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Published in: Current Hepatology Reports 3/2020

01-09-2020 | Obesity | Fatty Liver Disease (V Ajmera, Section Editor)

Metabolic Targets in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Treating the Disease at the Metabolic Root

Authors: Pankaj Aggarwal, Tamneet Singh, Naim Alkhouri

Published in: Current Hepatology Reports | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its more aggressive form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Thus far, there are no FDA-approved therapeutic options for NASH. This review discusses relevant and recent findings in the development of pharmacotherapy that targets the metabolic processes implicated in NASH.

Recent Findings

Several key drugs have been identified across various drug classes. Among inhibitors of de novo lipogenesis, the SCD-1 inhibitor aramchol and the ACC inhibitor firsocostat are the most advanced. Within nuclear hormone receptor agonists, PPARα/δ agonist elafibranor and PPARα/γ agonist saroglitazar show promise with respect to improvement in NASH histology and hepatic steatosis. Additionally, THR-β agonist resmetirom showed significant reduction in hepatic steatosis and NASH resolution. Larger studies with longer treatment duration are needed to establish safety and efficacy of these metabolic drugs.

Summary

Significant progress has been made over the past decade in testing drugs that modulate the metabolic targets responsible for NASH progression.
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Metadata
Title
Metabolic Targets in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Treating the Disease at the Metabolic Root
Authors
Pankaj Aggarwal
Tamneet Singh
Naim Alkhouri
Publication date
01-09-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Hepatology Reports / Issue 3/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2195-9595
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-020-00533-x

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