Present and emerging pharmacotherapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in adults.
Introduction: Multiple parallel factors are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Currently recommended therapies for NASH include vitamin E and pioglitazone, besides dietary and lifestyle changes.
Areas covered: This review focuses on the clinical development of several emerging drugs for the treatment of NASH and the impact of these drugs on current treatment standards.
Expert opinion: Four drug classes (FXR agonists, CCR2/CCR5 antagonists, ASK1 inhibitors, and PPARα/δ agonists) have moved into phase 3 trials for their investigation as NASH treatments. Results from phase 2 trials of other therapeutic agents with other pharmacological actions are also expected. The importance of combinational therapies with synergistic benefits engaging different targets, is now understood. Furthermore, studies have determined that the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for patients with NAFLD, while the traditional Okinawan diet is also considered useful. In the future, it will be important to establish new biomarkers to assess NAFLD activity, furthermore non-invasive diagnostic methods will promote the development of new drugs for NASH.