Resolution doses first patient with macrophage therapy for end-stage liver disease

Resolution Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been dosed and safety cleared in a phase 1/2 study evaluating the company’s engineered regenerative macrophage therapy (RMT) in patients with a history of decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Following this success, the EMERALD study is now open for full enrollment in the UK and Spain, with initial readout expected in 2026.

The product candidate, RTX00, is an engineered autologous RMT with enhanced anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. It is engineered with IL-10-MMP9 mRNA to enhance the natural regenerative properties of macrophages for superior efficacy and durability.

“Most liver-related hospitalizations and deaths result from decompensated cirrhosis, yet there are no licensed therapies that stabilize or reverse disease at this late stage. Liver transplantation is effective but limited by donor availability, cost, and suitability for only a small subset of patients,” said professor Jonathan Fallowfield, chair of translational liver research and principal investigator at the University of Edinburgh and chief investigator of the EMERALD study.

Last month, Resolution, a University of Edinburgh spinout, formed a consortium along with Cellular Origins and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to deliver a fully automated robotics CGT manufacturing platform. The consortium was awarded a cross-industry Smart Grant of GBP 1 million ($1.3 million) from Innovate UK, UK's national innovation agency.