A recently published study in the New England Journal of Medicine reports significant results from a phase 3 clinical trial using semaglutide (drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy) to treat fatty liver disease called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
In this ongoing trial, researchers studied 1,197 patients with MASH and moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (scarring). Patients received either weekly injections of 2.4 mg semaglutide or a placebo for 72 weeks. The results were striking: 62.9% of patients in the semaglutide group experienced resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening of liver fibrosis, compared to just 34.3% in the placebo group. Additionally, 36.8% of semaglutide-treated patients showed a reduction in liver fibrosis without worsening of steatohepatitis, versus 22.4% in the placebo group.
Both improvements occurred in 32.7% of semaglutide patients compared to 16.1% of those on placebo. Patients taking semaglutide also lost an average of 10.5% of their body weight, compared to 2% in the placebo group.
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is already approved for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. This new research suggests it could offer hope for MASH, a condition that affects many older adults and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. However, 88% of patients maintained the target dose throughout the study.
Currently, only one medication (resmetirom) has accelerated FDA approval for MASH. This trial, led by researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University, King’s College London, and others, will continue for a total of 240 weeks to assess long-term benefits, particularly on cirrhosis-free survival.
For seniors concerned about liver health, especially those with diabetes or obesity, these findings represent a significant advancement in treating a condition that previously had limited treatment options.