Scientists at the University of Sunderland have created two experimental drugs that block the enzyme HDAC6, showing hope in stopping or reversing liver fibrosis, a condition that often develops without symptoms and currently has no cure.
These drugs work by targeting the enzyme's role in causing inflammation and activating cells that produce scars in the liver. Early lab tests show promising results, with less liver scarring and reduced stress responses.
The British Liver Trust has welcomed these findings, highlighting their potential to change the care for the two million people in the UK with liver fibrosis, many of whom are diagnosed only when the disease has already reached an advanced stage.