New research collaboration on liver health with the University of Vienna
2026-03-13
We are excited to announce the launch of a strategic research collaboration with the University of Vienna and three of their leading university research groups in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences to accelerate the development of innovative therapies for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)—one of the world’s fastest growing liver health challenges.
MASLD has emerged as a major global health burden, affecting millions of people and driving significant increases in morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. With prevalence closely linked to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction, MASLD represents a critical unmet medical need requiring new therapeutic strategies.
Our joint research initiative as part of our global Schwabe Phyto Innovation Challenge initiative will focus on the identification of natural products targeting thyroid and bile acid receptors, two highly promising pathways at the forefront of next generation MASLD treatment.
As a pharmaceutical company specializing in evidence based phytomedicine, we are proud to bring our deep methodological expertise in plant based drug development into this collaboration. By combining our capabilities with the scientific excellence of our academic partners, we aim to unlock new therapeutic potential in an area where innovation is urgently needed.
This partnership underscores our commitment to driving translational research, advancing novel mechanisms of action, and strengthening our role as a pioneer in modern phytopharmaceutical science.
Picture (left to right): Prof Johannes Kirchmair, Uday Abu-Shehab, Eva Waltenberger, Dr. Martin Lehner (Schwabe Group), Prof. Judith Rollinger, Katharina Riffelsberger, Patrik Schwarz., Prof. Verena M. Dirsch, Dr. Dirk Bredenbröker (Schwabe Group)