The Liver Meeting 2021-Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Developing New Treatments for NASH Fibrosis

Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Developing New Treatments for NASH Fibrosis

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The Liver Fibrosis Special Interest Group program focused on multidisciplinary perspectives in developing new treatments for NASH-related liver fibrosis. Dr. Yujin Hoshida and Professor Hezer-Francis co-chaired the session, highlighting progress in nerve drug development and the critical steps involved, such as disease pathogenesis understanding, target discovery, preclinical and clinical drug development, and regulatory approval. Dr. Jennifer Chen discussed a new molecular mechanism of NASH-related liver fibrosis, focusing on the identification of acid ceramides as an antifibrotic target and validating its efficacy using multiple models of fibrogenesis. The importance of halting fibrosis progression in patients with NASH was emphasized due to its impact on liver disease progression and patient outcomes. Furthermore, a small molecule screen identified tricyclic antidepressants as potential antifibrotic compounds that inhibit acid ceramides to inactivate hepatic stellate cells and reduce fibrosis development, leading to potential new therapeutic strategies for hepatic fibrosis. Overall, the discussions stressed the need for innovative approaches and biomarkers to address challenges in NASH treatment and highlighted the potential for collaboration between academia and industry to advance liver fibrosis research and therapy development.

Keywords

Liver Fibrosis

Special Interest Group

NASH

Dr. Yujin Hoshida

Professor Hezer-Francis

Nerve drug development

Disease pathogenesis

Acid ceramides

Antifibrotic target

Tricyclic antidepressants

Hepatic stellate cells