INI-678

**INI-678** is a small molecule inhibitor of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 13 (17β-HSD13 or HSD17B13), a liver-enriched, hepatocyte-specific, lipid droplet-associated protein implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other chronic liver diseases. Developed by Inipharm, Inc., it has demonstrated reductions in fibrosis markers (e.g., α-SMA by 35.4%, collagen type 1 by 42.5%), bile acids, and improvements in metabolomic profiles in preclinical models including a human "liver-on-a-chip" system with primary hepatocytes, supporting its role in mitigating inflammation and fibrosis pathways linked to NASH progression.[1][5][7][9]