Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Overview
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease of excess fat accumulation in the liver of individuals with no history of alcohol abuse which can lead to hepatitis, scarring, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatic failure resulting in coma or death. It is the leading cause of liver transplantation and primary liver cancer in the U.S. The prevalence of NAFLD ranges from 10% to 24% in the general population and is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Fatty liver disease (FLD) is observed in up to 75% of obese people, and 35% of those individuals will progress to NAFLD. Treatment consists of weight loss, fat restricted diet, and lipid-lowering medications. Currently, there are no treatments that target the progressive hepatic inflammation seen in NAFLD.
This invention presents a novel group of compounds that could be developed into the first targeted therapy for NAFLD, shifting the treatment paradigm from managing the co-morbidities to treating the disease itself.
Tech ID: 14001; 14004; 14025
Patent(s):
Inventors
Dr. Kelly McCall, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Specialty Medicine, 51社区 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Frank Schwartz, M.D. FACE Professor of Endocrinology, 51社区 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Douglas Goetz, Ph.D. Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 51社区 Russ College of Engineering and Technology
Dr. Ramario Malgor, M.D. Associate Professor of Pathology, 51社区 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine