Study demonstrates positive outcomes of semaglutide in liver disease

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide could benefit patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with liver fibrosis.

In a phase III clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers randomly assigned nearly 1,200 patients with MASH and stage II or III liver fibrosis to receive either once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide or placebo for a period of 240 weeks.

In an interim analysis conducted after a follow-up of 72 weeks, the researchers demonstrated that a larger proportion of the patients in the semaglutide group achieved MASH resolution without worsening liver fibrosis and vice versa compared with those in the placebo group. Further, the patients who received semaglutide experienced improvements in their glycemia, insulin resistance and biomarkers of liver health. Nonetheless, semaglutide was associated with a higher burden of adverse events such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting.

The researchers hope their findings can lead to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of semaglutide to treat MASH with liver fibrosis — which could enhance the limited treatment options for the disease.

Read more: The New England Journal of Medicine

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