GLP-1 drugs highly effective in treating liver disease
May 13, 2025
Summary: GLP-1 drugs improve liver function in people with obesity-related liver disease
Resolution of Steatohepatitis without Increase in Fibrosis
Source: Sanyal, et al, New England Journal of Medicine, April 27, 2025
The New England Journal published research in late April that further demonstrated the impressive effect that GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity can have on metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which was once known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MASH is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis (liver failure) and liver cancer, and affects about 5% of the population in North America. Those with obesity, diabetes and hypertension are at higher risk for MASH. Twenty percent of those on waiting lists for liver transplantation in the U.S. have MASH. Here’s a link to a February post about how bariatric surgery can effectively treat MASH .
The first drug to treat MASH, Rezdiffra (resmetirom), was approved last year and has a list price of over $48,000 annually. Novo is expected to seek FDA approval of Wegovy (semaglutide) for MASH later this year.
Implications for employers:
This research further demonstrates that effective obesity treatment can reverse obesity-associated liver disease, which could decrease the number of people who suffer from cirrhosis and are later candidates for liver transplantation.
GLP-1 drugs are expensive, but much less expensive than the only drug currently approved for this indication.
Yesterday’s post pointed out that despite a myriad of clinical benefits, GLP-1 drugs are not likely to lower medical costs, especially not in the first years of use. Today’s post points to how semaglutide appears to lead to improvement in obesity-related liver disease, which adds to the many areas where these drugs provide clinical benefits. These conclusions are not inconsistent. Most medical care provides better or longer lives, but the delivery of that medical care raises medical claims costs.
Tomorrow: Immunotherapy is highly effective in some solid tumors
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