A Potential Miracle Cure For Fatty Liver Disease
A recent trial suggests that an experimental version of popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications could offer significant benefits in easing fatty liver disease. The drug in development, survodutide, demonstrated promising results, with up to 83% of patients experiencing tangible improvements in markers of fatty liver disease, a prevalent and potentially life-threatening condition often associated with obesity.
Currently, only one drug, resmetirom, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, targets fatty liver disease, but not all patients can use it. Lead researcher Dr. Arun Sanyal, director of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), believes survodutide could revolutionize the treatment landscape for this illness.
Fatty liver disease, medically known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), affects approximately one in every four people globally. In MASH, fat accumulates in the liver, raising the risk of severe complications such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, or the need for a liver transplant, particularly in cases of obesity.
The trial, funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, involved 282 adults from 25 countries with MASH and some level of liver tissue scarring. Patients received weekly injections of either a placebo or one of three doses of survodutide for 24 weeks, with the dosage gradually increasing to 6 mg weekly for another 24 weeks.
By the 48-week mark, a significant majority (83%) of patients experienced improvements in various markers for fatty liver, including reduced liver fat and inflammation, with no worsening of fibrosis. Notably, for three-quarters of the patients, their fatty liver disease had resolved, and for 50%, fibrosis and liver enzymes improved, halting the progression of the disease.
Survodutide, classified as a “dual agonist” drug, contains two hormone mimics that bind with brain receptors to aid weight loss. Unlike standard GLP-1 medications, which mimic the hormone GLP-1, survodutide includes an additional agonist against glucagon, a hormone regulating blood sugar. This dual-agonist approach appears to effectively target liver fat, as evidenced by the trial’s outcomes.
Dr. Sanyal views these findings as groundbreaking, heralding a new era in drug development for MASH with fibrosis. He envisions a potential single agent that can address both the liver disease and related medical conditions associated with obesity, offering hope to millions affected by these ailments.
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