Key factors in the research and development of new drugs for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most important chronic liver disease in China and a major cause of liver transplantation in developed countries in Europe and America. Among the various phenotypes of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is highly likely to progress to end-stage liver disease including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, resulting in an increase in liver-related mortality. However, there are still no therapeutic drugs for NASH at present, and many new drugs are under development in ongoing clinical trials. The research and development of new drugs for NASH require the selection of an appropriate target population and treatment outcomes depending on anti-metabolic, anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic effect. This article summarizes and reviews several key factors in the research and development of new drugs for NASH.