CCK Receptor Antoagonist for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Categories: Other Disorders

Reference #: 2018-031

OTC Contact: Ruchika Nijhara, Ph.D., MBA, CLP, Director ( Directory Information | Send a Message )

Description

With the exception of weight loss and vitamin E therapy, few treatments are effective in decreasing the inflammation and preventing fibrosis. Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors have been identified in normal liver, fibroblasts, and immune cells.  People that consume a high fat diet are found to have elevated CCK levels. The invention pertains to the use of CCK receptor antagonist to treat liver fibrosis and inflammation and/or to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Application

• Decrease NASH and prevent liver fibrosis.

Advantages

• New and safe strategy to treat NASH
• Proglumide, a CCK antagonist is an orally bioavailable compound that has an acceptable safety profile in human subjects
• CCK-receptor blockade observably decreases inflammation, steatosis, and prevents fibrosis in an animal models

Stage of Development

Researchers showed proglumide reduced the inflammatory fibrosis and steatosis scores in the mice on the choline-deficient and ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet compared to mice on regular water. Histology revealed microsteatosis, balloon degeneration and fibrosis in CDE/Reg diet mice. The histologic features of NASH were observably decreased in livers of mice on the CDE diet treated with proglumide.

Patent Status

IP Protected

Inventor

Jill P. Smith