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Light micrograph of a human liver stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The hepatocytes are arranged in cords separated by clear areas where hepatic sinusoids showing red blood cells are located.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Bridging Care

What potential does RNAi hold for the future of AATD treatment?

Last updated: 8th Aug 2025
Published: 8th Aug 2025

In this exclusive interview, Professor Pavel Strnad and Dr Thomas Schluep discuss the potential of RNA interference (RNAi) to treat previously untreatable liver diseases, with a focus on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), and how small interfering RNA (siRNA) addresses the root cause of AATD.

Join these specialists as they discuss this new treatment option and what siRNA treatments may mean for physicians and people with liver disease in the near future.

Meet the experts

Professor Pavel StrnadProfessor Pavel Strnad

Professor Pavel Strnad is a professor and leading physician at University Hospital Aachen, Germany. Since 2008, Professor Strnad has headed up a research lab focused on translational gastroenterology. For his work, Professor Strnad was named one of the rising stars of United European Gastroenterology in 2016.

Professor Strnad is currently leading a European initiative for the study of AATD-associated liver disease and has been instrumental in developing new therapies for AATD.

Disclosures:

Professor Strnad reports receiving grants or contracts from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Grifols Inc; consulting fees from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Ono Pharmaceutical, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals; honoraria from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Grifols Inc; participating in leadership or fiduciary roles in other boards for Alpha1-Deutschland, Alpha1 Global; and material transfer for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.

Dr Thomas SchluepDr Thomas Schluep

Dr Thomas Schluep Sc.D is the Vice President of Program Management at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is responsible for advancing pharmaceutical product candidates both pre-clinically and clinically across the whole organisation.

Dr Schluep holds a Sc.D. in Process Engineering and an MS in Biotechnology, both from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. He has authored 33 scientific publications.

Disclosures:

Employee and shareholder of Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals.