Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver condition that requires timely diagnosis. It involves a spectrum of liver conditions ranging from
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis and can eventually evolve into cirrhosis.
Over the years, liver biopsy has been the popular diagnostic procedure for NASH/NAFLD. However, considering the progressive nature of NAFLD, sole reliance on liver
biopsy procedures does not only lack feasibility but is also susceptible to suboptimal standardization. Going through liver biopsy surgery is unnecessary at the
slightest observation of NAFLD symptoms.
Observing NASH/NAFLD red flags is not enough to determine the presence of the disease. You will need a proper diagnosis to ascertain the liver condition. This
article emphasizes the benefits of choosing the non-invasive liver test diagnostic procedure instead of the invasive method.
UNDERSTANDING NASH/NAFLD
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of two types: simple fatty liver or NAFL and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Simple fatty liver or NAFL
indicates the presence of fat in the liver. NASH is the least common and clinically aggressive variant of NAFLD.
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals on Monday (November 22) entered a drug development deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under which the British drugmaker will develop and market Arrowhead's potential treatment for patients with fatty liver disease NASH.
Under the pact, Arrowhead said it would get an upfront payment of $120 million and is eligible for additional milestone payments including up to $190 million at first commercial sale of the product, and up to $590 million in sales-related milestone payments.
The drug candidate, ARO-HSD, is currently in an early-to-mid stage trial for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a fatty liver disease. It is based on RNA interference technology, where genes that contribute to disease are silenced.