Study: Diabetes drug treats liver disease in Type 2, prediabetes patients

PHILADELPHIA — A new study whose results were published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found promise for the treatment of the fatty liver disease nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. NASH currently has no FDA-approved treatment. 

 

Over the course of a three-year study, patients with NASH and either prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, about 58% of patients saw a reduction in NASH activity after being treated with pioglitazone, and among 51%, the treatment resolved their NASH. 

 

In an editorial in Annals, researchers note that some 30% of U.S. adults are affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which for some can be a precursor to NASH, which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. NASH affects about 2% to 5% of the U.S population and in Drug Store News’ April issue, Diplomat Pharmacy emerging therapeutics analyst Ryan Chandanais said that the first treatment is expected to be approved in 2016, with a launch in 2017.