5 Hepatology Headlines You Missed in December 2025

December 2025 closed out the year with several consequential developments across hepatology, spanning public health policy, clinical guidance, and therapeutic innovation. A closely watched US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote altered longstanding recommendations around infant hepatitis B vaccination, while the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and American Society of Transplantation (AST) released comprehensive new practice guidelines addressing adult liver transplant candidacy and the management of non-graft complications.

On the therapeutic front, momentum continued in MASH and metabolic liver disease, with pemvidutide demonstrating sustained antifibrotic activity and advancing toward phase 3 development, while large-scale data linked GLP-1 receptor agonist use to a substantial reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma risk among patients with type 2 diabetes. Rounding out the month, expert reflections in HCPLive’s This Year in Medicine series highlighted a year defined by expanding MASLD treatment options, evolving hepatitis B strategies, and the growing role of biomarkers in chronic liver disease.

Check out this December 2025 hepatology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top hepatic news and research from the past few weeks:

CDC Changes Infant Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation

On December 5, 2025, the CDC ACIP voted 8 to 3 to recommend individual-based decision-making for parents deciding whether to give the hepatitis B vaccine, including the birth dose, to infants born to women who test negative for the virus.

For infants not receiving the birth dose, ACIP suggested in its recommendation that the initial dose be administered no earlier than 2 months of age. ACIP additionally voted to recommend that when evaluating the need for a subsequent hepatitis B vaccine dose in children, parents should consult with health care providers to decide whether to test antibody levels to hepatitis surface antigen to evaluate adequacy of protection through serology results.

Related: Clinical Concerns Over the ACIP Infant Hepatitis B Vaccine Decision, With Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH

AASLD Releases New Liver Transplantation Practice Guidelines on Candidacy, Management

On December 17, 2025, the AASLD and AST released 2 new practice guidelines on evaluating adult liver transplant candidates and managing non-graft complications that drive long-term outcomes following liver transplantation.

“AASLD’s practice guidelines and guidances are invaluable tools for clinicians worldwide. Together, these guidelines represent a comprehensive, patient-centered roadmap for adult liver transplantation,” Grace Su, MD, President of AASLD, said in a statement.1 “By addressing both who should be considered for transplant and how patients should be cared for long after surgery, we aim to support better outcomes, improved quality of life, and more consistent care for patients worldwide.”

Pemvidutide Shows Continued Antifibrotic Activity for MASH, Progresses to Phase 3 Trial

Topline 48-week data from the phase 2b IMPACT trial of pemvidutide, a balanced 1:1 glucagon/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist, in patients with MASH showed treatment with pemvidutide achieved statistically significant improvements across treatment arms in key noninvasive tests, including ELF and LSM, versus placebo. These data exhibited continued reductions from week 24 and provide evidence of continued improvement in antifibrotic activity with both treatment doses.

Parent company Altimmune additionally announced that it held a productive End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA resulting in alignment on the parameters for a registrational phase 3 trial of pemvidutide for MASH patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis.

GLP-1 RA Use Linked to 42% Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Reduction in T2DM

Findings from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis are shedding light on the hepatic benefits of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk reduction. The study drew data from a pooled population of 2.3 million patients and demonstrated a clinically meaningful 42% reduction in HCC risk among patients with T2DM using GLP-1 RAs.

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

As part of HCPLive’s This Year in Medicine series, the editorial team of HCPLive Hepatology spoke with 7 leading experts about the most important hepatic advances of 2025. Responses included the expanding MASH/MASLD treatment landscape, new therapies for hepatitis B to help achieve functional cure, various biomarkers in development for chronic liver disease, & more.