Echosens and Boehringer Ingelheim have expanded their partnership to address metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a leading cause of liver failure.
The expanded collaboration aims to enhance early detection, diagnosis, and access to care, moving beyond clinical trials to change the disease’s trajectory.
It will focus on increasing awareness of MASH among patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, with emphasis on the urgent need for early screening and diagnosis.
In addition, the collaboration aims to promote the adoption of streamlined care pathways through cooperation across healthcare organisations and medical specialities.
Echosens and Boehringer Ingelheim also plan to expand awareness and access to non-invasive technologies (NITs).
It includes scientific collaborations to generate evidence on NITs in managing MASH.
Boehringer Ingelheim cardiovascular, renal and metabolic therapeutic area head Sandy Sommer said: “For too long, serious liver diseases like MASH have gone under the radar, but with MASH rates soaring alongside the global obesity epidemic, it’s time to tackle liver disease head-on.
“Obesity and MASH are deeply interconnected chronic diseases that no organisation can tackle alone. At Boehringer, we’re committed to being part of the solution, and the expansion of our partnership with Echosens is one we’re particularly excited about.
“We look forward to working together to drive transformative change in metabolic health for patients, doctors, and healthcare systems worldwide.”
Echosens’ FibroScan, a non-invasive liver assessment technology, plays a crucial role in Boehringer Ingelheim’s research, supporting two ongoing Survodutide Phase 3 trials.
Survodutide, a potential treatment for MASH and related metabolic conditions like obesity, combines GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonists.
It is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s research and development portfolio in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.
Licensed from Zealand Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim is responsible for its global development and commercialisation.
Echosens has advanced liver assessment with FibroScan, which is validated by over 5,384 peer-reviewed publications and facilitated millions of liver examinations worldwide.
Echosens CEO Dominique Legros said: “We are excited to expand our collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, whose innovative approach has the potential to further advance the treatment landscape for MASH.
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to support the global liver disease community by enabling smarter clinical trials and broader access to non-invasive diagnostic tools.
“We are proud to collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim and welcome them into our shared mission to improve liver health outcomes.”
Last month, Boehringer Ingelheim expanded its collaboration with US-based health information technology firm Datavant to bolster its real-world evidence (RWE) initiatives.
