Lawitz EJ, et al. - The safety and efficacy of GS 0976, a small molecule inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were examined by researchers in an open-label prospective study. Subjects received GS-0976 20 mg orally once daily for 12 weeks. NASH was diagnosed based on a proton density fat fraction estimated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-PDFF) >10% and liver stiffness by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) >2.88 kPa. In contrast with the controls, the contribution of hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) to plasma palmitate was markedly greater in patients with NASH. Reduced hepatic DNL, steatosis, and markers of liver injury were demonstrated in patients with NASH given GS-0976 for 12 weeks.