VIDEO: Pegylated FGF21 treatment improves metabolic markers in NASH

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In this exclusive video from The Liver Meeting 2017, Arun Sanyal, MD, FAASLD, from the Virginia Commonwealth University, discusses the positive results of pegylated FGF21 treatment in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

“These data provide evidence of efficacy for FGF21,” Sanyal he told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “Importantly, there were no safety signals associated with this compound either. This gives us hope that this is a molecule that could be taken forward for further validation as therapeutic agent for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.”

FGF21 is a pegylated analogue of human fibroblast growth factor 21, a key regulator of metabolism. The researchers performed a phase 2 study in patients with biopsy-proven NASH and fibrosis stage 1 to 3. Patients received either placebo or two doses of FGF21.

Results of the study showed that 16 weeks of FGF21 improved insulin resistance, decreased liver fat, elevated levels of serum adiponectin and reduced markers of fibrosis, compared with patients who received placebo. – by Talitha Bennett

Reference:

Sanyal AJ, et al. Abstract 185. Presented at: The Liver Meeting; Oct. 20-24, 2017; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: Sanyal reports he is on the advisory committee or review panel of Bristol Myers, Gilead, Genfit, Abbott, Ikaria, Pfizer, Novartis, Virology Education, Intercept and Sanofi; received consulting fees from Salix, Immuron, Exha lenz, Nimbus, Genentech, Echosens, Takeda, Merck, Enanta, Zafgen, JD Pharma, Islet Sciences and ardelyx; received grants or research support Salix, Genentech, Intercept, Ikaria, Takeda, GalMed, Novartis, Gilead and Tobira; is an independent contractor for UpToDate and Elsevier; holds a management position with Sanyal Biotechnology; and is a stock shareholder of Exhalenz, Hemoshear, Akarna, tiziana and Genfit.