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FORNY20-FORNY2020

KVAL: InterNASH - An intercellular-pathway therapeutic for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Awarded: NOK 0.45 mill.

Project Number:

342449

Project Period:

2023 - 2023

Funding received from:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects over 25% of the adult population worldwide. NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of interrelated chronic liver disorders where fat builds up in the liver, potentially progressing to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis (severe, irreversible fibrosis) and end-stage liver disease. 10-30% of NAFLD patients will go on to develop the more serious disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), for which there are currently no approved treatments. The failure of many NASH drug candidates confirms the high unmet medical need and implies a misunderstanding of the molecular target – we have developed a new therapeutic approach based on a newly discovered intercellular pathway that we believe is key to understanding and treating this globally relevant disease.

Outcomes: Therapeutic candidates were consolidated providing a foundation for future work. Interaction with a wide range of stakeholders was successful in cultivating a valuable network to support the project going forward. Impacts: The impact of this project specifically has been to provide motivation and justification to pursue the project further by building a solid basis for R&D and and a supportive network. This is a small but important step to realising the ultimate impact potential of the project, which is to improve the quality of life for NASH patients who currently do not have approved therapeutics treatments available.

Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020