The first time Roger Ortega learned about NASH was when he was admitted to the intensive care unit. The serious and progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is caused by a buildup of fat in the liver and accompanied by inflammation, liver cell damage and in some cases, scarring of the liver. NASH significantly increases morbidity, is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (such as heart attack or stroke) and is a leading cause for liver transplants in the U.S.1,2
Remembering Roger Ortega, one of the many NASH patients who inspire Pfizer
Sadly, Roger recently passed away. But his story endures – and echoes the experiences of so many others living with this condition. Despite its significant impact, NASH is largely unrecognized and underdiagnosed. Many patients may not receive a diagnosis until the disease is in an advanced stage, and there are currently no approved treatments for NASH.
NASH affects approximately 3-5% of the global adult population, including an estimated 18 million adults in the U.S. alone.3,4,5
Today, Pfizer is building on its long history of discovering and developing therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and leveraging this expertise for patients like Roger, and in his words, “for generations to come.” We are rapidly progressing a robust pipeline of potential first- or best-in-class treatments for NASH, designed and developed in Pfizer’s laboratories. Our goal is to advance novel therapies that may slow and ultimately reverse the life-threatening downstream consequences of NASH – and positively impact the lives of millions of patients around the world.
Learn more about NASH and its burden and impact on patients and society
1Haldar, D., Kern, B., Hodson, J., Armstrong, M. J., Adam, R., Berlakovich, G., Fritz, J., Feurstein, B., Popp, W., Karam, V., Muiesan, P., O'Grady, J., Jamieson, N., Wigmore, S. J., Pirenne, J., Malek-Hosseini, S. A., Hidalgo, E., Tokat, Y., Paul, A., Pratschke, J., … Schneeberger S. (2019). Outcomes of liver transplantation for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A European Liver Transplant Registry study. Journal of Hepatology, 71(2), 313–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2019.04.011
2U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021, January 31). Data. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/data/
3Adapted model based on Estes, C., Anstee, Q. M., Arias-Loste, M. T., Bantel, H., Bellentani, S., Caballeria, J., Colombo, M., Craxi, A., Crespo, J., Day, C. P., Eguchi, Y., Geier, A., Kondili, L. A., Kroy, D. C., Lazarus, J. V., Loomba, R., Manns, M. P., Marchesini, G., Nakajima, A., Negro, F., … Razavi, H. (2018). Modeling NAFLD disease burden in China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States for the period 2016-2030. Journal of Hepatology, 69(4), 896–904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2018.05.036
4American Liver Foundation. (2019, November 11). NASH Definition & Prevalence. American Liver Foundation. https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis-information-center/nash-definition-prevalence/
5Sherif, Z. A., Saeed, A., Ghavimi, S., Nouraie, S. M., Laiyemo, A. O., Brim, H., & Ashktorab, H. (2016). Global Epidemiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Perspectives on US Minority Populations. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 61(5), 1214–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-016-4143-0
Read the latest information about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Pfizer.com.
Visit Pfizer.com
The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.
Copyright © 2020-2021 Pfizer Inc.
All rights reserved