A new global study has shown that the medication semaglutide can help treat a serious form of liver disease in many people.
The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and come from the ESSENCE phase 3 clinical trial.
This is the first large, official trial showing that semaglutide can be helpful for people with a condition called MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), a severe type of fatty liver disease.
The trial involved 800 people from 37 countries and was done at over 250 sites around the world. People who joined the trial received weekly injections of semaglutide or a placebo for 72 weeks. They also received advice on healthy lifestyles. Over half of the participants had type 2 diabetes, and most were living with obesity.
The results were promising. About 63% of people who took semaglutide saw their liver inflammation improve, compared to only 34% who took the placebo.
Around 37% of the semaglutide group also had less liver scarring (called fibrosis), compared to 22% in the placebo group. People on semaglutide also lost about 10% of their body weight and showed better results in liver function tests.
Semaglutide is already used to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss, but now it may also become a tool to treat advanced liver disease. The study was led by Professor Philip Newsome from King’s College London and Professor Arun Sanyal from VCU School of Medicine in the U.S., and funded by the company Novo Nordisk.
Professor Newsome said these results offer hope for people with MASH. However, he also noted that more long-term studies are needed. The research team will continue to follow nearly 1,200 participants over the next five years to learn more about how semaglutide affects long-term liver health.
This liver disease, known as MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), affects about 1 in 5 people in the UK and many others worldwide. It is closely linked with obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. If untreated, it can lead to liver failure or liver cancer.
While the results are exciting, researchers remind people that this is just the beginning. More studies and follow-up will help determine how semaglutide can best be used to fight liver disease in the future.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about Healthy liver, happy life: new advice for keeping your liver in top shape and findings of Ibuprofen may have significant impact on the liver.
For more about liver health, please read studies about Fatty liver disease linked to severe infections and findings of A new drug for weight loss and liver health.
The study is published in New England Journal of Medicine.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
