According to a story from tradeshownews.vporoom.com, the biopharmaceutical company Viking Therapeutics, Inc., has recently released the results from a Phase 2 clinical trial. This trial is testing the company’s investigational therapeutic product VK2809 as a treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with elevated LDL cholesterol. The results of this trial have been largely encouraging. Viking is dedicated to the development of innovative treatments for endocrine and metabolic disorders.
About Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by the buildup of fat in the liver which cannot be attributed to excessive alcohol use. The most advanced type of this disease is caused nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is more severe and includes liver inflammation and an elevated risk of other liver-related damage. Risk factors include diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, and certain genetic mutations. People with disease may not have symptoms, but when liver function becomes affected or NASH appears, symptoms may include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and a general feeling of unwellness. Diet and exercise are effective ways to manage mild disease, and interventions such as surgery and medication are generally only recommended for patients with NASH. While nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to fatal complications, death for patients is often the result of cardiovascular disease. To learn more about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, click here.
Trial Findings
In the study, VK2809 was able to achieve both its primary and secondary endpoints. The drug was able to significantly reduce LDL cholesterol levels and was also able to bring down the fat content of the liver in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Two thirds of the participants in this trial who received treatment with VK2809 were able to see their fat content in their liver’s reduced by 50 percent or more. The combined effects of bringing down liver fat content and reducing LDL cholesterol could result in major improvement in liver health as well as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
VK2809 also appeared to be quite safe in the trial, with no serious adverse events reported during the study. Overall, these results bode well for patients dealing with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who may hopefully be able to utilize this therapy if it gains approval in the future.
