Liver-targeting drugs and their effect on blood glucose and hepatic lipids – published online 20/04/2021

Amalia Gastaldelli, Norbert Stefan, Hans-Ulrich Häring

The global epidemic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the high prevalence of these diseases among individuals with type 2 diabetes have caught the attention of researchers and clinicians treating patients with diabetes affecting the liver. Many drugs are in the pipeline for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH and several glucose-lowering drugs have now been tested specifically for the treatment of liver disease. In this issue, Gastaldelli et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-021-05442-2) review and appraise the various pharmacological treatment approaches predominantly targeting the liver that have been approved or are in development for the treatment of diabetes and NAFLD/NASH. The authors conclude that the improvement of hyperglycaemia and/or insulin resistance, as well as lipid metabolism, in response to many of these drugs is beneficial for the liver in both type 2 diabetes and NAFLD/NASH. The figure from this review is available as a downloadable slide.

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