Therapy for NASH

N. Engl. J. Med. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2028395 (2020)

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide shows some potential in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH is a common severe form of fatty-liver disease that is associated with liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and an increased risk of mortality. The treatment options are currently limited. However, since one of the pathogenic drivers of NASH is insulin resistance, therapies approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are being tried in people with NASH.

The NN9931-4296 Investigators carried out a double-blind phase 2 trial of semaglutide, a therapy for type 2 diabetes, in 320 patients with NASH, or NASH with fibrosis. They found that the therapy resulted in an increase in the resolution of NASH but not an improvement in fibrosis, compared with that of those treated with placebo.