Publication
Title
A proposal from the liver forum for the management of comorbidities in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis therapeutic trials
Author
Institution/Organisation
Liver Forum NAFLD-Associated Comorbidities Working Group
Abstract
The current document has been developed by the Liver Forum who mandated the NAFLD-Associated Comorbidities Working Group - a multistakeholder group comprised of experts from academic medicine, industry and patient associations - to identify aspects of diverse comorbidities frequently associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that can interfere with the conduct of therapeutic trials and, in particular, impact efficacy and safety results. The objective of this paper is to propose guidance for the management of relevant comorbidities in both candidates and actual participants in NASH therapeutic trials. We relied on specific guidelines from scientific societies, when available, but adapted them to the particulars of NASH trials with the aim of addressing multiple interacting requirements such as maintaining patient safety, reaching holistic therapeutic objectives, minimising confounding effects on efficacy and safety of investigational agents and allowing for trial completion. We divided the field of action into: first, analysis and stabilisation of the patient's condition before inclusion in the trial and, second, management of comorbidities during trial conduct. For the former, we discussed the concept of acceptable vs. optimal control of comorbidities, defined metabolic and ponderal stability prior to randomisation and weighed the pros and cons of a run-in period. For the latter, we analysed non-hepatological comorbid conditions for changes or acute events possibly occurring during the trial, including changes in alcohol consumption, in order to detail when specific interventions are necessary and how best to manage concomitant drug intake in line with methodological constraints. These recommendations are intended to act as a guide for clinical trialists and are open to further refinement when additional data become available. (c) 2023 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of hepatology. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : Elsevier , 2023
ISSN
0168-8278
DOI
10.1016/J.JHEP.2023.03.014
Volume/pages
79 :3 (2023) , p. 829-841
ISI
001064770500001
Pubmed ID
37001695
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 30.10.2023
Last edited 22.11.2023
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