© An Nelissen
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Scientists at the University of Antwerp have developed a potential medicine against liver inflammation. The drug, which is entering its final phase, would be the first drug for the serious condition that affects 1 in 40 people worldwide.
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Source: BELGIAN
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When people think of liver disease, the first thing that comes to mind is the effects of alcohol consumption, but liver infections are also common in people with obesity or diabetes. About 2.5 percent of the world’s population suffers from the condition ‘NASH’: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and inflammation.
Professor Sven Francque of the University of Antwerp has been studying the condition for fifteen years. “If fat builds up too much in the liver, it can lead to chronic inflammation and scarring. As a patient, this does not bother you much in the first place. At most you have some vague pain in the liver area or you feel more tired.”
In the long term, however, the consequences are more serious. Liver cells die and the liver can shrivel. After that liver cirrhosis, liver transplantation or liver cancer are not far away for some patients.
blood sugar level
There is currently no medicine for NASH, but Francque’s team is trying to do something about it. A potential drug is now entering a third, final phase. “In our study, we compared two groups of patients suffering from NASH for six months. One group received the drug, the other a placebo. In the group that received the drug, we noticed two improvements: first, they had less inflammation, but in addition, the scars that they had on their liver – as a result of that inflammation – became less.”
In addition, the drug candidate had another benefit: The patients’ blood sugar levels improved when they took the drug. The results, according to the researchers, were published in the scientific journal New England Journal of Medicine.
According to Francque, it is crucial that the disease is put more on the map. “It is very important that the disease is detected faster. A quick diagnosis can limit the damage. People with diabetes should have regular screenings. It would be a good thing if a screening for NASH is also added.”
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