Runihol in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Syndrome

The study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of different doses and dosing regimens of Runihol, tablets, enteric coated, produced by "NTFF" POLYSAN" (Russia), in prevention of liver disease progression in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study is a comparative assessment of the safety and efficacy of different doses and dosing regimens of Runihol drug tablets, enteric coated, produced by "NTFF" POLYSAN "(Russia) and placebo tablets, enteric coated, produced by" NTFF "POLYSAN" (Russia), when administered to patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome.

Design: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative study in parallel groups.

The study will be performed on the outpatient basis under the supervision of the physician-researcher who will be in charge of screening and the whole course of study drug therapy.

The study consists of the following periods:

* Screening - preliminary examination of the eligible patients (duration 14 days).
* The period of therapy - the use of the study drug Runihol®, tablets, enteric coated, produced by "NTFF" POLYSAN "(Russian) or placebo tablets, enteric coated, produced by" NTFF "POLYSAN" LLC (Russia), during 84 days (12 weeks).

Following screening, patients who meet the inclusion criteria and have no criteria for exclusion will be randomly assigned into three study groups in the proportion of 1: 1: 1):

* Group I: treatment with Runihol®, 1 tablet 3 times a day, and placebo tablets, 1 tablet three times a day, for 84 days (12 weeks).
* Group II: treatment with Runihol®, 2 tablets 2 times a day, morning and evening, and placebo tablets, 2 tablets once a day, in the afternoon, for 84 days (12 weeks).
* Group III: patients will receive placebo tablets, 2 tablets 3 times a day, for 84 days (12 weeks).

Patient assessment will be carried out in the course of 6 visits.

Screening:

Visit 0 (-14 day ... Day 1) - Screening: preliminary evaluation of patients.

Period of treatment:

Visit 1 (Day 1) - evaluation of the patient based on the results of physical examination, assessment of vital signs, complex laboratory (clinical and biochemical blood tests, PTI, insulin resistance index calculation, the determination of homocysteine in the serum / plasma, general urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG ) investigations; randomization, the appointment of therapy, assessment of concomitant therapy, instructions to fill the patient's diary, registration of AEs.

Visit 2 (Day 15) - evaluation of the patient based on the results of physical examination, assessment of vital signs, laboratory complex (clinical and biochemical blood tests, PTI, determination of homocysteine in the blood serum, the total urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG) studies; control of intake of study medication / placebo, evaluation of concomitant therapy, checking patient diary, registration of AEs.

Visit 3 (Day 29) - evaluation of the patient based on the results of physical examination, assessment of vital signs, laboratory complex (clinical and biochemical blood tests, PTI, determination of homocysteine in the serum / plasma, total urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG ) investigations; control of intake of study medication / placebo, evaluation of concomitant therapy, checking patient diary, registration of AEs.

Visit 4 (Day 57) - evaluation of the patient based on the results of physical examination, assessment of vital signs, laboratory complex (clinical and biochemical blood tests, PTI, determination of homocysteine in the serum / plasma, total urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG ) studies; control of intake of study medication / placebo, evaluation of concomitant therapy, checking patient diary, registration of AEs.

Visit 5 (Day 85) - evaluation of the patient based on the results of physical examination, assessment of vital signs, laboratory complex (clinical and biochemical blood tests, PTI, determination of homocysteine in the serum / plasma, insulin resistance index calculation, the total urine analysis) and instrumental (ECG, ultrasound of the abdomen) investigations; control of intake of study medication / placebo, evaluation of concomitant therapy, checking patient diary, registration of AEs.

The study is expected to include, and randomize at least 162 patients (men and women aged 18 to 65 years) with clinically or histologically confirmed diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (code ICD-10: K76.0: Fatty degeneration of the liver, not classified elsewhere) in the form of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and metabolic syndrome, provided with written informed consent to participate in the study, the relevant criteria for inclusion in the study and no criteria for exclusion; data collected will be used for further analysis of safety and efficacy .

In view of possible dropout of patients at screening and during the study a total of 204 patients are planned for inclusion.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. A signed informed consent to participate in the study.
2. Men and women aged 18 to 65 years.
3. Diagnosis: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (code ICD-10: K76.0 Fatty degeneration of the liver, not classified elsewhere), defined as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
4. Metabolic syndrome (according to the national criteria accepted in 2013).
5. The body mass index (BMI) of 30-45 kg / m2.
6. The presence of signs of steatosis on ultrasound examination of the liver (distal signal attenuation and / or increased echogenicity of the liver).
7. The level of total cholesterol\> 6.0 mmol/l and / or triglyceride levels\> 1.7 mmol/l.
8. ALT, AST serum levels exceed upper normal limits by 1,5-7 times.
9. GGT level higher that upper normal limit by 1,5-7 times.
10. The level of SBP\>140 and / or DBP\> 90 mm Hg or antihypertensive therapy required to maintain normal blood pressure values.
11. A negativepregnancy test for female participants.
12. Consent to use of appropriate methods of contraception ( with contraceptive reliability over 90%: the cervical cap with spermicide, diaphragm with spermicide, condoms, intrauterine devices), or abstaining from sexual activity for the study period.
13. Consent to limit alcohol consumption to a maximum of 2 units of alcohol per month (1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to 0.5 liters of beer, 200 ml of dry wine or 50 ml of spirits), or total abstaining from alcohol consumption for the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chronic liver disease of any other aetiology.
2. Disorders of copper metabolism, and/or ceruloplasmin serum level beyond the reference value on screening.
3. Disorders of iron metabolism in the past medical history or revealed at screening.
4. Cirrhotic stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Class A-C by Child-Pugh).
5. Type I diabetes mellitus.
6. Type II diabetes mellitus, which requires regular oral hypoglycemic therapy or insulin, or the level of fasting plasma glucose\> 7 mmol / l and / or glycosylated hemoglobin\> 7% on screening.
7. Any severely decompensated somatic disease
8. Regular intake of the medications that are prohibited by the study protocol, or their intake within 4 weeks prior to inclusion.
9. The history of clinically significant allergic reactions.
10. Hypersensitivity to any component of the study drug and / or intolerance to any component of the study drug.
11. Bariatric surgery in less than 6 months prior to the study.
12. Pregnancy or lactation.
13. Hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine serum levels \>15 mmol/dL for men, \>12 mmol/dL for women).
14. Exacerbation of the stomach ulcer and / or duodenal ulcers and / or erosive gastritis.
15. Chronic kidney failure (stage C4-C5) and / or glomerular filtration rate \<30 ml / min on screening.
16. Gout, with the need of drugs that reduce uric acid levels
17. Any of the following parameters: Hb \<80 g / L, platelets \<80 x 10 9 / L, WBC\> 15 x 10 9 / L at screening.
18. Regular intake of more than 5 units of alcohol per week (1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to 0.5 liters of beer, 200 ml of dry wine or 50 ml of spirits) or history of alcohol addiction.
19. A significant (over 5 kg) weight loss or weight gain during the preceding 6 months prior to the study.
20. Unstable angina pectoris.
21. Myocardial infarction within 3 months before inclusion.
22. Chronic heart failure (III-IV functional class by NYHA).
23. A history of cancer, mental illness, HIV, tuberculosis, or drug addiction.
24. Mental, physical and other reasons that do not allow the patient to comply with the study procedures.
25. Any other condition which, according to the investigator's judgement, may interfere with the compliance to study procedures.
26. Participation in any other clinical trial within 3 months prior to the inclusion.
27. Employees of the research company or study site involved in the conduct of the present study, and their family members.