New treatment for obesity and fatty liver disease within reach

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute for Drug Research have discovered potential therapy for treating fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetic nephrotoxicity, and to heal wounds. The discovered 27 new molecules activate a special protein called PPAR-delta which has a therapeutic capacity. The findings of the study have been published in Scientific Reports.

Professor Goldblum has developed an algorithm sifting through a database of 1.56 million molecules and by picking out 27 with strong therapeutic potential, as determined by biologists at the Novartis Genomic (GNF) Institute in San Diego.

The Goldblum's team is cautiously optimistic about these findings. "With such a large group of highly active molecules, there is a high probability to find treatments for several common diseases. However, we should wait till all the experiments are done before we get our hopes up too high," he shared.

To date, these new molecules are undergoing pharmaceutical evaluations to treat two main health conditions. The first is Fatty Liver Disease, also known as NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHeptatis). This disease currently has no cure and is a leading cause of liver cancer in the Western world. The second is obesity. PPAR-delta activation has the potential to increase physical endurance and trim waistlines by getting muscle cells to burn more fat. Future evaluations will hopefully include testing treatments for improved wound healing, and to prevent kidney toxicity in diabetics.

To date, there is much pharmaceutical interest in Goldblum's new molecules. Integra Holdings, Hebrew University's biotech company, determined that 21 of the 27 have the potential to reach pharmaceutical success, especially as a possible cure for Fatty Liver disease. Additionally, Israel's Heller Institute of Medical Research is currently testing PPAR-delta's physical endurance properties on mice. Goldblum predicts that in a few years we will hopefully be seeing several of these molecules in the pipeline for clinical studies on humans.