Fatty Liver Alliance

Something new this week: a Health Policy Masterclass, sponsored by Novo Nordisk and StrategyCorp are the facilitators. How can we let policymakers know how important MASLD and MASH are and how there is a Cardiometabolic overlap that needs to be considered and discussed?

Sunday, Nov 17, from 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM PST Hosted by Fatty Liver Foundation, Fatty Liver Alliance, Regeneron and The Forum for Collaborative Research: Liver Forum: Title: Patients Leading the Way: How PEDDLE is Shaping the Future of MASH Trials Description: Join us for an engaging Community Conversation focused on PEDDLE, the Patient Engagement in Drug Development Leading Through Example working group that ensures patients' voices are at the center of clinical trial design for MASH. This session will spotlight how patient experiences and perspectives are driving the development of more effective and patient-friendly clinical trials. Discover how this groundbreaking approach is setting a new standard for MASH research and innovation. https://lnkd.in/gy_jnMsB American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), EASL | The Home of Hepatology, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, European Liver Patients' Association - ELPA, LPI LIVER PATIENTS INTERNATIONAL, Global Liver Institute, Novo Nordisk, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inventiva Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Echosens, Perspectum Ltd, Sonic Incytes Medical Corp., Mindray, Aegle Medical, E-Scopics, Arizona Liver Health, Houston Liver Institute, Summit Clinical Research, Pinnacle Clinical Research, Gilead Sciences, Philip Newsome

This morning we had the pleasure of attending a meeting, hosted by Obesity Canada – Obésité Canada and sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, which discussed the financial and societal impacts of failing to address obesity effectively in Canada. Key speakers included Ian Patton (Director of Advocacy at Obesity Canada), Lisa Schaffer (Executive Director, Obesity Canada), Tim Dall (Executive Director, GlobalData), and Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam (Scientific Director, Obesity Canada). They presented data showing that obesity affects nearly one in three Canadians and is linked to over 200 other chronic conditions. Despite this, Canada has yet to officially recognize obesity as a chronic disease at the provincial or federal levels, contributing to ongoing stigma and insufficient support. The report estimated the annual cost of inaction at $27.6 billion, encompassing direct medical costs and indirect costs like lost workforce productivity, presenteeism, absenteeism, and disability claims. The indirect costs were especially high, with fewer people with obesity in the workforce due to health complications or discrimination. The speakers emphasized that the societal burden extends beyond healthcare expenses, as stigma in the workplace and healthcare settings affects individuals' quality of life and economic participation. Lisa Schaffer highlighted the importance of dismantling stigma and bias, often perpetuated by media and societal narratives, which portray obesity simplistically as a lifestyle issue rather than a complex, chronic disease requiring multidisciplinary support. This prejudice influences access to medical care and insurance coverage. Advocacy efforts aim to reshape public perceptions, support inclusive healthcare, and promote government recognition of obesity as a chronic disease to enable access to pharmacological, behavioral, and surgical interventions. Attendees, including healthcare providers, employers, and advocacy groups, were encouraged to use the report's findings to push for systemic change. The meeting called for collective advocacy, encouraging employers to provide inclusive environments, healthcare providers to adopt unbiased care, and individuals to share personal stories to broaden societal understanding. Obesity Matters, Priti Chawla, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), EASL the home of Hepatology, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Global NASH Council, Obesity & Metabolic Innovation Forum, Obesity and Endocrinology Prof. Shira Zelber Sagi, Jonathan G. Stine, MD MSc, FACP, Manal Abdelmalek, Naim Alkhouri, MD, FAASLD, Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, Mark Donnison, MBA, Supriya Joshi, Philippe Garneau, Hsiao-Ming Jung, Cheryl Dale, RACHAEL SOOD RN, MSN, APRN, NP-C, CDCES, Nicole Pearce This summary created in collaboration with CHATGPT4o

The interrelationships between the liver, the heart, the kidney and metabolic comorbidities is becoming more critical as the incidence of obesity, Type-2 Diabetes, MASLD and MASH grow at an alarming rate. This morning Lisa Schaffer, CEO of Obesity Canada – Obésité Canada is here with obesity experts to share the current state of obesity, and the cost of inaction. Stay tuned for key take-aways after the meeting. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver EASL | The Home of Hepatology Prof. Shira Zelber Sagi Manal Abdelmalek Jonathan G. Stine, MD MSc, FACP Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Jeffrey V. Lazarus Christopher Kopka Paul Brennan Novo NordiskJennifer Buccino Ian Patton Tim Dall Sanjeev Sockalingam Lilly Canada Eli Lilly and Company

