SPLENDOR Study Lead Author Discusses The Effect Of Bariatric Surgery On MACE And MALO

Send us Fan MailLead author Dr. Ali Aminian of the Cleveland Clinic joins the Surfers to discuss the recent SPLENDOR Study, which focuses on the effects of bariatric surgery on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) and Major Adverse Liver Outcomes (MALO). Stephen Harrison and Roger Green are joined by Fatty Liver Foundation President Wayne Eskridge.9:02 - Ali Aminian begins to discuss the SPLENDOR study11:38 - Ali explains the dual study outcomes13:31 - Wayne has the first comment, then Stephen asks about sub-populations. Ali notes that the small sample size  of events limits the ability to do so.16:25 - Stephen asks whether it will be a good idea to analyze for MACE and MALO together, rather than separately, and describes the large shift in trial enrollment thnking this might cause.17:53 - Stephen asks whether study explored renal disease in a cardio-hepatic context. Ali discusses why not  20:20 - Roger notes virtually identical declines in MACE (7.3%) and MALO (7.2%), asks whether  patients in the trial exhibited both 23:30 - Ali shares preliminary analyses (not ye released) about the impact of bariatric surgery on disease outcomes. (CAN'T MISS)24:35 - Stephen notes that these numbers look similar to the placebo group in the cenicriviroc trial26:19 - Ali comments that having 100 F4 patients  does not provide much power for analysis. Stephen says it might be "25 times" what anyone else has.28:51 - Ali asks Stephen whether he can envision new agents having the potential to drive regression in  cirrhosis patients.30:02 - Stephen describes a small, recently reported efruxiferman trial that appears to do so,goes on to hypothesize that over time we will find a strategy 35:13 - Wayne worries whether "the siren song of surgery" will stop people from doing the hard behavioral work 35:59 - Ali: the problem is 40% obesity, 10% severe and until recently, no way to treat it. Expresses optimism and hope for semaglutide and the GLP-1s to come38:10 - Roger asks how the coming double and triple agonists that report 20+% weight loss will compare to surgery in outcomes38:49 - Ali: we need to do trials, but effect should be the same. Stephen agrees40:31 - Shardool Jain, Director of R&D at Altrix Bio, joins from audience to ask if members can envision a time where bariatric surgery becomes first line therapy for extremely obese patients42:40 - Ali suggests it may make sense for severely obese patients with multiple weight-related morbidities, not otherwise44:50 - Stephen asserts we do not have enough surgeons in the US to execute the strategy. His preference: solve challenges that will reduce adherence with the new weight loss medicines46:29 - Roger makes three points. 1 -  surgery in cancer is not an early-stage strategy as Shardool suggests; 2 - from his own experience, diet and exercise can be exceptionally effective in the motivated patient; 3 - you get one shot at surgery, many at medication 47:31 - Diet conversation continues...50:57 - Shardool and Stephen exit51:04 - Ali addresses NIT issue by noting that when data for these first patients were generated in 2004,  there were no practical NITs available51:43 - Last question: the most powerful long lasting effects of SPLENDOR52:03 - Ali: 1. Obesity is the main driver in Fatty Liver Disease. 2. Well populated, well-followed populations may provide unique insights53:29 - Wayne: "the guidance that the heart-liver axis can be affected so dramatically is something we can use" with patients54:12 - Roger: 1. Forecaster says investment in the double agonists and triple agonists becomes more attractive. 2. Advocate notes that weight loss can help patients all along the NASH spectrum56:22 - Business section