S4-E32.3 - Discussing Other Drugs in the Therapeutic Landscape

Send us Fan MailThroughout the month of July, Surfing NASH embarks on a series of episodes dedicated to takeaways emerging from a busy past month at both the 2023 EASL Congress in Vienna and the American Diabetes Association's 83rd Scientific Sessions meeting in San Diego. To reflect on the insight-laden occasion, Stephen Harrison and Jörn Schattenberg join Roger Green to explore emerging drug development stories in detail.In this session, conversation shifts from resmetirom to Mazen Noureddin's "NASH Monopoly" game and focus on the value of FGF-21s and glucagon agents. Stephen posits two comments about GLP-1s. First, there is now adequate data suggesting that GLP-1s will not melt away all liver fat and as a result lead to dramatic fibrosis regression. Second, we know from a small sub-cohort of patients in Akero's SYMMETRY trial that patients already on fairly low doses of GLP-1s saw what Stephen describes as an 'incredible' and incremental benefit for the FGF-21 agent, efruxifermin. The group notes that while glucagon dual and treble agents are likely to produce dramatically more robust results in weight loss and liver defatting than GLP-1s alone, they still seem unlikely to 'usurp the need for other types of agents.' From here discussion considers the FGF-21 class. Stephen notes that two drugs, efruxifermin and pegozafermin, have demonstrated significant efficacy against fibrosis. As the conversation concludes, the panelists agree that earlier, more aggressive screening to arrest cirrhosis will become pivotal and will not occur until the right drug becomes available. If you have questions or comments around the EASL Congress or ADA meetings, the discussed therapeutics, new nomenclature, or any other topic addressed in this episode, we kindly ask that you submit reviews wherever you download the discourse. Alternatively, you can write to us directly at [email protected] Safe and Surf On!