Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, is a professor of medicine and a transplant hepatologist at Houston Methodist and director of the Houston Research Institute.

Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

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MASH Pipeline Developments and Emerging Therapies to Watch in 2026, With Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

After years of setbacks and uncertainty, the therapeutic landscape for 

metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)

 has entered a decisive new phase. Once characterized by failed trials and a lack of approved therapies, the field has rapidly shifted toward cautious optimism, driven by regulatory clarity, advancing endpoints, and a deepening late-stage pipeline.

“It’s an exciting landscape,” Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and co-chairman of the Board for Summit and Pinnacle Clinical Research, told 

. “There used to be a pessimistic look on the field from patients and investors. Not so much from researchers, because we started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and the difficult end points started being formalized back then, and now, in 2026 we're starting with 2 drugs approved, resmetirom and semaglutide.”

He describes 2026 as a pivotal “year of action” for MASH drug development, with 2027 poised to deliver critical outcomes. He notes that the field has already crossed an important threshold, with resmetirom and semaglutide receiving accelerated approvals, while confirmatory outcomes trials continue. Now, the focus is now on demonstrating long-term benefit, particularly the prevention of cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation.

Noureddin additionally highlights several late-stage programs that he believes will shape the next era of care, including the ongoing MAESTRO outcomes trial of resmetirom in patients with cirrhosis. He also points to the momentum around FGF21-based therapies, including efruxifermin, pegozafermin, and efimosfermin, noting multiple high-impact phase 2 publications and active phase 3 programs following major acquisitions by large pharmaceutical companies.

Beyond these programs, Noureddin underscores growing enthusiasm for dual- and triple-agonist approaches, including GLP-1/glucagon combinations now in phase 3 development. He also draws attention to emerging innovation earlier in the pipeline, such as gene therapy approaches targeting FGF21 and novel agents expected to deliver biopsy data in 2026.

Despite this progress, Noureddin also calls attention to persistent unmet needs, including effective therapies for patients with cirrhosis.

“That is doable, but we don't have it handy for the patients, and the clock is ticking in terms of [getting it to them] before they decompensate,” he said. “I would like to see a drug approved as soon as possible for this patient population in particular.”

He also references the development of combination treatment regimens and the urgent push to move away from liver biopsy as a trial requirement as unmet needs he wants to see addressed, but expresses optimism around recent progress in the development of treatments for metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD).

Looking ahead, Noureddin says he believes the next 5 years will define the backbone of MASH treatment algorithms, even as progress in decompensated cirrhosis may take longer. Still, he characterizes the current moment as unprecedented and marked by momentum, collaboration, and hope for patients who have long lacked therapeutic options.

Editors’ note: Noureddin reports relevant disclosures with Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Madrigal, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, 89BIO, Altimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others.

Brooks A. Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) Receives Historic FDA Approval for Noncirrhotic NASH. HCPLive. March 14, 2024. Accessed January 28, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/resmetirom-rezdiffra-receives-historic-fda-approval-for-noncirrhotic-nash

Brooks A. FDA Approves Semaglutide (Wegovy) Injection 2.4 mg for Noncirrhotic MASH. HCPLive. August 15, 2025. Accessed January 28, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-semaglutide-wegovy-injection-2-4-mg-for-noncirrhotic-mash

Brooks A. Efruxifermin Shows Potential for Fibrosis Reduction in Phase 2b MASH Cirrhosis Trial. HCPLive. May 9, 2025. Accessed January 28, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/exfruxifermin-misses-primary-endpoint-phase-2b-compensated-mash-cirrhosis-trial

Brooks A. Pegozafermin Enters Phase 3 Clinical Trial Program for MASH, Fibrosis. HCPLive. March 12, 2024. Accessed January 28, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/pegozafermin-enters-phase-3-clinical-trial-program-mash-fibrosis

Noureddin M. Once-Monthly Efimosfermin Alfa Shows Promise for MASH in Phase 2 Study. HCPLive. May 5, 2025. Accessed January 28, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/once-monthly-efimosfermin-alfa-shows-promise-mash-in-phase-2-study

Videos

Noureddin recaps recent progress in MASH therapeutic development and looks ahead to what 2026 and beyond may offer.

