A new study from the University of Barcelona has found that two existing drugs—pemafibrate and telmisartan—can effectively reduce fat buildup in the liver.
This condition, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), affects about one-third of adults and can lead to liver damage and heart problems.
Both drugs are already approved for other uses. Pemafibrate is used for high cholesterol, and telmisartan treats high blood pressure. When used together in animal models, these drugs significantly reduced liver fat, even at half the usual dose.
The study found that the drugs work through different methods. Telmisartan increases a protein called PCK1, which helps shift the liver’s metabolism away from making fat and toward making glucose, without raising blood sugar levels.
This drug combo not only helps the liver but also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing the overall risk of heart disease. The researchers believe this combination could be a safer and more cost-effective treatment option for early-stage liver disease.
Although the results are promising, they are based on studies in rats and zebrafish. Human clinical trials are needed before this combination can be used in real-world treatment. The team is also studying whether the combo works in more advanced stages of the disease, especially when liver scarring (fibrosis) is present.
This research offers hope for new, safer treatments for MASLD, which currently has very few effective therapies.
The study is published in Pharmacological Research.
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