Liminal BioSciences Inc. announced that the first subject has been dosed in the Company's Phase 1a single ascending dose randomized, open label, cross over clinical trial of fezagepras to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single ascending dose of fezagepras compared to Sodium Phenylbutyrate in healthy volunteers. Analysis of the disproportionate metabolite data from the completed Phase 1 multi-ascending dose ("MAD") clinical trial revealed that fezagepras's primary metabolite was a glutamine conjugate. Company believe that the conjugation of fezagepras with glutamine provides early evidence that fezagepras has the potential, subject to further research and clinical development, to act as a nitrogen scavenging drug with the potential to treat disorders associated with hyperammonaemia.

Nitrogen scavenging drugs are used in the treatment of conditions characterized by hyperammonemia (high ammonia) and target to remove ammonia from the bloodstream by conjugating with glutamine or glycine with the resulted conjugated drug being excreted in the urine. The production of glutamine in humans requires ammonia. Ammonia is highly toxic and high levels may damage many organs including the brain.

Toxic effects of hyperammonemia (high ammonia) can lead to confusion (encephalopathy), coma and if untreated, death.