This Year in Hepatology: New MASLD Therapies, HBV Updates, and More

2025 has marked a clear turning point in 

, bringing advances that are reshaping both the scientific landscape and everyday clinical practice. After years defined by limited therapeutic options and slow-moving pipelines, this year delivered transformative progress, from the long-awaited arrival of effective pharmacologic treatments for 

, cholestatic liver diseases, portal hypertension, and alcohol-associated liver disease.

However, the momentum extends well beyond new drugs. Emerging noninvasive diagnostics, evolving disease definitions, AI-enabled pathology, and increasingly patient-centered care models are redefining how clinicians detect, stage, and manage chronic liver disease. Together, these shifts signal a rapidly accelerating era in hepatology that is expanding treatment opportunities while reshaping clinical expectations.

To capture the breadth of this evolution, the editorial team of 

 invited 7 leading experts to weigh in on the most important advances of 2025:

, an assistant professor of medicine and director of the IHEAL Clinic at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine:

I think in the past year, the biggest news has been the increasing use of medications to treat metabolic dysfunction associated-steatotic liver disease, formerly known as fatty liver disease. The weight loss medications, the GLP-1 receptor agonists, are really changing the game for this disease process. Resmetirom is another new medication we have, and just given the sheer number of patients that we have with this disease process, now finally having medications to treat them, albeit with insurance barriers, which we're working on, but I think it's really promising to be able to at least have options for these patients. Hopefully the government and local partners can help bring the prices of these medications down and increase access, because they really are beneficial.

, chairman of the Global NASH/MASH Council and professor and chairman of Beatty Liver and Obesity Research at Inova Health System:

I think the biggest news in hepatology is the drugs that we are developing for MASH. Resmetirom, semaglutide, and probably the new drugs with FGF21s, so hopefully we'll see the results next year. There is also a lot of interest in other liver diseases, understanding the dynamic nature of what we call steatotic liver disease between MASLD, MetALD, and ALD, that this is a dynamic disease that goes back and forth. So that's an important concept to understand, and there is also some hope in terms of better treatment for viral hepatitis, especially delta hepatitis, which may not be a major issue in the United States but is a major issue in some other parts of the world. So all of these actually gave me more hope that we are going to see more and more innovation and interest in this area.

, a transplant hepatologist and assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School:

There have been a few pieces of breaking news in the past year. First, I'd say the most important is steatotic liver disease, and now we finally have 2 approved medications to treat patients with MASH. We used to have no other, or very little, options, except for exercise and lifestyle modification, which is very important, but also hard to do. But now we have medications that actually have been proven to be effective in reducing steatosis and also fibrosis in those patients, so it can prevent further development of advanced liver disease.

Obviously, in addition to that, we're also trying to use a combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy so once patients lose weight, they'll continue to stay in that weight for a long period of time, and that disease can be controlled or even resolved. In addition to that, what I have noticed is that alcohol-related liver disease continues to be paid attention to. In our liver disease society, we have more researchers, we have more findings in this field, and more and more people are realizing that pharmacotherapy is something that could be utilized by us to manage patients with alcohol-related liver disease, and integrated clinics actually are more utilized across the academic medical centers to manage those patients.

The third part that I've noticed is there are more lectures and more attention that is paid to address psychosocial and structural determinants in patients with chronic liver disease, for example, stigma. This year, we have a specific session for stigma and also psychosocial structural barriers. I think we're paying more and more attention in this area, which is very important, because how patients feel about their disease is also extremely important as to how we can manage and help their disease itself.

