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Improving together the medical learning about NASH to better address its causes and consequences, and serve patients.

As a recognized leader in the NASH field, the endowment fund has a responsibility for being proactive in NASH disease awareness.

The NASH Education Program^TM defines and drives initiatives in collaboration with an independent scientific committee² composed of four international key opinion leaders, well-known and respected in the field, with a footprint in both hepatic and metabolic diseases, and a strong presence in the United States as well as in Europe.

The objective of this public health initiative is to place the practitioner and the patient at the heart of tomorrow's awareness and education actions. It aims at producing essential and relevant scientific and medical knowledge, and at disseminating it towards targeted audiences:

• All physician specialties, going beyond hepato-gastroenterology, i.e. including diabetologists, endocrinologists, obesity specialists, cardiologists, OB-GYN and general practitioners who will all have a key role to play in the clinical management of NASH patients;

• Patients and their families, but also individuals at risk, who all need to understand causes, mechanisms and consequences of the disease, to fully appreciate the importance of an early diagnosis and a treatment well-suited to their condition.

Through this approach, The NASH Education Program^TM creates opportunities to increase awareness through relevant and impactful education actions. It is obviously open to all key stakeholders in the NASH space who are committed to improving NASH patient care.

Videos from The NASH Education Program^TM

 * NASH: A Major Public Health Issue & Growing Concern

Learn about the vital role of the liver in the body, as well as about NASH, or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.  You will see the progression of the disease from a healthy liver to a liver with steatosis and necro-inflammation, the driving force of the disease, leading to fibrosis and ultimately to life-threatening outcomes such as cirrhosis or liver cancer – both requiring a liver transplant – or cardiovascular disease.

* Why Early Diagnosis is Important

Learn why NASH is becoming a significant economic and societal issue globally. With its high prevalence and the recent FDA approval of Rezdiffra, there is now a treatment option for adults with noncirrhotic NASH/MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis, alongside diet and exercise. Healthcare system expenses related to NASH are expected to grow, making early diagnosis a critical challenge. This emphasizes the need for simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive solutions in NASH management.

* Biopsy:  The Gold Standard for Diagnosis

Learn about biopsy, the current gold standard to diagnose NASH in individuals at risk, and the most complete diagnostic solution allowing clinicians to study key characteristics of the disease. Also learn why it is not considered an ideal solution and needs complementary diagnostic tools: mainly due to its low availability, invasiveness and cost.

* What is NASH?

Stephen A. Harrison, MD, Medical Director of Pinnacle Clinical Research, San Antonio, introduces us to NAFLD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), and more specifically NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis). He explains the definition of the disease, as well as its characteristics & the risks induced by its progression. He also highlights how the disease is related to the double epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

* Who is at Risk?

Mary E. Rinella, MD (Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago) describes who are the patients at risk of developing NAFLD and NASH, as well as the link between NASH and cardiovascular events, the ultimate consequences of the disease, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to be successful in the fight against NASH.

* Improving Access to NASH Diagnosis

Arun J. Sanyal , MD (Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond) explains that NASH is under diagnosed because a biopsy is usually necessary to confirm diagnosis. Because NASH is a silent disease and most patients are asymptomatic until late stages of the disease, it is crucial that a new, easy-to-use, accessible non-invasive diagnostic tool becomes available soon.

* How to Resolve NASH

Kenneth Cusi, MD (Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Florida, Gainesville) explains how beneficial weight loss is for NASH patients. But most people struggle to lose weight, and more importantly keep it off. Therefore, because of the prevalence of NASH and its rapid progression, increasing awareness around NASH could help to better manage patients, but that new treatments remain a priority.

* NASH:  The Future

Vlad Ratziu, MD (Professor of Hepatology at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris) explains that resolving NASH (inflammation and ballooning), the underlying cause of cirrhosis, is a recommended endpoint for clinical trials. He tells us more about the key requirements for an anti-NASH drug, especially the importance of safety and tolerability on top of efficacy.

Want to know more about clinical trials? Here are some short videos from our partner Antidote.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND LINKS TO TRIALS CLICK HERE

MK-3655 Trial

If you have diabetes and are overweight, you can have silent liver disease too

Learn about fatty liver disease and NASH, and see if you may qualify for a clinical trial.

About NASH

If you have diabetes or struggle with your weight, you may have fatty liver disease. A severe form of fatty liver disease, called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), often has no symptoms but can cause significant damage to your liver if not diagnosed early.

About the Clinical Trial

The MK-3655 Clinical Trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of MK-3655, an investigational medication for people with NASH. This trial will test MK-3655 compared to placebo. A placebo looks like the study medication but contains no active ingredient.

You may be able to participate if you: *

• Are a male or postmenopausal female, 18 to 80 years of age [in Japan: 20 to 80 years of age]
• Have NASH confirmed by a liver biopsy
• Do not have type 2 diabetes OR have type 2 diabetes that is well controlled by diet or a stable dose of diabetes medication
• Have had a stable weight for at least 3 months

If you qualify and decide to participate:

• Your liver and your overall health will be monitored closely by an experienced study team
• You will receive the investigational medication and study-related doctor visits at no charge
• The information gathered may help advance medical knowledge about NASH and may improve patient care in the future
• Participation is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time. Your privacy will be maintained throughout the clinical trial

To learn more, including the possible risks and benefits of participation, visit NASH3655Study.com.

For a copy of this information, you can download this flyer.

*There may be additional requirements to participate. The study doctor can provide you with more information. Additional potential risks and benefits will be fully described to you by your study team.