New Drug Resmetirom for Non-Alcholic SteatoHepatitis

DiabetesDaily knowledgeable me of a brand new drug accessible for remedy of a liver illness that impacts “as much as 20% of individuals with diabetes. The illness is MASH: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, one thing else I’d by no means heard of. (Shouldn’t the acronym be MDASH?) The drug is resmetirom, offered within the U.S. as Rezdiffra. Click on for the FDA announcement. MASH can result in liver scarring (fibrosis), which then qualifies the affected person for resmetirom. The DiabetesDaily article is well-written and contains options to this new drug.

I’ve lengthy been conscious of NASH: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). THIS is the liver illness goal in accordance with the FDA announcement, which states “Rezdiffra is a partial activator of a thyroid hormone receptor; activation of this receptor by Rezdiffra within the liver reduces liver fats accumulation.” Moreover:

The commonest unwanted side effects of Rezdiffra included diarrhea and nausea. Rezdiffra comes with sure warnings and precautions, similar to drug-induced liver toxicity and gallbladder-related unwanted side effects. 

There could also be potential vital interplay of this new drug with others, significantly statin cholesterol-lowering medicine.

Coloration me skeptical. If solely as a result of the drug was on the “accelerated approval pathway.” However I’ll maintain and open thoughts.

I’m undecided, however it seems that candidates for the drug will want a liver biopsy displaying fibrosis (scarring).

Steve Parker, M.D.