Lipid metabolism

Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s why

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 19, 2024
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During the appointment they measure your waist.

Key Points: 
  • During the appointment they measure your waist.
  • GPs and health professionals commonly measure waist circumference as a vital sign for health.
  • Men are at greatly increased risk of health issues if their waist circumference is greater than 102 centimetres.
  • More than two-thirds of Australian adults have waist measurements that put them at an increased risk of disease.

How much is too much?

  • A ratio of 0.6 or more places a person at the highest risk of disease.
  • This can kick off a discussion about their risk of chronic diseases and how they might address this.
  • For women, hormone levels begin changing in mid-life and this also stimulates increased fat levels particularly around the abdomen.
  • Finally, your family history and genetics can make you predisposed to gaining more abdominal fat.

Why the waist?

  • Visceral fat surrounds and infiltrates major organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines, releasing a variety of chemicals (hormones, inflammatory signals, and fatty acids).
  • These affect inflammation, lipid metabolism, cholesterol levels and insulin resistance, contributing to the development of chronic illnesses.
  • In addition to the direct effects of hormone changes, declining levels of oestrogen change brain function, mood and motivation.
  • These psychological alterations can result in reduced physical activity and increased eating – often of comfort foods high in sugar and fat.
  • And importantly, the waist circumference (and ratio to height) is just one measure of human health.

Muscle matters

  • On current evidence, it is equally or more important for health and longevity to have higher muscle mass and better cardiorespiratory (aerobic) fitness than waist circumference within the healthy range.
  • So, if a person does have an excessive waist circumference, but they are also sedentary and have less muscle mass and aerobic fitness, then the recommendation would be to focus on an appropriate exercise program.
  • Conversely, a person with low visceral fat levels is not necessarily fit and healthy and may have quite poor aerobic fitness, muscle mass, and strength.

Getting moving is important advice

  • Exercise can counter a lot of the negative behavioural and physiological changes that are occurring during midlife including for people going through menopause.
  • And regular exercise reduces the tendency to use food and drink to help manage what can be a quite difficult time in life.
  • Measuring your waist circumference and monitoring your weight remains important.


Rob Newton receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, Cancer Council Western Australia, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and the World Cancer Research Fund. Rob Newton is a board member of The Healthy Male.

Valbiotis to launch its 100% natural dietary supplement for the management of hypercholesterolemia on the French market in May

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Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Cholecalciferol, LDL, CRM, Cholesterol, Cardiovascular disease, Medicine, Digital, Dietary supplement, Business, Risk, Patient, Pharmacy, DSM-IV codes, ERP, Research, Stroke, Pharmacist, Business development, Executive Committee, HEART, Artery, Research and development, Omega-3 fatty acid, Safety, Enterocyte, Lipid metabolism, General practitioner, Marketing, Practitioner, Sleep, Hypercholesterolemia, Pharmaceutical industry

The natural and innovative characteristics of this product clearly position Valbiotis®PRO Cholestérol as a leader in the lifestyle and dietary management of hypercholesterolemia, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease."

Key Points: 
  • The natural and innovative characteristics of this product clearly position Valbiotis®PRO Cholestérol as a leader in the lifestyle and dietary management of hypercholesterolemia, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease."
  • Available behind the counter in pharmacies, the dietary supplement will also be sold without a prescription with a pharmacist’s recommendation.
  • It comprises a new generation of dietary supplements with active ingredients of natural origin, acting on several targets for comprehensive management.
  • A principal mechanism controls intestinal cholesterol absorption, while a complementary mechanism acts on hepatic metabolism for a comprehensive approach to the management of hypercholesterolemia.

NuCana Presents Data at the AACR 2024 Annual Meeting Highlighting the Ability of NUC-7738 to Profoundly Alter Tumor Biology in a Paired Biopsy Clinical Study

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
TME, Lipid, Extracellular matrix, Gene, Enzyme, Survival, Patient, SAN, Tumor microenvironment, RNA, Cancer, Pembrolizumab, Protein, AACR, NCNA, Lipid metabolism, Dicarboxylic acid, Messenger, PD-1, Vaccine

SAN DIEGO, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuCana plc (NASDAQ: NCNA) announced two posters being presented today at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting.

