Not just for weight loss? The weight-loss injection approved for liver disease treatment

Chinese authorities have approved Wegovy, Novo Nordisk's semaglutide-based weight-loss drug, for the treatment of the metabolic liver disease MASH. This marks the first GLP-1 agonist to receive an indication for this disease in the country. The approval expands the drug's use beyond weight loss, following the FDA's approval for a similar indication in August 2025.

Chinese authorities have approved Wegovy, Novo Nordisk's semaglutide-based weight-loss drug, for the treatment of the metabolic liver disease MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis). This is the first GLP-1 agonist to receive an official indication for this disease in China. MASH is the inflammatory and advanced form of fatty liver disease, which can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. The Chinese approval joins the FDA's approval from August 2025, which was based on a study where after 72 weeks, MASH resolution without worsening of liver scarring was observed in about 63% of patients in the Wegovy group compared to about 34% in the placebo group. Improvement in fibrosis was seen in about 37% versus about 22%. The article notes that the approval is not valid in Israel and does not determine eligibility for the national health basket, but reflects a broader trend of expanding the use of GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss and diabetes management to treat metabolic complications.