Research Article Details

Article ID: A50241
PMID: 35461369
Source: Sci Rep
Title: Effects of ALT-801, a GLP-1 and glucagon receptor dual agonist, in a translational mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Abstract: Body weight loss of&#8201;&#8805;&#8201;10% improves the metabolic derangements and liver disease in the majority of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, suggesting metabolic modulators may be effective in controlling disease. The pharmacodynamics of ALT-801, a GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist optimized for NASH and weight loss, were compared to semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) and elafibranor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR-&#945;/&#948;, agonist) in a biopsy-confirmed, diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model of NASH (DIO-NASH). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed Amylin Liver NASH (AMLN) diet for 32&#160;weeks. Animals with biopsy-confirmed steatosis and fibrosis received ALT-801, semaglutide, elafibranor, or vehicle daily for 12&#160;weeks while maintained on the AMLN diet. Study endpoints included body and liver weight, liver and plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides, plasma aminotransferases, histological analysis of liver steatosis, inflammation (galectin-3) and fibrosis (collagen type 1 alpha 1), and evaluation of individual animal changes in composite Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score (NAS), and fibrosis stage. ALT-801 demonstrated significant reductions in body weight (approx. 25%), plasma aminotransferases, plasma total cholesterol and liver triglycerides/total cholesterol in conjunction with improved liver steatosis, with greater reductions (p&#8201;<&#8201;0.05) compared to semaglutide and elafibranor. ALT-801 significantly reduced the inflammation marker galectin-3 and the fibrosis marker collagen type 1 alpha 1 vs. vehicle (p&#8201;<&#8201;0.05), with ALT-801 producing greater reductions in galectin-3 vs. elafibranor (p&#8201;<&#8201;0.05). Importantly, all animals treated with ALT-801 significantly improved composite NAS compared to the active controls. This study provides evidence for a potential role for ALT-801 in the therapeutic treatment of NASH.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10577-2