Commentary
Well-established drugs that are indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia are thought to exert effects that alleviate the pathological features of NASH. One class of these drugs targets peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which are nuclear receptors that play a regulatory role in lipid metabolism and inflammation.
PPARs are now also being investigated as potential anti-NASH druggable targets. J. Boeckmans et al. review the mechanisms of action and physiological functions of PPARs. They discuss the position of the different PPAR agonists in the therapeutic landscape of NASH.
Different approaches are currently investigated with PPAR-α/δ Agonists (Elafibranor is currently under clinical phase III evaluation), PPAR-α/γ Agonists and PPAR-pan Agonists (Lanifibranor is one of the most recently developed potential anti-NASH drugs, and is the first PPAR-pan agonist, targeting all three PPAR isotypes).
