Can biopsy confirmed disease progression give quality data?

Certainly.

NASH research services

Contract research services within NASH

We have established and validated a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) for chronic efficacy studies. The DIO-NASH model exhibits key hallmarks of NASH including steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, uniquely identified by pre-study liver biopsy and objectively assessed by individual histological changes from baseline (pre) to study end (post) using the clinical derived NAFLD activity score and Fibrosis stage.

Animals are constantly being diet-induced to allow for monthly conduction of NASH studies, and especially our pre-post liver biopsies have proven valuable to our customers.

We offer:

Diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model of NASH (DIO-NASH)
Obese diet-induced ob/ob mouse model of NASH (ob/ob-NASH)
Chronic (8-12 weeks) efficacy studies in mice randomized into study groups based on individual pre-biopsy histological assessment
Metabolic assessment (body weight, food intake, glycaemia, insulinemia and glucose tolerance)
Histological assessment of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, ballooning degeneration and fibrosis (HE, Sirius Red, IHC) levels
Pathologist evaluated NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) including Fibrosis Stage
Hepatic collagen content by hydroxyproline assay
Hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol content
RNA sequencing and bioinformatics

Get in touch

Get in touch if you are interested in discussing how to get started with your study.

Michael Feigh

Principal scientist
mfe@gubra.dk
+45 2382 9493

Book meeting

Gubra DIO-NASH model

The Gubra diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model of NASH (DIO-NASH) is based on wildtype C57BL/6 mice offered a 26+ weeks diet high in fat, fructose and cholesterol prior to pre-biopsy collection. Only animals demonstrating hepatosteatosis and fibrosis are enrolled into study groups.

See data on the histological effects of liraglutide, obeticholic acid (OCA), and elafibranor treatment in DIO-NASH mice
Read model characterization paper: Obese diet-induced mouse models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-tracking disease by liver biopsy

Gubra ob/ob-NASH model

The Gubra accelerated mouse model of NASH (ob/ob NASH) is based on the leptin-deficient ob/ob mouse offered a diet high in fat, fructose and cholesterol for 12 weeks prior to pre-biopsy collection. Only animals demonstrating hepatosteatosis and fibrosis are enrolled into study groups.

See data on the histological effects of liraglutide, obeticholic acid (OCA), and elafibranor treatment in ob/ob NASH mice
Read review of preclinical models of NASH: Mouse models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in preclinical drug development

Gubra benchmark poster

Also, check out our benchmark poster regarding Comparative effects of liraglutide, elafibranor and obeticholic acid on NAFLD Activity Score and Fibrosis Stage in a diet-induced obese mouse model of biopsy-confirmed NASH.

“Gubra’s DIO NASH model services are truly best in class. The ease and speed with which we could initiate studies and receive data was incredibly helpful in advancing our program. In addition, their ability to examine liver histopathology pre-and post-treatment was key to understanding efficacy.”

Brandee Wagner
Director of Biology | Metacrine

NASH review

Review of preclinical models of NASH discussing the advantages and limitations of current in vivo mouse models used in drug discovery for NASH.
Read more | See other publications