Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is increasingly being referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is characterized by chronic hepatic steatosis leading to inflammation and eventually fibrosis of the liver; it is commonly accepted as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. There is currently only one approved therapy for NASH in the seven major pharmaceutical markets, which creates a significant unmet need given the large prevalent population and the rise in the proportion of liver transplants due to NASH. 

Development of a safe and efficacious pharmacotherapy has been hindered by the complicated and poorly understood pathophysiology of NASH. Moreover, due to the multifactorial nature of the disease, more than one pharmacotherapy is likely to be required for effective treatment. Consequently, there is a diverse range of modes of action in the pipeline and substantial interest in combination therapies.