It has been shown that liver fibrosis can potentially be reversed.
Liver fibrosis is a condition in which scar tissue builds up in the liver due to disease. If left untreated, this can lead to liver failure or liver cancer.
However, researchers at McMaster University have shared exciting results from early studies of a new drug that could help treat and even reverse liver fibrosis.
The new research, published in the journal Cell metabolismoffers new hope for the millions of people living with liver disease.
Liver fibrosis is common in people who have a condition called MASH, which stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. This condition is common in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
In addition to liver cancer, liver fibrosis can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and in many cases people may eventually need a liver transplant.
Dr. Greg Steinberg, a professor at McMaster and lead author of the study, says that while a healthy lifestyle can help slow the disease, it doesn’t undo the damage already done.
However, early laboratory studies suggest the new drug candidate could do just that. The drug was developed by Espervita Therapeutics, a company Steinberg co-founded.
His research team, which worked with scientists from the US, France and Australia, showed in laboratory tests that the new drug had powerful effects on the liver.
The drug, called EVT0185, is a small molecule that was first investigated as a possible treatment for liver cancer. Previous studies have shown that it helps stop tumor growth.
But now researchers see that it can also help treat MASH and reverse the scarring caused by liver fibrosis.
Instead of harmful fats building up in the liver and bloodstream, it helps the body get rid of them through urine. This process can help prevent further damage to the liver and may even allow it to heal.
According to Dr. Steinberg, this drug could fill a major gap in current treatments for liver diseases. Most treatments today do not help everyone and cannot reverse the damage already done.
While these early results are promising, the drug is still in the testing phase and researchers hope to begin human clinical trials by 2027 after more safety and preclinical studies are completed.
If successful, this drug could change the way doctors treat serious liver diseases and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