Emma wants to share the 25% discount code with you for the Dec 5 Primary Care MASLD and MASH Summit, that expires tonight. PCPROMO25 and the registration link is https://lnkd.in/gnZvCUxR. Emma knows she is AI, but wanted to help spread the word today. :-) American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), EASL the home of Hepatology, Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, Giada Sebastiani, Global NASH Council, European Liver Patients' Association - ELPA, LPI LIVER PATIENTS INTERNATIONAL, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Sahar Saeed, Supriya Joshi, Paul Brennan, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Christopher Kopka #AI

Sunday reflection and gratitude to the MOSAiC 2024 team and visionary presenters. I (Michael Betel) on behalf of Fatty Liver Alliance would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the MOSAiC 2024 planning committee, support team, and the incredible presenters who shared their invaluable insights across liver, heart, kidney, and metabolic (CMKL) perspectives. This year’s event underscored the importance of collaborative, multi-organ care and showcased groundbreaking advancements that are shaping the future of patient-centered, multi-disease treatment. From the in-depth discussions on the MASH treatment pipeline to the dynamic sessions exploring interconnected metabolic dysfunction pathways, the meeting exemplified how diverse perspectives can elevate our approach to complex health challenges. The insights shared by experts from industry, academia, regulatory bodies like the FDA, and key journals were instrumental in pushing forward innovative solutions. I’m especially grateful to all involved for emphasizing inclusivity in clinical trials, patient-centered trial designs, and the collaborative spirit required to address the vast unmet needs of those impacted by metabolic diseases. The integration of digital pathology, non-invasive testing, and combination therapies discussed throughout the event promises an exciting path forward. Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and vision. This meeting was a testament to what we can achieve together in the pursuit of comprehensive, sustainable patient care. Looking forward to continued collaborations and innovations! #MOSAiC2024 #PatientCenteredCare #CMKL #MASH #ClinicalTrials #HealthcareInnovation #ThankYou Arun Sanyal (VCU Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health), Veronica Miller (The Forum for Collaborative Research: Liver Forum), Faiez Zannad and Javed Butler chairs, Novo Nordisk, Inventiva Pharma, Regeneron, Boehringer Ingelheim, Echosens, FDA, EASL | The Home of Hepatology, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, Michelle Long, Rebecca Taub, Fatty Liver Foundation, Global Liver Institute, Jennifer Berg, Yann Colardelle, Sven Francque, Alina M. Allen, Kush Abeysekera, Roberto Calle, Rosemarie Sellati, Tré LaRosa, Liam Messin, Michael Cooreman, Pascaline Clerc-Brenner, PhD, Translational Medicine Academy (TMA), Perspectum Ltd

Where were we 20 years ago and what are the predictions for MASLD/MASH for the next 20 years? Alina M. Allen, Vincent Wong and Juan Pablo Arab share their insights in this Nature Review. https://lnkd.in/guTE9sba

