Novo Nordisk has reported that its 2.4mg dosage of semaglutide (Wegovy) demonstrated a reduction in liver injury (steatohepatitis) among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate-to-advanced liver scarring (fibrosis), even at low levels of weight loss.
MASH is a progressive metabolic disease affecting the liver and is estimated to impact more than 250 million people globally. If left untreated, the condition can lead to irreversible liver damage and, ultimately, liver failure.
Among individuals who are overweight or obese, around one in three are also affected by MASH. Additionally, over 40% of patients with MASH have type 2 diabetes, while nearly 80% live with obesity.
The findings come from an analysis of the ongoing phase 3 ESSENCE trial evaluating the effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4mg in adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced fibrosis. Results from this analysis were first presented at the 76th annual American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Liver Meeting 2025 in Washington, DC.
The results demonstrated that steatohepatitis-related non-invasive testing (NIT)-related treatments improved in all patient groups receiving semaglutide compared to placebo. Statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in liver scarring were observed across various weight-loss thresholds, with consistent effects seen across all age subgroups.
“MASH impacts over 250 million people worldwide and can progress to irreversible liver scarring and liver failure,” said Martin Holst Lange, chief scientific officer and executive vice president of Research & Development at Novo Nordisk.
“Today’s results suggest that even at low levels of weight loss, people with MASH receiving semaglutide 2.4mg had greater improvements in liver health parameters than those receiving placebo.”