According to the results of a new clinical study, Wegovy may be an effective treatment for people suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).¹

How effective is Wegovy at treating MASH?

Novo Nordisk announced the results of the ESSENCE phase 3 trial at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease’s (AASLD) 76^th annual meeting. Participants in the study who took Wegovy saw a reduction in liver injury.

In a press release, Professor Philip Newsome, MBChB, PhD, co-chief investigator and director of Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital and King's College London, said, “These data suggest that the effects of semaglutide 2.4 mg in this study may not be solely dependent on weight loss and provide important insights into the clinical effects of semaglutide 2.4 mg in people living with MASH. These data add new layers to our understanding of MASH, which is often accompanied by other systemic conditions, including cardiometabolic disorders."

In the same press release, Novo Nordisk’s chief scientific officer and executive vice president of research and development Martin Holst Lange added, “MASH impacts over 250 million people worldwide and can progress to irreversible liver scarring and liver failure. Today's results suggest that even at low levels of weight loss, people with MASH receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg had greater improvements in liver health parameters than those receiving placebo."

According to Novo Nordisk, Wegovy showed a reduction in liver injury regardless of weight lost while taking the medication. GLP-1 medications can often have a positive impact on patients with certain conditions which are impacted by obesity. However, these trial results suggest that Wegovy could be a viable treatment outside of its weight-loss abilities.

Novo Nordisk also recently announced that a post hoc analysis of the REDEFINE trial that CagriSema showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure and could potentially be effective enough to allow patients to reduce or stop taking blood pressure medications altogether.²

In a press release, Lange explained, “We're very excited by the results of these analyses of CagriSema, which show promising results of combining cagrilintide with the proven significant effects of semaglutide on CV health. People living with obesity have treatment goals that often include both losing weight and improving overall health. That's why we continue to explore new therapies that we hope will deliver on weight loss needs while reducing the risk of obesity-related health issues like cardiovascular disease."

Professor Subodh Verma, Cardiac Surgeon and Canada Research Chair Division of Cardiac Surgery, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada added, “The CagriSema data presented at ObesityWeek® are very encouraging regarding the effects on well-known CV risk factors like high blood pressure – a strong signal that warrants further investigation. High blood pressure has a significant impact on the heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes and, alongside inflammation, is a key driver of cardiovascular disease. If we can lower inflammation, bring blood pressure to more normal levels, and help people lose weight at the same time, there's potential for holistic improvement in overall health."

Sources

1. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg) was associated with liver health-related benefits not solely based on weight loss in adult patients with MASH with liver scarring, according to a new post hoc analysis. Novo Nordisk. November 10, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisks-wegovy-semaglutide-2-4-mg-was-associated-with-liver-health-related-benefits-not-solely-based-on-weight-loss-in-adult-patients-with-mash-with-liver-scarring-according-to-a-new-post-hoc-analysis-302610186.html
2. Novo Nordisk's CagriSema was associated with significant reduction in blood pressure and showed anti-inflammatory effects while reducing the proportion of patients at risk of developing heart disease over time in new analyses at ObesityWeek. Novo Nordisk. November 6, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisks-cagrisema-was-associated-with-significant-reduction-in-blood-pressure-and-showed-anti-inflammatory-effects-while-reducing-the-proportion-of-patients-at-risk-of-developing-heart-disease-over-time-in-new-analyses-at-o-302607645.html