# Novel insulin-sensitizing NASH/diabetes drugs.

> **NIH NIH R42** · BIOIO, LLC · 2021 · $497,526

## Abstract

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of a number of chronic and progressive diseases and obesity-
related metabolic diseases constitute a significant public health burden. The increased likelihood of
developing insulin resistance and diabetes is probably the most commonly recognized risk of being obese. In
addition, obesity is also associated with accumulation of lipid in the liver parenchyma (hepatic steatosis or
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)). The term, NAFLD, encompasses both hepatic steatosis (the
accumulation of neutral lipid within the cytosol of hepatocytes) and the more severe nonalcoholic
steatohepatitis (NASH) (hepatic inflammation and fibrosis associated with steatotic lesions). A significant
proportion of NAFLD and NASH patients will progress to cirrhosis and liver failure and are at increased risk
for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. NASH is currently a disease without an approved treatment and
constitutes a significant unmet medical need. Importantly, inflammation, insulin resistance, and diabetes are
tightly linked to development of NASH and thus drugs that target these contributing pathways are lead
candidates for treating the disease. This application is designed to test the efficacy of new insulin-sensitizing
agents that act via a novel mechanism to improve insulin action while reducing side effects. We will study a
novel prototype compound (MSDC-5514) and its backup (MSDC-5445) for efficacy at treating insulin
resistance and NASH. In Phase I, we will determine whether these compounds improve insulin sensitivity
and test the hypothesis that phospholipase D 1 (PLD1) signaling is their molecular target. In Phase II, we will
examine the hepatic effects of MSDC-5514 and MSDC-5445 in a mouse model of NASH and validate PLD1
genetically in this model. Findings obtained in these studies will define mechanisms and provide proof-of-
concept evidence supporting future clinical trials to test the efficacy of these drugs in patients with diabetes
and other obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases that have the potential to benefit millions of Americans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10218153
- **Project number:** 5R42DK121652-03
- **Recipient organization:** BIOIO, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian N Finck
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $497,526
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-17 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10218153

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10218153, Novel insulin-sensitizing NASH/diabetes drugs. (5R42DK121652-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10218153. Licensed CC0.

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