, the head of hepatology at University Hospital Zurich:

I don’t want to break it down to one piece of biggest news. I think we have seen a lot of changes from treating underlying diseases, such as in rare cholestatic liver disease the switch to symptom burden, which is more and more addressed in many disorders, which I think is very important to our patients. They sometimes care more about improved symptoms rather than an improved laboratory parameter.

We also see great developments in the field of MASLD and also fibrotic or cirrhotic MASLD. The problem is so far, we have always relied on histology, and we see clear trends towards artificial intelligence based pathology investigations or noninvasive tests to overcome the need for biopsy on a study drug, where we, hopefully, in the future, have certain definitions that indicate this is associated with improved histology, so that we can avoid biopsy and purely rely on noninvasive parameters, whether this is an Agile 4 combined laboratory parameter or a certain elastography-based measurement needs to be shown in the end. There's a clear trend in this large disease moving away.

I think these are important messages and various other aspects a little bit, depending on whom you ask, but I think quite intriguing news we have learned here in Washington, DC.

, chief academic officer of Summit Clinical Research and director of the Steatotic Liver Program at North Shore Gastroenterology:

I think being in the field of hepatology has been very exciting in the last few years. We have new treatments that are being developed for hepatitis B to achieve functional cure, and I think this will be a great addition for these patients. We also see new therapeutics being developed to treat portal hypertension, and these patients have very advanced liver disease. They're on the cusp of decompensation, so if we can take them back into a more stable stage of their disease, that will be a very important development. We are also seeing many new therapeutics to treat cholestatic liver disease, both PSC and PBC, and we also see treatments for genetic cholestasis diseases like progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. There's many, many new biomarkers that are being developed and screening algorithms to increase awareness of chronic liver disease in general, so I couldn't be happier to be a hepatologist.

, a professor at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and president of the Hepatitis B Foundation:

We have 2 new treatment guidelines for hepatitis B. EASL came out with their hepatitis B guidelines earlier in the year, and AASLD just came out with their updated hepatitis B guidelines a few days ago. We're excited to see how those are going to be implemented. We are excited as a community to have expanded treatment guidelines, and one of the central tenets of both of those guidelines is shared decision-making. We're very, very pleased to see that medical societies are paying attention to what the patient wants and understanding that the decision to initiate treatment should be a shared one between a clinician and a patient.

, a professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and co-chairman of Summit Clinical Research’s Board of Directors 

I think there are a million biggest pieces of news this year. We can talk about that for an hour, but I think the MASH field just got another big boost. There were multiple acquisitions this year, the efruxiferm acquisition, the pegozafermin acquisition, and the efimosfermin acquisition. In addition, pemvidutide came with a primary endpoint, so now we have multiple attractive phase 3 trials. With having big sponsors, I think we'll start seeing combination therapy and more trials going on. This is probably the hottest year for the MASH field ever, and I look forward to many good years coming down.

 reports relevant disclosures with Intercept, Gilead, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ipsen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, NovoNordisk, Siemens, Madridgal, Merck, Akero and Abbott. 

 reports relevant disclosures with AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, CymaBay, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Intercept, Mirum, Takeda, Ipsen, and others. 

 reports relevant disclosures with Altimmune, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Rivus, Takeda, and others. 

 reports relevant disclosures with Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Vir Biotechnology, Dynavax Technologies, and Roche. 

 reports relevant disclosures with Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Madrigal, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, 89BIO, Altimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others.

Younossi ZM, Zelber-Sagi S, Lazarus JV, et al. Global Consensus Recommendations for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2025;169(5):1017-1032.e2. doi:

​Bansal MB, Patton H, Morgan TR, Carr RM, Dranoff JA, Allen AM. Semaglutide therapy for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: November 2025 updates to AASLD Practice Guidance. Hepatology. Published online November 7, 2025. doi:

European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2025;83(2):502-583. doi:

Articles

The year 2025 has marked significant advancements in hepatology, transforming both scientific research and clinical practice. Notable progress includes the introduction of effective pharmacologic treatments for MASLD/MASH, innovations in viral hepatitis, cholestatic liver diseases, and alcohol-associated liver disease. Additionally, noninvasive diagnostics, AI-enabled pathology, and patient-centered care models are redefining chronic liver disease management. Experts highlight the importance of new medications, the dynamic nature of steatotic liver disease, and the role of psychosocial factors in patient care, signaling a rapidly evolving era in hepatology.

