Wegovy Shows Promise in Treating Liver Disease, Study Finds
Published: April 30, 2025
Wegovy Demonstrates Important Betterment in MASH Patients
The weight-loss drug Wegovy has shown promising results in treating a serious form of liver disease, according to a major clinical trial. Findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that Wegovy effectively treated metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in approximately two-thirds of the patients involved.
Understanding MASH and Its Impact
MASH, characterized by excessive fat storage in the liver leading to inflammation and potential scarring (fibrosis), can ultimately lead to liver failure and liver cancer if left unaddressed. Dr. Sobia Laique, a liver specialist and director of the Multidisciplinary MASLD Clinic at Cleveland clinic, emphasizes the severity of the condition.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is notably prevalent among individuals wiht obesity or Type 2 diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Estimates suggest that it affects about 75% of overweight people and over 90% of those with obesity.
Current Treatment Options and the Need for Alternatives
Currently,resmetirom is the only FDA-approved medication specifically for MASH,but its effectiveness is limited to approximately a quarter of patients and doesn’t address the underlying metabolic issues driving the disease. Bariatric surgery remains a common recommendation for individuals who haven’t found success through lifestyle modifications.
This is fairly monumental and really is going to be paradigm-changing, as at least in the pharmacotherapy space, you don’t have a comparable drug yet.
Dr. Sobia Laique, Cleveland Clinic’s Multidisciplinary MASLD Clinic director
The Wegovy Clinical trial: Key Findings
The clinical trial, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, involved 800 MASH patients from 37 countries. Participants were administered a weekly 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) or a placebo for 72 weeks.
The results showed that approximately 63% of the semaglutide group experienced a reduction in liver inflammation,compared to only 34.3% in the placebo group. Furthermore, about 37% of the semaglutide group showed improvements in liver fibrosis, versus 22.4% in the placebo group. The semaglutide group also exhibited an average weight loss of 10.5%.
Expert Perspectives on the Results
Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist and senior medical director at Duke Health, expressed her enthusiasm about the findings, emphasizing the difficulty of reversing or treating inflammation once fibrosis has developed.
It’s incredibly good news that semaglutide not only reduced inflammation but also that fibrosis regressed.
Dr. Susan Spratt, endocrinologist and senior medical director at Duke Health
These findings represent a very promising step forward in the fight against a common, progressive, and frequently enough silent disease.
McGowan, (Title not provided in source material)
Expanding the Scope of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists—including drugs like Ozempic, wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—in treating conditions beyond diabetes and weight loss. These drugs have already secured FDA approval for reducing heart disease risk, treating obstructive sleep apnea, and managing chronic kidney disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes. They are also being investigated for their potential in addressing Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol addiction.
Insurance coverage for these medications has often been a challenge for weight loss purposes. Though, approvals for othre conditions, such as heart disease risk and sleep apnea, have led to increased coverage.
Novo Nordisk has indicated that the FDA could make a decision on Wegovy’s potential approval for MASH treatment as early as the end of the year, thanks to the drug’s priority review designation.
Potential Side Effects and Considerations
Dr. Spratt noted that potential side effects can be a deterrent for some individuals considering Wegovy and similar medications.
The trial results indicated that Wegovy was generally well-tolerated. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. The rate of participants dropping out of the trial due to side effects was similar between the semaglutide group (2.6%) and the placebo group (3.3%).
Dr. Laique raised questions about the long-term durability of the improvements observed after 72 weeks and also noted that patients woudl likely need to continue taking the medication to prevent MASH from recurring.
It’s significant weight loss, but then is it also durable weight loss? And I think that’s the part people often forget about obesity management, it’s two battles.
Dr. Sobia Laique, Cleveland Clinic’s Multidisciplinary MASLD Clinic director
FAQ: Wegovy and Liver Disease
What is MASH?
MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) is a serious liver disease characterized by fat buildup, inflammation, and potential scarring in the liver.
How does Wegovy treat MASH?
Wegovy contains semaglutide, which helps reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis associated with MASH.
Are there any side effects of Wegovy?
Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, but the drug was generally well-tolerated in the clinical trial.
When could Wegovy be approved for MASH treatment?
The FDA could make a decision as early as the end of the year, according to Novo Nordisk.
