Randomised clinical trial: emricasan versus placebo significantly decreases ALT and caspase 3/7 activation in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lipotoxicity leading to excessive caspase-mediated apoptosis and inflammation is believed to drive liver damage in NAFLD. Emricasan is a pan-caspase inhibitor that decreased serum ALT and apoptotic and inflammatory markers in subjects with chronic hepatitis.

Aims

To assess whether 28 days of emricasan would reduce elevated levels of serum ALT, AST, cleaved cytokeratin-18, full-length cytokeratin-18, and caspase 3/7 in subjects with NAFLD and raised aminotransferases.

Methods

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, office-practice study assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of emricasan in subjects with NAFLD and ALT levels ≥1.5 x ULN during screening. Subjects were randomised to emricasan 25 mg twice daily or matching placebo. Subjects with cirrhosis an

SUBMITTER: Shiffman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6587784 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature