New Promising Approach for Treating Metabolic Liver Diseases

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Barcelona has unveiled a promising new approach that could revolutionize the treatment of metabolic liver diseases. Published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, the study demonstrated that two existing drugs, Pemafibrate and Telmisartan, significantly reduced fat accumulation in animal models of the disease.

Drug Repurposing: A Cost-Effective Strategy

In the past, many new experimental compounds for metabolic fatty liver diseases failed in clinical trials, often due to safety concerns. As a result, attention has shifted to the strategy of drug repurposing, which involves exploring new uses for drugs already proven safe in humans.

This strategy is not only faster but also more economical, especially in treating the early stages of the disease, where symptoms are usually unnoticeable. Researchers emphasize the importance of using safe drugs in these early stages to prevent the disease from progressing to more severe stages.

Studying Effects on Animal Models

In the study, the team evaluated the effectiveness of two approved drugs, one a lipid-lowering agent and the other an antihypertensive. Pemafibrate is used only in Japan, while Telmisartan is widely used to treat high blood pressure.

Zebrafish larvae models were used as an alternative to study the disease, as these models are simpler and less costly, allowing for quick results, although they are not entirely equivalent to humans.

New Horizons for Combination Therapy

The results showed that combining the two drugs could reverse fat accumulation in the liver. In mouse models, the combined use of half doses of each drug was as effective as the full dose of either drug in reducing fat accumulation.

Researchers suggest that combination therapy using drugs that target different disease pathways may be a better strategy than monotherapy, due to potential synergistic effects and reduced toxicity associated with using lower doses of each drug.

Conclusion

Despite the promising results, researchers stress that these studies are still far from human application. Clinical studies are needed to ensure that the benefits observed in animal models also occur in humans. These findings open new avenues for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of metabolic liver disease and highlight the need for further research to explore efficacy in advanced stages of the disease.