 visits. Insulin (HOMA) will be measured during the screening, at week 24 and End of Treatment/early termination visits. HbA1C will be measured during the screening, at week 8, 24, 40 and End of Treatment/early termination visits. C reactive protein, Leptin and Adiponectin will be measured during baseline visit and at end of treatment period. The blood samples taken at these visits, will be tested for possible biomarkers. TSH, T3 and T4 will be measured during the screening visit. beta-hCG in women of childbearing potential will be performed during the screening visit. A serum sample will be collected and kept frozen until study end in case special investigation needs to be performed. This sample will be collected during the screening and visit 10/Early Termination. * Body weight and waist circumference will be measured in screening, baseline, week 24, end of treatment and week 65 visits. Height will be measured during the screening visit. * ECG will be performed during the screening visit, visit 7 (week 24) and end of treatment visits. * All subjects will undergo two NMRS scans, at screening and end of treatment visits. * FibroMax test will be performed only if the investigator thinks it is necessary * Liver biopsy will be conducted during the screening and end of treatment visit. The biopsy in the screening visit will be performed only if it was not done within the 6 months prior to this visit. * Metabolomics blood test will be performed at the screening, visit 7 and the End-of-Treatment/Early Termination visits. From some consenting patients (about 15) a sample from the liver biopsy will be taken for analysis. * Endothelial Function will be conducted in selected sites. The test will be conducted during the baseline visit before the study treatment will be given and End of Treatment/early termination visit. * Blood sample for Aramchol trough level will be collected (pre-dose) from patients in Israel at baseline (visit 2) week 4 (visit 4), week 12 (visit 6), week 24 (visit 7), week 40 (visit 9), end of treatment (visit 10) and follow up (visit 11). At selected sites in Mexico, USA and Hong Kong one blood sample will be collected (pre-dose) on visit 4 (up to 10 subjects per country) to test for trough Aramchol blood level differences between populations (e.g., African American, Asian, Hispanic). * Blood sample for gene analysis will be taken from all consenting patients during the baseline visit, will be kept frozen and analyzed only at the study end. * Life style questionnaire will be completed at all visits. * Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study. * Concomitant Medications will be monitored throughout the study. * Telephone contacts will be performed on week 16, 20, 28, 36, 44 and 48. An interim safety analysis will be conducted as soon as 120 subjects will completed the follow up period of 24 weeks under study treatment. An independent DSMB will analyze the safety data and recommend a continued course of action. All patients will continue to be treated under the study protocol until conclusion of the analysis will be known. Safety assessment will include frequency and severity of treatment-emergent AEs, clinically significant laboratory abnormalities, ECG changes and physical examination findings.