NASH, a form of fatty liver disease, causes progressive damage and can lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and the development of cancer. It has become an increasing health concern as the Western diet has spread throughout the globe. Today it is estimated that as much as 5 percent of the world’s population has NASH with a greater percent of people with the condition in the United States. There is no simple blood test to diagnose NASH, which means it often progresses to a fibrotic stage before it is detected. There is also no approved therapy to treat it. We spoke to Robert Foster, CEO of Hepion, about the company’s experimental therapy for NASH, how it works, and why it may also have utility as a treatment for COVID-19.