Recent advancements in hepatology highlight new medications for metabolic dysfunction and liver diseases, promising improved patient outcomes and treatment options.

2025 in Hepatology: New MASLD Therapies, HBV Updates, and More

The therapeutic landscape for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) continues to evolve rapidly, with multiple trials exploring new mechanisms to address the complex metabolic and inflammatory pathways driving disease progression. Among the emerging agents drawing attention is HU6, a novel, oral, first-in-class controlled metabolic accelerator in development for the treatment of obesity and associated cardiometabolic diseases, including MASH.

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025

, Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, a professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and co-chairman of Summit Clinical Research’s Board of Directors, presented phase 2 data highlighting the efficacy of HU6 in reducing liver fat and improving metabolic parameters in adults with MASH.

In the study, 273 patients with MASH with a VCTE score of 7.0–15.0 kPa and an MRI-proton density fat fraction (PDFF) ≥8% were randomly assigned to receive placebo or HU6 at 150, 300, or 450 mg/d for 26 weeks in a ratio of 2:1:2:2. The primary endpoint was percent change from baseline in liver fat content by MRI-PDFF. Secondary endpoints included categorical liver fat reduction, changes in body weight, body composition, and exploratory markers of metabolic health.

At week 26, the primary endpoint was met where HU6 reduced liver fat in patients across all doses (least-squares mean difference: −29.4%, −31.2%, −27.0% for HU6 doses of 150, 300, 450 mg, respectively, vs –6.7% for placebo; 

<.005 vs placebo for each). Additionally, a ≥30% liver fat reduction occurred in the majority of patients, 57%, 58%, and 50% for HU6 doses of 150, 300, 450 mg, respectively, versus 22% with placebo (

Investigators noted HU6 doses of 300 and 450 mg reduced body weight versus placebo (

<.05). Body fat mass was reduced with ~2:1 selectivity for visceral over subcutaneous fat at the 450-mg dose, with no change in lean or skeletal muscle mass. HU6 was generally safe and well tolerated, consistent with results of 2 prior phase 2 trials.

For additional insight into the data and HU6’s potential in MASH, the editorial team of 

 spoke with Noureddin in the following Q&A:

: Can you explain a bit about HU6 and its potential utility in MASH?

: HU6 is a novel, oral controlled metabolic accelerator, and it works on the mitochondria. What you have in the mitochondria, usually in the interspace in the mitochondria, is an abundance of protons, which create what's called hyperpolarization, which leads to oxidative stress and inefficient oxidation of fat and sugar. With HU6, it opens the channels, improves this protein gradient and leads to decrease in this hyperpolarization immediately to decrease oxidative stress and improve the oxidation of blood and sugar. So it works in a selective, precise way in decreasing fat, particularly in the liver in this patient population.

How do the phase 2 data presented at AASLD add to our understanding of HU6 for MASH? What were some of the key findings?

: There was a previous trial that was done on a milder patient population, MASLD, and there also was another trial in an obese HFPEF population. They were both positive, so we extended this trial into the MASH and F2 F3 population that had transient elastography stiffness between 7 and 15. They had to have enough fat on MRIPDFF, and then we randomized them into either placebo, 150 mg, 300 mg, or 450 mg. We saw a nice drop in the MRIPDFF, the 30% drop reduction was achieved between 50 and 58% of the patient population, all statistically significant, which was really nice to see. There was also weight loss in this patient population, about 2.6 kilograms, and most of it came from the fat after we measured it. In addition, there was a differential loss of fat in the adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue compared to subcutaneous ratio, 2 to 1, and this is usually the opposite. So we preserve the muscle and got rid of the fat from the bad places that it is not supposed to be. It's also very well tolerated in comparison to the GLP-1s.

No. It had very low GI side effects. People ask about this class of drug and if there was any flushing. There was transient and gradient, no issues and no one discontinued from it. People also ask about fevers. There was no fever in this patient population, and there was no increase in heart rate or no tachycardia.

Is there anything else you would like to add or highlight?

The drug is moving forward. I think it's a very promising oral drug as a standalone for the MASH population, especially with controlled weight loss and a low discontinuation rate. It also can be added on to many other oral medications.

Noureddin M, Khan S, Schott R, et al. HU6 Oral Investigational Therapy Reduces Liver Fat and Improves Adiposity Markers in Adults with MASH: Topline Results from a Phase 2 Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial (M-ACCEL). Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

Rivus Pharmaceuticals; Rivus Pharmaceuticals Announces New Data from Phase 2 M-ACCEL Trial of HU6 in MASH in Late-Breaker Oral Presentation at AASLD The Liver Meeting® 2025. November 7, 2025. Accessed November 19, 2025. 

https://www.rivuspharma.com/news/press-releases/110725/

HU6, a novel oral metabolic accelerator, shows promise in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) by reducing liver fat and improving metabolic parameters. Phase 2 trial results presented at the AASLD 2025 meeting demonstrated significant liver fat reduction and weight loss in patients treated with HU6 compared to placebo. The study highlighted HU6's selective reduction of visceral fat over subcutaneous fat, with no adverse effects on muscle mass. HU6 was well tolerated, with minimal gastrointestinal side effects and no significant safety concerns, making it a potential standalone or adjunct therapy for MASH.

Noureddin explains HU6’s mechanism of action and phase 2 data presented at AASLD The Liver Meeting supporting its use in MASH.

Understanding HU6 and Its Emerging Role in MASH, With Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

Once a disease with no approved pharmacologic treatment options, the therapeutic landscape for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has undergone rapid, unprecedented progress in recent years.

Sparked by the US Food and Drug Administration approval of resmetirom (Rezdiffra) in 2024 and semaglutide (Wegovy)’s 2025 approval, the MASH treatment armamentarium has greatly expanded and is expecting even more additions as more and more agents continue to progress through clinical development and show promise in trials.

Among these is pemvidutide, a balanced (1:1) GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist in development for the treatment of MASH, alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-associated liver disease. Its use in biopsy-confirmed MASH and fibrosis stage F2 or F3 was assessed in the phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind IMPACT trial. Results of the primary analyses of the study at 24 weeks of treatment were presented at the 

 by Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, a professor of medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and co-chairman of Summit Clinical Research’s Board of Directors.

In the trial, 212 patients were randomly assigned in a 1:2:2 ratio to receive once-weekly subcutaneous pemvidutide 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg administered without dose titration, or placebo. The dual primary endpoints were MASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis or ≥1 stage liver fibrosis improvement without worsening of MASH at 24 weeks.

Among the cohort, the mean age was 53 years, the mean BMI was 39 kg/m2, 58% of patients were female, and 43% had type 2 diabetes. MASH resolution without fibrosis worsening was observed in 18 (20%) of 86 patients in the placebo group, 24 (58%) of 41 patients in the pemvidutide 1.2 mg group (95% CI, 21 to 56; 

<.0001), and 45 (52%) of 85 patients in the pemvidutide 1.8 mg group (95% CI, 19 to 46; 

Fibrosis improvement without worsening of MASH was observed in 24 (28%) of 86 patients in the placebo group, 13 (33%) of 41 patients in the pemvidutide 1.2 mg group (95% CI, -13 to 22; 

= .59), and 30 (36%) of 85 patients in the pemvidutide 1.8 mg group (95% CI, -6 to 22; 

= .27). Additional AI-based analyses of the liver biopsies and non-invasive tests for MASH and fibrosis were statistically significant at both pemvidutide doses, consistent with an ongoing anti-fibrotic effect.

