Semaglutide improves fibrosis in advanced MASH, Lancet Gastroenterology reports
Adding experimental zalfermin to the GLP-1 receptor agonist did not beat placebo, but semaglutide alone reduced scarring without worsening inflammation.
MH
By Maren Holt · Senior Reporter, GLP-1
Jul 16 03:00 ETSource: health.ucsd.edu
The wire
- 01A Phase II trial of about 700 adults with biopsy-confirmed MASH and moderate to advanced fibrosis, including compensated cirrhosis, found semaglutide alone produced a statistically significant improvement in liver fibrosis; results published July 15, 2026.
- 02Senior author Rohit Loomba of UC San Diego called it the first trial to show semaglutide may improve fibrosis in advanced MASH, a group often excluded from trials and with few treatment options.
- 03The zalfermin combination did not outperform placebo; investigators also reported that non-invasive blood tests and imaging tracked treatment response more clearly than biopsy, a Phase II finding that needs confirmation.
From the source
Read at health.ucsd.eduGLP-1 Shows Promise for Patients with Advanced Fatty Liver Disease
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have reported results from a large international clinical trial showing that semaglutide, a medication in the GLP-1 class of drugs widely used to treat diabetes and obesity, may help reduce liver scarring in patients with advanced fatty liver disease, including those with early-stage cirrhosis.