Barcelona Liver Bioservices (BLB) announced today the presentation of a poster introducing the BLB’s proprietary experimental model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the 42nd annual meeting of the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH), held in Madrid, Spain.

Poster #10 “Introducing a new pre-clinical rat model of steatohepatitis that mimics the main characteristics of the human disease” will be displayed from 9:30 – 11h and presented by Dr Jordi Gracia, CEO and CSO of BLB. The study demonstrates that rats undergoing a new multi-hit protocol that combines the administration of pro-inflammatory toxicants and high fat high cholesterol diet for 10 weeks exhibit marked NASH, as demonstrated by the presence of hepatic steatosis (>70% hepatocytes with lipid droplets), metabolic syndrome (impaired glucose tolerance), a NAS score of 8.00, hepatic inflammation (lobular inflammation, macrophage infiltration and increased MDA), significant fibrosis (+450% in collagen, activation of hepatic stellate cells), and portal hypertension and hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction.

BLB’s proprietary animal model of NASH, termed BarNa model®, is being developed to fill an experimental gap when investigating NASH at the bench-side: the lack of a reliable experimental model of NASH that mimics the four major characteristics of the human disease: steatosis & metabolic syndrome, inflammation, significant fibrosis, and portal hypertension. BLB is currently finalizing the characterization of the BarNa model®, which will be incorporated to the portfolio of the company in 3Q 2018.

Barcelona Liver Bioservices is a CRO focused on the design and development of pre-clinical research in the field of Hepatology. The company offers cutting-edge research services and consulting to foster the development of new therapeutics for liver diseases, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis.

For more information about the company, current partners and available research services please visit www.liver.barcelona