Pharmaceutical makers are rushing to develop new drugs to treat liver diseases, and in the mean time, smaller companies are looking to develop new ways to test patients in drug trials, according to a Medscape report.
Currently, testing potential patients in trials involves a liver biopsy, a risky procedure with limited accuracy. Among the new diagnostic tests being developed are MRI scans that allow for a view of the entire liver and blood tests to measure liver scarring or function. Another test involves the use of exhaled breath to evaluate liver function.
Additionally, the high price of some liver disease treatment drugs, such as Gilead's Sovaldi for hepatitis C, are also prompting the development of new and more accurate diagnostic tests for liver disease, according to the report.