Semaglutide Shows Promise for MASH in Global Trial

A major international Phase III clinical trial involving over 800 participants across 37 countries found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, significantly improved outcomes in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed 63% of patients receiving semaglutide had reversal of liver fat and inflammation without worsening scarring, compared to 34% for placebo. Over one-third of patients on semaglutide achieved both reduced inflammation and fibrosis reversal, more than double the placebo rate. The trial was led by U.S. and U.K. researchers and funded by Novo Nordisk. These findings mark the first regulatory-level evidence supporting semaglutide for MASH, with FDA approval possible as soon as later this year. Experts highlight that weight loss and improved blood sugar control were important factors in the observed liver improvements.