Empowered Patient Podcast Treating NASH and Other Fatty Liver Diseases Using Drugs Developed Around Cyclophilin Inhibition with Dr. Robert Foster Hepion Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Robert Foster is the CEO and Founder of Hepion Pharmaceutical which is developing Rencofilstat, a drug in the category of cyclophilin inhibition to target cyclophilins a specific type of enzyme that is present in all humans. These cyclophilins perform a number of functions and are responsible to some extent for the formation of collagen which can lead to events like inflammation and scarring of the liver as well as other liver diseases.
Robert explains, "Liver disease is, unfortunately, way too common. A lot of us are used to eating fatty foods, lots of sugars, processed foods, things like that. It tends to lead to fatty liver disease, which is just way too prevalent. We estimate one in four people globally that have a fatty liver. Then if we let it progress by not losing weight, exercising, and doing all the right things from a dietary standpoint and just a general health standpoint, it can lead to something called NASH.
"NASH is an acronym that stands for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Probably about 20% of people with a fatty liver will develop NASH. Within the North American context as well, probably 5% to 10% of the population will have NASH. NASH is one of the leading causes of the development of liver cancer. Unfortunately, it's a little bit too common, and it's a global problem."
"So, there are all these different cyclophilins that do all these different things in terms of driving disease forward. Rencofilstat is a once-a-day oral medication. By giving this medication to people, our hope sincerely is that we can reverse a lot of the things that are leading to this liver disease."
"But together with myself, we have collectively over 100 years of experience only in this class called cyclophilin inhibition. Really, just about all we know is cyclophilin inhibition, and drugs developed around this whole body of knowledge."
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