Pan Ziyan, Zerehpoosh Shadi, Wang Shu-Chi, Örmeci Necati, Kim Won, Eslam Mohammed
Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Drug Des Devel Ther. 2026 Feb 24;20:566319. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S566319. eCollection 2026.
Organ fibrosis, characterized by excessive scarring of tissues in the liver, kidney, lung, and heart, poses a significant and growing global health challenge, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality, with a lack of effective treatment options. Most research and drug development efforts have traditionally focused on individual organs in isolation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on multi-organ fibrosis, highlighting recent advances that clarify the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the liver, kidney, lung, and heart. It examines both common and organ-specific factors that drive fibrogenesis. Additionally, the review discusses the current and future landscape of antifibrotic therapies, including innovative approaches to developing pan-organ antifibrotic drugs. Challenges and future directions in the design of clinical trials are also addressed.
