AI, what is it really and how will it affect patients
Join us for a webinar about AI and machine learning.
About a month ago, I shared some of my thoughts on the recent hysterics over AI. We know that panic and fear sells, so the media often plays on these emotions to garner more exposure and views. Unfortunately, these stories often fail to provide us with any meaningful information that might alleviate our concerns and instead leave us feeling more panicked and afraid than before we turned on the TV.
Read moreLiver patients may die at the feet of lawyers as potential therapy is denied
The makers of the first NASH drug that has met the goals set by FDA, Ocaliva by Intercept, have once again been told that if they spend another billion dollars they can apply again. Intercept is beaten and will withdraw.
Read moreMy Doctor Divorced Me!! Yours may do that to you soon too
My doctor divorced me. A new kind of care is being forced upon us.
It is an old story. They think we don't know, but we know. We get the little messages, "I wonder if we should see other people". We hear the office chatter, "Did you see the big ones that just came in"? "Sure a lot of newbies here lately." "There sure are a lot of young ones."
Read moreNASH-Day 2023 Conquering NASH is in sight, but the war is not won yet
We're here to mark a time in history when the Allied armies of science and medicine joined in battle to defeat the silent scourge of NAFLD/NASH. For decades, much of humanity has been under a terrible shadow. Countless faceless victims mourned only by their families have fallen to NASH, a disease of modern society. As the the medical world became aware of the killer stalking their patients the word went out from a few pioneers seeking answers. Even though the early researchers were largely ignored and the spotlight fell on the stars of heart and cancer they persevered.
Read moreFDA, a dance with the Red Queen in liver disease Wonderland
As I reported earlier, this was the outcome of the FDA meeting on the first drug candidate to successfully meet the FDA's requirement of reducing fibrosis by at least one stage.
The FDA advisory panel voted to reject Intercept's application for OCA as a treatment for NASH
Despite meeting the goals set by FDA, of reducing fibrosis by at least one stage, the GIDAC panel today voted against approval of obeticholic acid as a treatment for NASH.
Read moreFDA advisory panel votes against NAFLD/NASH therapy
The FDA advisory panel voted to reject Intercept's application for OCA as a treatment for NASH
Despite meeting the goals set by FDA, of reducing fibrosis by at least one stage, the GIDAC panel today voted against approval of obeticholic acid as a treatment for NASH.
As a patient, I'm very concerned by this decision. The concern expressed by the panel was that there was an increased risk of bile duct disease in a small number of patients in the clinical trial. The exact statistics will be published but we believe that the number is small compared to the number of people who will die from the disease if untreated Personally, I'd like to be able to have a chance to decide that risk for myself. I believe that most hepatologists know how to manage those risk factors.
Read moreFDA sausage being made tomorrow, will they kill another NASH drug
The FDA is finally going to act on the first drug for treatment of NASH
The FDA staff does not support approval - you can watch the meeting live if you care
Click this link to join the meeting 9:00 AM EST Friday May 19th
A little background. The Intercept drug obeticholic acid or OCA is the first drug to meet the FDA requirement of reducing NASH fibrosis by at least one stage. There is no therapy for NASH and it is a serious unmet need. We all know that and the meeting tomorrow will end with a vote of whether to recommend approval.
It is a public meeting and I invite you to watch. If you have NASH this could be significant for you. They have a brief window for public comment and I get 4 minutes to speak on our behalf as patients.
Read moreAI is coming!!! We are all going to die -- or maybe not -- clickbait anyone?
I am both amused and appalled by all of the stories about AI that are pummeling us lately. This is the latest fashion doing the walk down the breaking news parade route.
OK Wayne, just stop. You might know a little about liver disease but this is serious. I heard all the billionaires say its awful.
Maybe we could just take a breath. We need to remember that the world today runs on media exposure and audience. In the long ago we used to see cartoons about the guy in the public square with a sign saying "The World Is About To End". That was good for a chuckle. Today it's someone in a suit on TV with a new book or available for speaking tours. We have upgraded our doomsayers but now they are very successful at provoking our fear.
