MAX BioPharma scientists, along with its UCLA colleagues, publish new paper titled “Oxy210, a novel inhibitor of hedgehog and TGF-β signalling, ameliorates hepatic fibrosis and hypercholesterolemia in mice” as they progress their fibrotic disorders program targeting NASH.

Paper available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/edm2.296

Abstract

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with increased overall morbidity and mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. Liver fibrosis is the strongest prognostic factor for clinical outcomes, liver-related mortality and liver transplantation. Currently, no single therapy or medication for NASH has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Oxy210, an oxysterol derivative, displays the unique property of antagonizing both Hedgehog (Hh) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling in primary human hepatic stellate cells (HSC). We hypothesized that inhibition of both Hh and TGF-β signalling by Oxy210 could reduce hepatic fibrosis in NASH. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of Oxy210 on NASH in vivo.