Key Points: 
  • The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex interplay of various cell types, extracellular matrix, signalling molecules and physical factors that collectively influence tumor growth.
  • Lipids play an important role in the TME, contributing to various aspects of cancer progression and therapy resistance.
  • They also further explain the compelling clinical data we have generated with NUC-7738 as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab.
  • Our translational data help us to understand these clinical observations and guide the optimal development pathway for NUC-7738.

Ocugen Announces Positive Data and Safety Monitoring Board Review and Initiation of Enrollment in Medium Dose for OCU410—a Modifier Gene Therapy—in Phase 1/2 ArMaDa Study for Geographic Atrophy

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Friday, April 5, 2024
Retina, Disease, Inflammation, Patient, Data, Cohort, Șaeș, Life, Clinical trial, Armada, MPH, Injection, Safety, DSMB, FACS, Vaccine, Lipid metabolism, Geographic atrophy, Oxidative stress, Pharmaceutical industry

Three subjects with geographic atrophy (GA) were dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial to date.

Key Points: 
  • Three subjects with geographic atrophy (GA) were dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial to date.
  • An additional three subjects will be dosed with the medium dose (Cohort 2) and three patients with the high dose (Cohort 3) of OCU410 in the dose-escalation phase.
  • “The DSMB has recommended moving forward to medium dose for dosing subjects with GA,” said Dr. Peter Chang, MD, FACS, DSMB Chair for the OCU410 clinical trial.
  • Phase 1 is a multicenter, open-label, dose-ranging study consisting of three dose levels [low dose (2.5×1010 vg/mL), medium dose (5×1010 vg/mL), and high dose (1.5 ×1011 vg/mL)].

Ocugen Provides Business Update with Certain Financials for the Year Ending 2023

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Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Stargardt disease, Disease, Safety, Webcast, Inflammation, Patient, CGMP, Data, Inhalation, Cohort, RP, Life, Bank statement, Investment, Clinical trial, NIAID, Injection, AMD, Vaccine, Nextgen, Geographic atrophy, RHO, FDA, Lipid metabolism, Government, Oxidative stress, Pharmaceutical industry

Completed Cohort 1 dosing for OCU410 and OCU410ST gene therapy clinical studies for geographic atrophy (GA) and Stargardt disease, respectively

Key Points: 
  • Completed Cohort 1 dosing for OCU410 and OCU410ST gene therapy clinical studies for geographic atrophy (GA) and Stargardt disease, respectively
    MALVERN, Pa., April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocugen, Inc. (Ocugen or the Company) (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies and vaccines, today provided a general business update with certain financials for the year ending 2023.
  • During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company announced its mucosal vaccine candidate, OCU500, was chosen for the multi-billion-dollar NIAID Project NextGen initiative.
  • The first patient was dosed in the Phase 1/2 trials to assess the safety and efficacy of OCU410ST for Stargardt disease in November 2023.
  • Ocugen’s cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $39.5 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $90.9 million as of December 31, 2022.

MediciNova Announces Two Abstracts regarding MN-001 (tipelukast) and MN-002 Accepted for Presentation at the 92nd EAS 2024 Congress, the Annual Meeting of the European Atherosclerosis Society

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Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Congress, Juntendo University, Dyslipidemia, Patient, SAFETY, Research, Code, MD, Abstract, Type 2 diabetes, HTG, Tokyo Stock Exchange, EAS, Lipid metabolism, NAFLD, T2DM, Pharmaceutical industry

Presentation details will be disseminated as they become available.

Key Points: 
  • Presentation details will be disseminated as they become available.
  • Ph.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, MediciNova, Inc., commented, “We are very pleased that the two presentations were accepted at the EAS 2024 Congress.
  • One presentation is regarding the objectives and design of the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial enrolling patients with Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and NAFLD.
  • The other presentation is regarding the mechanism of action of MN-001/MN-002 in lipid metabolism, particularly the effects on cholesterol efflux capacity.

Inventiva announces positive results from the Phase II, LEGEND, Proof-of-Concept study combining lanifibranor with empagliflozin in patients with MASH/NASH and T2D

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Monday, March 18, 2024
Diagnosis, Glucose, Histology, Adipose tissue, Arm, Glycated hemoglobin, Type 2 diabetes, Disease, Connective tissue, Steatosis, Insulin, Weight gain, Diabetes, CT1, Patient, Inflammation, SGLT2, Adiponectin, Table, MASH, MD, Liver injury, Insulin resistance, LEGEND, Fibrosis, HDL, Fatty liver disease, Empagliflozin, Safety, Euronext Paris, Phase, NASH, Hepatitis, Lipid metabolism, Prediabetes, Liver disease

Patients treated with lanifibranor in combination with empagliflozin maintained a stable weight throughout the 24 weeks study, addressing the moderate, metabolically healthy, weight gain that has been observed in some patients treated with lanifibranor.