Mosaic 2024 was engaging, informative and fostered collaboration for 2 days in Washington, DC. It is an invitation only event for clinical trialists, investigators, methodologists, regulators, clinical research organizations, clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, payers, industry R&D experts, major journal editors, patients, patient trialists and patient advocacy representatives. Here’s a summary of a few key themes: 1. Pipeline Scope and Multi-Organ Benefits: MASH treatments in development target pathways that may provide cardiovascular and renal benefits, focusing on improving metabolic health and reducing organ dysfunction. 2. Clinical Trial Design and Challenges: Trials increasingly focus on non-invasive tests (NITs), particularly given the high burden of liver biopsies on patients. Composite endpoints and enriched trial populations help better capture events related to liver, cardio, and renal health. Regulatory efforts, such as FDA guidance on diversity in trials, are promoting inclusivity and standardization across disease trials. 3. Shifts in Patient-Centered Approaches: With a newly approved therapy for NASH/MASH, the field is moving away from biopsy requirements, aligning more closely with clinical practice. Digital pathology offers more consistent histological assessments, while combination therapies, show promise in addressing multi-organ impacts. New drugs in development for obesity and MASH, embodies this shift, addressing overlapping metabolic and organ-specific conditions, reflecting the interconnected nature of metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal diseases. 4. Future of Multi-Organ, Multi-Disease Treatments: Emphasis on combination therapies to protect multiple organs. Ongoing studies target chronic kidney disease and diabetes-related complications, aiming for broad-spectrum health improvements. Collaboration among drug developers, regulators, and scientists remains critical to ensure sustainable advancements and comprehensive, patient-accessible therapies. The MOSAiC conference paints a promising picture for the future of integrated care for patients with MASH and metabolic diseases, with a growing emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity in trials, and patient-centric innovations across multiple health domains. MOSAiC was highly informative and discussions were engaging throughout our 2 days together. The conference ended with a patient panel session, which Michael Betel from Fatty Liver Alliance, Jeff McIntyre from Global Liver Institute, Wayne Eskridge and Henry Chang from Fatty Liver Foundation and Jennifer Berg were part of with Arun Sanyal, Veronica Miller and Javed Butler. Yann Colardelle, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Echosens, Perspectum Ltd, Novo Nordisk, Roberto Calle, Michelle Long, Rosemarie Sellati, Faiez Zannad, Liam Messin, Michael Cooreman, Pascaline Clerc-Brenner, PhD, Andrea Dennis, Mark Hartman Lars Johansson, M. Scott Harris, Caitlin Langford, Zobair Younossi, Sven Francque, Kush Abeysekera

"The growing epidemiological impact of MASLD and its complications represent a huge economic burden for healthcare services worldwide. An integrated approach, including changes in lifestyle behaviors, will be the first step. Specific drugs for MASLD are not yet available; however, studies are underway, and combined pharmaceutical therapies may be an inevitable choice to achieve adequate control of MASLD and its complications." 1. Early Detection and Risk Assessment: The study notes the high prevalence of MASLD in Italy and its association with serious complications such as MASH, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This highlights the importance of identifying patients with MASLD early to mitigate disease progression and reduce the risk of complications. 2. Lifestyle Interventions as Primary Treatment: The study strongly advocates for lifestyle changes as the first line of defense against MASLD progression, noting that interventions targeting diet, exercise, and metabolic health can reduce liver fat and improve outcomes. This aligns with the guidance for physicians to focus on tailored lifestyle modifications. 3. Proactive Management of Comorbidities: The study reports the extensive burden of cardiovascular, renal, and cancer-related complications in MASLD patients. This underscores the need for a proactive, multisystem management approach for MASLD patients to monitor and treat associated conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and CKD, thus supporting a holistic care strategy. Paper:: Economic Impact of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Italy. Analysis and Perspectives. DOI https://lnkd.in/geYTAnrf American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), EASL | The Home of Hepatology, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Global Liver Institute, Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, European Liver Patients' Association - ELPA, LPI LIVER PATIENTS INTERNATIONAL Global NASH Council The Forum for Collaborative Research: Liver Forum Summary points created in collaboration with CHATGPT4o

Does the ketogenic diet work for MASLD/MASH? At our recent community event in Vancouver, participants asked Dr. Alnoor Ramji 18 questions about MASLD/MASH. This was the second question. Thank you VERY much to Novo Nordisk, Siemens Healthineers, Regeneron, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Echosens, and KNS Canada Inc., for your generous sponsorship and Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver's team from CanNASH for your partnership. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), EASL | The Home of Hepatology, Global Liver Institute, European Liver Patients' Association - ELPA, Global NASH Council, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Christopher Kopka, Paul Brennan, Jeffrey Habert Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Prof. Shira Zelber Sagi, Jörn M. Schattenberg, Surfing MASH, Zobair Younossi, Perspectum Ltd, Michael P. McTighe, Aegle Medical, E-Scopics, Giada Sebastiani,Supriya Joshi, Cheryl Dale RN(EC) MScN AF-AASLD, Mark Donnison, MBA, Philippe Garneau, American Diabetes Association, Obesity Matters, Canadian Obesity Network - Réseau Canadien en Obésité (CON-RCO)