New drugs for NAFLD: lessons from basic models to the clinic

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and gastroenterology
• Metabolic and endocrine disorders
• Drug discovery and development

Background:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, encompassing a spectrum from simple fatty liver to cirrhosis.
• Its prevalence is rising alongside metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes, necessitating urgent development of effective counterstrategies.
• Understanding NAFLD pathogenesis is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of NAFLD pathophysiology.
• To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting different mechanisms of NASH progression.
• To discuss the translational challenges and opportunities from preclinical models to clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of NAFLD pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches.
• Analysis of various in vitro and in vivo models used in NAFLD research.
• Evaluation of proposed and evaluated novel therapies for advanced NAFLD.

Main Results:

• NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver conditions, with NASH and fibrosis being key targets for intervention.
• Diverse in vitro and in vivo models have advanced the understanding of NAFLD.
• Novel therapies are being developed to target specific pathogenic mechanisms of NASH.

Conclusions:

• Effective counterstrategies are essential due to the pandemic nature of NAFLD.
• Translating findings from basic research models to clinical practice remains a significant challenge.
• Continued research into NAFLD pathophysiology and therapeutic targets holds promise for improved patient outcomes.