Key Points: 
  • Patients treated with lanifibranor in combination with empagliflozin maintained a stable weight throughout the 24 weeks study, addressing the moderate, metabolically healthy, weight gain that has been observed in some patients treated with lanifibranor.
  • The treatment with lanifibranor 800mg/once daily alone or in combination with empagliflozin for 24 weeks was well tolerated, with no safety concerns reported.
  • The trial is double-blind for the placebo arm and lanifibranor (800mg daily) arm, and open-label for the combination of lanifibranor (800mg daily) and empagliflozin (10 mg daily) arm.
  • More details on these results are expected to be presented in upcoming scientific conferences and submitted for publication.

Ocugen, Inc. Announces Dosing Completion of Subjects with Geographic Atrophy in Cohort 1 of Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of OCU410

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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“We are very enthusiastic about the potential of OCU410 as a one-time treatment for life with a single sub-retinal injection,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Ocugen.

Key Points: 
  • “We are very enthusiastic about the potential of OCU410 as a one-time treatment for life with a single sub-retinal injection,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Ocugen.
  • “While there are currently two recently approved products for the treatment of GA, both require approximately 6-12 intravitreal injections annually and target only the complement system.
  • OCU410 addresses multiple pathways causing dAMD, including complement, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.”
    Up to 13 leading retinal surgery centers across the United States are participating in the ArMaDa clinical trial.
  • The enrollment in the first cohort is now complete and 3 subjects received 200µL single subretinal administration of the low dose (2.5x1010 vg/mL) of OCU410.

Akero Therapeutics Announces Publication of Phase 2b SYMMETRY Cohort D Study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

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Thursday, March 7, 2024
SAN, EFX, T2D, Diarrhea, Liver injury, Obesity, ALT, Nausea, ELF, DSM-IV codes, Type 2 diabetes, Safety, MASH, Diabetes, Histology, Therapy, Lipid metabolism, Patient, Fibrosis, NASH, Appetite, Hepatology, Pharmaceutical industry

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKRO), a clinical-stage company developing transformational treatments for patients with serious metabolic disease, today announced publication of results in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology from an expansion cohort (Cohort D, N=31) of the Phase 2b SYMMETRY study.

Key Points: 
  • SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKRO), a clinical-stage company developing transformational treatments for patients with serious metabolic disease, today announced publication of results in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology from an expansion cohort (Cohort D, N=31) of the Phase 2b SYMMETRY study.
  • Tolerability of EFX on top of GLP-1RA (N=21 patients) was generally comparable to GLP-1RA alone (placebo, N=10).
  • The most frequent adverse events for EFX-treated patients were grade 1 or 2 gastrointestinal events (diarrhea, nausea, and increased appetite).
  • Patients treated with EFX plus GLP-1RA showed a similar mean weight loss from baseline relative to patients treated with GLP-1RA alone.

NodThera Publishes Preclinical Data Demonstrating Reversal of Obesity and Inflammation with Clinical-stage Brain-penetrant NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 19, 2024
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The data are published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in a paper titled ‘Reversal of high fat diet-induced obesity, systemic inflammation and astrogliosis by the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors NT-0249 and NT-0796’1.

Key Points: 
  • The data are published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in a paper titled ‘Reversal of high fat diet-induced obesity, systemic inflammation and astrogliosis by the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors NT-0249 and NT-0796’1.
  • The NLRP3 inflammasome is a highly validated anti-inflammatory drug target, and these findings demonstrate that NLRP3 plays a key role in controlling obesity and obesity-associated inflammation through the modulation of hypothalamic gliosis.
  • Both NT-0796 and NT-0249, two structurally distinct NLRP3 inhibitors in clinical development by NodThera, have generated a wealth of preclinical and clinical data demonstrating brain-penetration and broad anti-inflammatory effects, with NT-0796 being the first NLRP3 inhibitor to show reduced neuroinflammation in the clinic.
  • Our ongoing Phase IIa study in obese individuals at cardiovascular risk will further validate these pre-clinical findings.”
    Reversal of High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity, Systemic Inflammation, and Astrogliosis by the NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors NT-0249 and NT-0796.