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Innovative fatty acid proves highly effective and well tolerated in clinical trial
Scientists of the Institute of Translational Immunology at University Medical Center Mainz have co-developed a novel drug that could effectively treat non-alcoholic fatty liver inflammation: the modified omega-3 fatty acid icosabutate. In the ongoing phase 2b clinical trial "ICONA", the positive results seem to be confirmed: The compound prevented inflammation and scarring of the liver. To date, there is no established therapy and no approved drug for non-alcoholic fatty liver inflammation.
The research results published in the renowned scientific journal "Journal of Hepatology" therefore indicate a breakthrough for the treatment of this disease.
More and more people in industrialized countries around the world are suffering from metabolic diseases such as obesity, impaired fat metabolism or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many of these patients develop a fatty liver, termed non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL). In Germany alone, about 30 percent of the population has NAFL. NAFL does not cause any symptoms. However, about one in six NAFL patients develops fatty liver inflammation, known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
If fatty liver inflammation becomes chronic, it leads to liver fibrosis. This causes an increase of the collagenous connective tissue in the liver and liver scarring. Consequences of fibrosis caused by NASH can be liver cirrhosis (shrinking liver), liver failure and even liver cell cancer. The basic treatment of NAFL and NASH aims at dietary change and more physical exercise. Among other things, this is intended to achieve weight loss, which can improve NASH. However, as in treatment of obesity, this aim is rarely achieved in most patients. There is currently no drug therapy for NASH available. Although numerous active substances are being researched, their approval has often failed due to insufficient efficacy or because they cause undesirable side effects.
"Together with the company Northsea Therapeutics, we have developed a potential drug for NASH and tested it extensively in vitro and in vivo with regard to its efficacy: the structurally modified omega-3 fatty acid icosabutate. This is a completely new class of substances. Icosabutate improved both liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. In an initial study with patients at high risk of NASH, a daily capsule of our compound icosabutate very convincingly and rapidly normalized elevated blood levels of liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. Based on these promising results, a phase 2b clinical trial ('ICONA') was initiated in the U.S. in which patients with severe NASH and liver fibrosis are treated with icosabutate over a period of one year. Here, the success of the therapy will also be assessed by liver biopsy at the beginning and at the end," explains Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. Detlef Schuppan, Director of the Institute for Translational Immunology at the University Medical Center Mainz.
The development of the new drug is based on known substances from fish oil, the omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to their positive effect on the cardiovascular system, omega-3 fatty acids are also involved in several processes that can regulate liver inflammation and fibrosis. This served as the starting point for the search for a drug that could treat chronic liver inflammation.
The challenge of making an effective drug for NASH from omega-3 fatty acids is that omega-3 fatty acids are needed almost everywhere in the body for general energy metabolism. The liver also uses the fatty acids to produce energy and build its cells. As a result, omega-3 fatty acids are quickly used up by the body, which is why they no longer have sufficient potential to inhibit liver inflammation. The high doses of omega-3 fatty acids required for clinical efficacy are poorly tolerated and have undesirable side effects.
"In our substance icosabutate, we have changed the structure of the omega-3 fatty acid so that this active ingredient cannot be incorporated into the liver cells or consumed as 'fuel'. Thus, there is enough unused icosabutate fatty acid in the liver to dampen inflammation and fibrosis. In this regard, the modified omega-3 fatty acid icosabutate is 50 times more potent than the natural omega-3 fatty acid. We are optimistic that the compound we have developed will lead to the first effective therapy with clear benefits for the many people affected by NASH. This would be another major success for the translational development of a drug from basic research into clinical application - a central goal of our Institute for Translational Immunology," said Professor Schuppan.
Publication:
Fraser D.A., Wang X., Lund J., Nikolić N., Iruarrizaga-Lejaretta M., Skjaeret T., Alonso C., Kastelein J.J.P., Rustan A.C., Kim Y.O., Schuppan D., A structurally engineered fatty acid, icosabutate, suppresses liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. J. Hepatol. 2022; 76(4):800-811.
DOI: https://10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.004
Image caption: For the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis (NASH), researchers at Mainz University Medical Center have developed the modified omega-3 fatty acid icosabutate. The innovative drug inhibits both inflammation and scarring of the liver.
Image source: © University Medical Center Mainz
Contact:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. Detlef Schuppan, Institute for Translational Immunology,
University Medical Center Mainz,
Telephone 06131 17-7356, E-Mail: detlef.schuppan@unimedizin-mainz.de
Press contact:
Natkritta Hüppe, Corporate Communications, University Medical Center Mainz,
Telephone 06131 17-7771, E-Mail: pr@unimedizin-mainz.de
About the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University
The University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is the only medical institution of supra-maximum supply in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and an internationally recognized science location. Medical and scientific specialists at 60 clinics, institutes and departments work interdisciplinarily to treat more than 300,000 patients per year. Highly specialized patient care, research and teaching are inseparably intertwined. Around 3,000 medicine and dentistry students as well as more than 600 future medical, commercial and technical professionals are trained in Mainz. With a workforce of approximately 8,600 colleagues the University Medical Center Mainz is one of the largest employers in the region and an important driver of growth and innovation. Find more information online at https://www.unimedizin-mainz.de/?L=1.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. Detlef Schuppan, Institute for Translational Immunology,
University Medical Center Mainz,
Telephone 06131 17-7356, E-Mail: detlef.schuppan@unimedizin-mainz.de
Fraser D.A., Wang X., Lund J., Nikolić N., Iruarrizaga-Lejaretta M., Skjaeret T., Alonso C., Kastelein J.J.P., Rustan A.C., Kim Y.O., Schuppan D., A structurally engineered fatty acid, icosabutate, suppresses liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. J. Hepatol. 2022; 76(4):800-811.
DOI: https://10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.004
For the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis (NASH), researchers at Mainz University Med ...
© University Medical Center Mainz
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For the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis (NASH), researchers at Mainz University Med ...
© University Medical Center Mainz
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