{"id":1712,"date":"2024-03-16T15:34:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-16T15:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyretirementnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/16\/fda-approves-first-drug-for-common-form-of-liver-inflammation\/"},"modified":"2024-03-16T15:34:37","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T15:34:37","slug":"fda-approves-first-drug-for-common-form-of-liver-inflammation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyretirementnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/16\/fda-approves-first-drug-for-common-form-of-liver-inflammation\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA approves first drug for common form of liver inflammation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The US Food and Drug Administration has\u00a0approved\u00a0the first medication for a common form of liver inflammation called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, the agency said Thursday. <\/p>\n

NASH \u2014 also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH \u2014 happens when the liver becomes inflamed because of excess fat cells that build up in the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. It\u2019s an advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; the disease is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and a variety of other metabolic conditions such as high blood pressure. About 6 million to 8 million people in the US are thought to have NASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis, or scarring, the FDA says. Other complications associated with the condition include cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. <\/p>\n

Up until now, there was no medication to treat the disease. Previous NASH treatment regimens focused on weight loss through lifestyle changes such as blood sugar control, a healthy diet and regular exercise. <\/p>\n

The new medication, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals\u2019 resmetirom, will be marketed under the brand name Rezdiffra. It received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA in April. This status expedites the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition and that preliminary clinical evidence indicates may be a substantial improvement over available therapies. <\/p>\n

The medication \u2014 which activates a thyroid hormone receptor in the liver to help reduce fat accumulation \u2014 is taken by mouth daily. It\u2019s approved for people who have NASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis, and it\u2019s intended to be used along with a healthy diet and exercise. <\/p>\n

Clinical trial\u00a0results\u00a0published in February showed that more than 25% of participants taking 80 milligrams of resmetirom achieved NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, as did almost 30% of those taking 100 mg and less than 10% of participants who got a placebo. The medication also helped lower LDL or \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol levels and liver enzyme levels. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s still not clear yet how long patients will need to take the medication. More research is needed. <\/p>\n

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