Statins for the Treatment of NASH

Inclusion Criteria: * Definite NASH on a liver biopsy obtained ≤ 90 days prior to randomization with a NAFLD activity score (NAS) of ≥ 4 with at least 1 in each component of the NAS according to NASH CRN grading52 * Fibrosis stage ≥ 2 as assessed by liver biopsy * Not currently on statin therapy * Provision of written informed consent * Agree to use of effective contraceptive measures if female of child bearing potential. Exclusion Criteria: * The presence of any of the following will exclude a subject from study enrollment: Any chronic liver disease other than NASH (i.e., drug-induced, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, hemochromatosis, A1AT deficiency, Wilsons disease) * Cirrhosis, as assessed clinically or histologically * Presence of vascular liver disease * BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 * Excessive alcohol use (\> 20 g/day) within the past 2 years * AST or ALT \> 250 U/L. * Type 1 diabetes mellitus * Bariatric surgery in the past 5 years. * Weight gain of \> 5% in past 6 months or \> 10% change in past 12 months. * Inadequate venous access * HIV antibody positive, hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg), or HCV RNA positive. * Receiving an elemental diet or parenteral nutrition * Chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency * Any history of complications of cirrhosis (i.e. ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or portal hypertensive bleeding), even if absent or optimized with medical management at time of screening *…