Oral digoxin for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Oral digoxin for the treatment of NASH
Giving oral digoxin to people with NASH to find out if it lowers liver inflammation, fat buildup, and scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at whether taking digoxin by mouth can protect the liver in people with NASH. Digoxin is a long‑used, low-cost heart medicine that laboratory studies show can reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis by blocking PKM2 and other immune pathways. The team plans to treat people with safe oral doses while monitoring blood tests, cholesterol, liver imaging, and possibly liver biopsies to track changes. If you join, you would have regular clinic visits for safety checks and measurements of liver health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), especially those with signs of liver inflammation or early fibrosis, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with significant heart disease, unstable medical conditions, or those taking drugs that interact with digoxin may not benefit or be eligible for participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, an inexpensive, widely available medicine could reduce liver inflammation and slow or reverse fibrosis in people with NASH.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and small human experiments show digoxin can reduce liver inflammation and cholesterol, but large clinical trials in NASH are still needed.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banini, Bubu Ama — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Banini, Bubu Ama
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.