Advocating for Steatotic Liver Disease on the Global Health Stage, with Larry Holden

Despite affecting 1 in 3 people globally and being tightly linked with other major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, steatotic liver disease (SLD) remains largely excluded from global health policy frameworks, contributing to widespread underdiagnosis, poor health outcomes, and persistent underinvestment in liver health.

To address this gap, the Global Liver Institute (GLI) convened a side event at the 78th World Health Assembly, aiming to elevate liver disease within global NCD discussions. The event brought together policymakers and health ministers to highlight the burden of SLD, share country-level successes, and stimulate dialogue that could drive future policy action.

“I think the most important thing for us was, first and foremost, raising awareness,” Larry Holden, CEO of GLI, explained to HCPLive. “When you don't have awareness of the scale of this problem, then you have underdiagnosis and you have a lack of treatment, and a lack of patients receiving these life saving technologies and treatments. So raising awareness and highlighting the interconnectivity between liver disease and metabolic health was the first focus.”

The GLI also released the second edition of its Liver Health Policy Best Practices Report, which benchmarks progress and gaps in liver care across countries and aims to serve as a tool for health system improvement and policy advocacy.

“Unfortunately, because of the size of the problem, it can be rather daunting, but what is giving me hope is the connection between metabolic diseases as it relates to the whole body system and the liver. That's not something we had seen in the past,” Holden told HCPLive.

Holden additionally notes encouraging momentum in drug development, including the first approved therapy for MASH in the US, representing a major shift from an era when diet and exercise were the only option. The emergence of these therapies, along with stronger engagement from policymakers, international health leaders, and the pharmaceutical industry, is seen as a hopeful step forward.

Editors’ note: Holden is the CEO of the Global Liver Institute.

References

1. Global Liver Institute. Global Health Leaders Convene at WHA78 Side Event to Advocate for Steatotic Liver Disease as a Core Non-Communicable Disease. May 22, 2025. Accessed July 24, 2025. https://globalliver.org/global-health-leaders-convene-at-wha78-side-event-to-advocate-for-steatotic-liver-disease-as-a-core-non-communicable-disease/

2. Global Liver Institute. Best Practices in Liver Health Policy: A Liver Health is Public Health Report - Edition 2. Accessed July 24, 2025. https://globalliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best-Practices-in-Liver-Health-Policy-edition-2.pdf