Clinical Research Directory

Non-invasive Tests for Non-alcoholic Steato-hepatitis

The main objective is to study and validate a new approach for NASH and liver fibrosis diagnosis and personalized follow-up based on monocyte biomarkers and plasma metabolites. The investigators will assess if PLIN2 and RAB14 can be used not only to identify subjects with NASH and advanced fibrosis but also for monitoring the effect of treatment alone or in combination with other metabolic parameters

A Study Evaluating Efruxifermin in Subjects With Non-Cirrhotic Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)/Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and Fibrosis

This is a multi-center evaluation of efruxifermin (EFX) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in subjects with non-cirrhotic NASH/MASH and fibrosis stage 2 or 3 (F2 or F3). The study will enroll subjects in two cohorts for a total samples size of 1650 subjects.

Effect of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty in Patients With Obesity and MASH: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease globally. While weight loss through lifestyle modification is the standard treatment, most patients regain weight limiting ultimate improvement in liver disease. On the other end of the spectrum, bariatric surgery has shown promise in the treatment of MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) due to its efficacy in inducing weight loss. Nevertheless, its adoption has been hindered by the perceived invasiveness of surgery. Over the past decade, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has gained recognition as a promising minimally-invasive approach to weight loss. The procedure involves utilizing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized endoscopic suturing device to reduce the gastric volume by 70%. Studies reveal that ESG is associated with approximately 18.2% weight loss at one year after the procedure, with sustained results for at least 10 years. Nevertheless, the effect of ESG on MASH remains unknown. In this study, the investigators will compare ESG + lifestyle modification versus lifestyle modification alone in treating histologic MASH. The study will randomize patients to one of two different treatment options: ESG + lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification alone.

Effectiveness of Bariatric Surgery for NAFLD/NASH

This is a prospective, multicenter cohort study, which subjects were obese patients requiring bariatric surgery. This study aims to explore the the effectiveness of bariatric surgery for NAFLD/NASH with fribrosis, to explore the differences in the effectiveness among sleeve gastrostomy \[SG\], Roux-en-Y gastric bypass \[RYGB\], or one anastomosis gastric bypass \[OAGB\], and to explore the independent effectiveness of bariatric surgery in histological remission of NAFLD/NASH. The first stage of the cohort was started in 2020, named Base-NAFLD; In May 2024, based on Base-NAFLD, we plan to continue established a secondary cohort, named Base-NASH.

AGED Diagnostics Liver Disease Assessment

Continue development of previously established methods to further validate candidate biomarkers that can discriminate steatosis from NASH and separately stage fibrosis from blood. The first assessment is to conduct test method verification to expand sample size to several hundred samples through whole genome sequencing methods. The second assessment is focused on biomarker validation by comparing targeted sequencing from patient plasma. Several sub- assessments will be conducted to support overall biomarker development efforts.

Fibrosis Reduction in Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Background: Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) represents one of the stages of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) with a very high risk to evolve in cirrhosis and hepato-carcinoma. Currently, the only diagnostic method is a liver biopsy that remains the gold standard for characterizing liver histologic alterations and fibrosis stages. There is no specific treatment for NASH, in fact no drugs are currently licensed specifically for treating this disease. Aim: Our aim is to conduct a non-inferiority, randomized-controlled trial (RCT) comparing Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass (RYGB) with an intensive lifestyle modification plan (Very low-calorie diet, VLCD) for the reduction of advanced stages of fibrosis in subjects with obesity and NASH after 25% weight loss.