Research Article Details
Article ID: | A02399 |
PMID: | 34386935 |
Source: | Hepatol Int |
Title: | First-in-Asian double-blind randomized trial to assess the efficacy and safety of insulin sensitizer in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of insulin sensitizer in Asians with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain elusive. AIMS: The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone in NASH patients. METHODS: A total of 90 NASH patients (66 males, age = 44.1 ± 12.7 years) were prospectively randomized into oral pioglitazone 30 mg/day (Arm A) or placebo (Arm B) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the efficacy of pioglitazone in reducing inflammation and liver fat at end-of-treatment (EOT). NASH resolution/improvement without fibrosis worsening was also evaluated. RESULTS: At EOT, there was a significantly decline of alanine aminotransferase (86.9 ± 34.3 to 45.7 ± 35.8 IU/L, p = 0.003) level in Arm A patients. In intention-to-treat analysis among 66 patients who completed paired biopsies, The NAFLD activity score (NAS) of 30 Arm A patients significantly decreased from 4.27 ± 1.14 at baseline to 2.53 ± 1.63 at EOT (p < 0.0001), whereas there was no significant change in patients of Arm B (3.94 ± 1.41 vs 3.94 ± 1.51, p = 1.0). NASH improvement without worsening of fibrosis was achieved in 46.7% (14/30) patients in Arm A, compared to 11.1% (4/36) patients in Arm B (p = 0.002). Liver fat content reduced (20.2 ± 9.0 to 14.3 ± 6.9%, p < 0.0001) on MRI-PDFF in Arm A compared to their counterparts. No significant difference of adverse events occurred between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A 24-week pioglitazone treatment was well-tolerated and effective in improving liver histology and reducing liver steatosis in Asian NASH patients. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01068444). |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12072-021-10242-2 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D275 | Pioglitazone | Chemical drug | DB01132 | PPARG agonist | Improve insulin resistance | Advanced in clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |