Breakthrough in MASH Treatment: Investigational Therapy HU6 Shows Promise in Reducing Liver Fat

Houston, Texas – June 28, 2025 – Exciting news for those battling metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH): An investigational fat-targeted therapy known as HU6 has demonstrated remarkable results in reducing liver fat while preserving essential skeletal muscle mass.The topline findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial, dubbed M-ACCEL, offer a promising new avenue for treating this progressive liver disease.

HU6 achieves Significant Liver Fat Reduction in MASH Patients

The M-ACCEL trial, a six-month study, revealed that HU6 achieved statistically significant reductions in liver fat across all three tested doses when compared to a placebo.The results, exceeding expectations, showed a greater than 30% liver fat reduction in a statistically significant proportion of patients within each group. This level of reduction is considered a clinically meaningful marker of MASH betterment.

Did You Know? MASH affects approximately 15 million adults in the United States and is projected to impact over 23 million by 2050.

Preserving Muscle Mass: A Key Advantage of HU6

MASH, characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver, frequently occurs in individuals with cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This condition elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease and liver cancer. Current strategies focus on reducing liver fat and managing metabolic dysfunction, with the ideal treatment also preserving lean muscle during weight loss. The M-ACCEL trial results indicate HU6 meets those goals.

According to researchers, weight loss induced by HU6 was almost exclusively from fat, with no statistically significant loss of lean muscle mass observed during the trial. An notable three-quarters of the fat loss came from visceral fat, the type most closely associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Reducing visceral fat is particularly critical in MASH patients, as it directly impacts liver health and inflammation control.

Expert Insights on HU6 and MASH Treatment

Doctor Mazen Noureddin, a professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital, emphasized HU6’s potential. He stated that the favorable tolerability profile of HU6 and the M-ACCEL study highlight the investigational treatment’s promise as a long-term management approach for MASH.

M-ACCEL Trial: A Closer Look

The M-ACCEL trial involved over 200 adults across 22 clinical sites in the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or HU6 at doses of 150 mg, 300 mg, or 450 mg over a 26-week period.Although the study was not specifically designed to evaluate secondary endpoints, HU6 showed positive trends in body weight, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and blood pressure.These improvements were consistent across all dosage groups and were observed in both diabetic and non-diabetic participants.

Pro Tip: Nearly two-thirds of the participants in the M-ACCEL trial had type 2 diabetes at the beginning of the study, highlighting the intersection between diabetes and MASH.

The Future of HU6: Further Results Pending

While full study results are pending publication,Rivus Pharmaceuticals plans to present the complete findings at an upcoming medical conference. The date and specific conference have yet to be announced. Doctor David grainger, chairman of progress at Rivus Pharmaceuticals, noted that the topline results indicate HU6 boasts a competitive efficacy and safety profile for MASH treatment. he emphasized that the data further confirms the potential of HU6 and their pipeline of controlled metabolic accelerators to induce fat-specific weight loss and visceral fat reduction in individuals with obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases.