Popular Weight-Loss Drug Linked To Improvement in Advanced Liver Disease
Summary
A widely used drug for diabetes and obesity, semaglutide, may help reduce liver scarring in people with advanced fatty liver disease called MASH. A recent study showed semaglutide improved liver fibrosis even in patients with early cirrhosis, suggesting a new treatment option for this serious liver condition.Key Facts
- Semaglutide is a medication commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
- Researchers studied around 700 adults with biopsy-confirmed MASH and moderate to advanced liver scarring.
- The main goal was to see if semaglutide combined with another drug, zalfermin, could better reverse liver fibrosis.
- The combination did not work better than placebo, but semaglutide alone significantly improved liver scarring.
- Improvement was seen even in patients with early-stage cirrhosis where the liver is scarred but still working.
- MASH is a serious liver disease caused by fat buildup leading to inflammation and scar tissue.
- It affects an estimated 9 to 15 million adults in the U.S. and is a rising cause of liver failure and transplants.
- Doctors still recommend weight loss, blood sugar control, less alcohol, and exercise as primary measures alongside medication.
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