The drug has been repurposed.
A new clinical trial has shown that a diabetes medication, dapagliflozin, may also be effective in treating fatty liver disease. The findings suggest that the drug not only helps reduce fat buildup in the liver but also helps prevent the progression to liver scarring, a more serious condition known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
The trial, conducted by a research team led by Huijie Zhang of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, involved 154 participants diagnosed with fatty liver disease confirmed through biopsy. Over a period of 48 weeks, participants were randomly given either dapagliflozin or a placebo. The study revealed that 23% of those who received dapagliflozin saw a complete resolution of their liver condition, compared to only 8% in the placebo group.
Dapagliflozin is a type of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, commonly prescribed to manage Type 2 diabetes by helping the body eliminate excess glucose through urine. Its potential use for liver disease is based on earlier evidence suggesting it might reduce liver fat, though this is the first clinical trial to specifically test its effectiveness in individuals with biopsy-confirmed MASH.
By the end of the trial, over half of the patients taking dapagliflozin experienced notable improvements in liver health without any worsening of scarring. Additionally, 45% of these patients showed reduced scarring, a significantly higher percentage than the 20% seen in the placebo group. Importantly, the medication was well tolerated, with no serious side effects reported.
These results indicate that dapagliflozin could offer a promising new treatment for individuals with fatty liver disease and MASH, especially for those who also have Type 2 diabetes. Further research may help solidify its role in liver disease management and expand treatment options for a condition that currently lacks many effective therapies.
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