Mean weight losses were 0.5% in the placebo group compared with 4.8% (

<.001) in the 1.8 mg group. Pemvidutide was well-tolerated despite the absence of dose titration, with discontinuations due to adverse events of 2%, 0%, and 1%, in the placebo, 1.2 mg, and 1.8 mg groups, respectively.

For additional insight into pemvidutide and the IMPACT data presented at AASLD, the editorial team of 

 spoke with Noureddin for the following Q&A:

Can you explain a little bit about pemvidutide and why we think it may be promising not only for MASH, but also alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease?

Pemvidutide is a glucagon GLP-1, and the ratio is very attractive because it's one to one. It also does have a special PK property that makes it safe and well tolerated. They modified it in a way that it has delayed Tmax and lower Cmax, which makes it completely tolerable, especially with the formula that they have. So in terms of MASH, the glucagon has a direct effect on the liver, so as for ALD. What that does is a strong anti-fibrotic effect, and in addition to reducing steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in this patient population because of the dual property, especially with the glucagon, in alcohol, it can also decrease the craving via central effect. So it's an attractive drug for all steatotic liver disease in that perspective.

What were some of the key findings from IMPACT you presented here at AASLD?

This is a 48 week study, but what we at AASLD presented is 24 weeks, which is the primary endpoint and the histology. We had histology before and after, and we randomized participants to placebo versus 1.2 milligrams versus 1.8 milligrams. There was no titration, which is very important for this drug because all other glucagon GLP-1s titrate.

Patients went on it and had multiple other NITs, PDFF, VCTE, and we also looked at weight loss. Primary inclusion criteria was MASH and F2 and F3, PDFF 8%, BMI of 27, and we did biopsy before and after.

The primary endpoint was met on the MASH resolution. It's actually on the higher side, it was up to 58% of the population at week 24. For fibrosis, we had a change of magnitude of 38%, but we had a high placebo rate, so no statistical significance. However, when we did better methodology for assessing fibrosis, which is AI, it was statistically significant all the way around and all the NITs were also positive, so that was good. Importantly, there was statistical significance on weight loss by week 24, so this is the first glucagon GLP-1 that leads to both histological improvement as well as weight loss at week 24.

The safety signal actually is a big differentiator for this drug. As a reminder, there’s no titration. The discontinuation rate due to adverse events was almost nothing. We had 1 patient on the higher dose and there were 2 patients on placebo, so we had more people stop due to AEs in the placebo than the drug. It's a very clean drug in terms of side effects.

I think it looks like discontinuation and the weight loss and NITs at 24 weeks are heading in the right direction. The plan to do it is for a longer duration where we think we're going to get more fibrosis and more weight loss in this patient population.

Editors’ Note: Noureddin reports relevant disclosures with Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Madrigal, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, 89BIO, Altimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others.

Brooks A. Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) Receives Historic FDA Approval for Noncirrhotic NASH. HCPLive. March 14, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2025. 

Brooks A. FDA Approves Semaglutide (Wegovy) Injection 2.4 mg for Noncirrhotic MASH. HCPLive. August 15, 2025. Accessed November 13, 2025. 

Noureddin M, Harrison S, Loomba R, et al. A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Pemvidutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis. Presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2025. Washington, DC. November 7-11, 2025.

The therapeutic landscape for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has significantly evolved with the FDA approvals of resmetirom and semaglutide. Pemvidutide, a GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist, shows promise in treating MASH, alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-associated liver disease. The phase 2 IMPACT trial demonstrated significant MASH resolution and weight loss with pemvidutide, although fibrosis improvement lacked statistical significance. Pemvidutide was well-tolerated, with minimal adverse events. The drug's unique pharmacokinetics and dual action make it a promising candidate for various steatotic liver diseases.

Noureddin explains 24-week data showing significant MASH resolution, weight loss, and evidence of anti-fibrotic activity with the GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist.