VS-01 is a medication administered intraperitoneally (directly into the abdominal cavity) in addition to standard care treatment. It is being studied for treating hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that affects brain function in people with liver disease. The medication is given once daily and remains in the abdominal cavity for several hours.

Standard of Care (SOC) refers to the currently accepted treatment methods that patients typically receive for hepatic encephalopathy. This includes the usual medications and supportive care that are considered the normal treatment for this condition.

Hepatic Encephalopathy – A brain condition that occurs when the liver can’t remove toxins from the blood effectively. It develops as a complication of liver disease, causing confusion, altered consciousness, and changes in behavior. The condition can progress from mild mental changes to severe disorientation and drowsiness. It commonly occurs in people with cirrhosis when their liver function worsens suddenly.

Liver Cirrhosis – A late-stage liver condition where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, disrupting normal liver function. The scarring process happens gradually over time, affecting the liver’s ability to process nutrients, hormones, drugs, and toxins. The condition develops slowly, often over years or decades, as the liver tries to repair repeated damage.

Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure – A sudden deterioration of liver function in a person who already has chronic liver disease. It involves rapid loss of liver function, usually triggered by an acute event or injury. The condition represents a more severe form of liver dysfunction than typical cirrhosis complications.