Read moreThe ICER man came, the ugly, the bad, and the good
IN BRIEF: ICER HATES obetacholic acid, and dislikes resmetirom
THE UGLY-- ICER voted 14 to 1 not to recommend obeticholic acid as a treatment for NASH
ICER voted 8 to 7 to reluctantly recommend resmetirom
A question that I found to be very distressing personally was defeated 9 to 6. The question: Would having a treatment for NASH have any effect on caregivers? Unbelievable
Read moreThe ICER man cometh, do you know how insurance denies you drugs?
New drugs are coming for liver disease, but will we be able to get them approved by insurance?
In a few weeks the FDA will have its public comment meeting for obetacholic acid for treatment of NASH. This is in response to an application by Intercept for approval. If FDA gives it a go ahead, the issue of the cost of the drug will be the next big thing.
Remember this, the insurance company is not actually in business for your health. They don't get bonuses because you were cured. Their job is to not spend all of the premium money so they carefully manage what they are willing to pay for.
Read moreHere at last! Here at last! The CARE SURVEY is here at last
With drugs coming soon, I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!
In the 2022 survey only about 10% of the patients contacted bothered to help. We need to do better. Here are links.
Read moreImportant information for NAFLD/NASH patients
The FDA will consider two drugs for treatment of NAFLD/NASH this year. I know we have been saying that therapy is coming for several years only to be disappointed. It is easy to be a little cynical about the prospects. This is a government agency and it seems like delay is what all agencies do best, but I do believe we will finally have a chance to move forward.
Read moreDilemma, what to write about, butt crack deoderant or patient abuse
I've been seeing ads for butt crack deodorant and I've wondered what societal changes have made that a "thing". I've been soooooo tempted to write an April Fool blog about all the things that could go wrong if sniffing replaces fist or elbow bumps as the way we greet people in an age of pandemic fear. But, I'll leave those imaginings to you. I want to talk about doctors who are clueless about liver disease.
Read moreThere are some things that make me mad, but who should I blame?
If you are like I was, I knew that our life expectancy in this country had declined recently, but I had no idea. I was shocked by this report by NPR.
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Would you like to tell the FDA how you feel about having a NASH therapy available?
FDA has scheduled an adcom (advisory committee meeting) for Intercept's candidate drug to be the first approved treatment for NASH.
This is the public's opportunity to provide input to FDA as part of its deliberations about approving a drug. If you would like to have a chance to add your views to the discussion, this is how you do it.
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Being unwell sucks, but we need your help
I know what it is to be unwell, but I need you to think about this result from our State of Care Survey. Only 16% of you reported feeling like you got enough information from your doctors.
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The State of Care for NAFLD/NASH patients, So many things need to be better
I invite you to read the report of the 2022 State of NAFLD/NASH Care in America Survey. This survey looks at the experiences of patients from the perspective of their day to day lived experience. Many of the results are disturbing as they highlight how poorly liver disease is managed in the broader community. There are certainly pockets of excellence and patients fortunate enough to live in their footprint are well served. For many, the path is more difficult than it should be. We hope this work leads to progress in the care of the patient community at large. To read the report click on the image below.
Read moreIt's Charlie Brown time again with FDA, will they or won't they approve a NAFLD/NASH drug
People who are lost can walk in a circle and get back to where they started. It is a bit like that for the patient community. In 2020 we were getting ready for the FDA to hold an adcom meeting on the Intercept drug Ocaliva. Adcom is where they take public testimony and as patients we wanted to speak. This was to be the first drug that had met the targets set by FDA for a NAFLD/NASH therapy. We all knew it wasn't a perfect solution but when there is no therapy at all it was a place to start and we were very hopeful.
Read moreWhere have all the heroes gone? Gone to graveyards every one
My grandson asked about our family tree for a school project and I found myself thinking about the changing character of our society and wondering how we have become so dysfunctional.
I have been fortunate to have lived in a region that may be one of the last parts of the country to have retained aspects of the society that settled the West in the 1800's. Both sides of my family were part of the wagon train movement that came west and settled in Idaho.
Read moreNew guidance for NAFLD/NASH is here, what does it mean for patients
The new guidance for managing NAFLD/NASH has been officially published. This is the official guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) and it is intended to provide primary care and other providers with the information they need to provide care for their patients. A key element for us is that it supports early intervention for high risk patients and provides clear guidance for how to risk stratify and to determine who needs referral to a specialist.
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