The A-TANGO consortium has reached an important milestone with the enrolment and treatment of the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial that evaluates the investigational G-TAK combination therapy for patients with steroid-resistant alcohol-related hepatitis (srAH) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). The randomised, double-blind study is investigating whether combining TLR4 inhibition (YAQ005) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can safely improve organ function and survival by targeting both systemic inflammation and liver regeneration. ACLF is the most severe form of decompensated cirrhosis and is associated with multi-organ failure and high short-term mortality, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. The study compares YAQ005 alone and the G-TAK combination therapy with standard medical care while evaluating safety, dosing, organ function and survival. The first patient was enrolled in the week of 29^th June 2026 and since then receives treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London, UK. First study results are expected in autumn 2027. Read the full press release.

Come join us during EASL Congress next week in Barcelona, Spain, for the A-TANGO Networking Session on Friday, 29 May 2026, from 10:00–10:30 h (CEST), at the "Cirrhosis & Complications" Track Hub (Track Hub 6). The interactive session, titled “The A-TANGO Score: A Novel Tool for Risk Stratification and Clinical Endpoints in ACLF”, will feature presentations by Cornelius Engelmann (Charité) and Rajiv Jalan (UCL) and offer time for discussion and Q&A. The speakers will present and discuss emerging data from the A-TANGO collaboration on outcome-calibrated approaches to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), highlighting how the novel A-TANGO Organ Failure Score may improve identification of high-risk patients compared with current consensus-based definitions. The session will also explore implications for clinical decision-making, trial design, and regulatory endpoints, alongside ongoing international efforts to harmonise ACLF definitions ahead of the global consensus process. We look forward to lively discussions and shaping future directions in ACLF research together with you!

We are pleased to share a new collaborative publication exploring consensus- versus outcome-based definitions of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Just published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology by Verma N. et al., the study compares the 2025 consensus ACLF framework with the outcome-calibrated A-TANGO classification across large cohorts from India and China (>4,900 patients combined). The findings show that the two frameworks identify substantially different patient populations, with the consensus definition potentially under-recognising a sizeable group of patients at clinically actionable risk despite high short-term mortality. The study highlights the importance of preserving the link between ACLF definitions, organ failure, and mortality risk when developing future global consensus frameworks. This work represents a major international collaboration between investigators from UCL, Charité, PGIMER Chandigarh, multiple Chinese ACLF centres, and other international experts.