Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction

Abstract. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most epidemic chronic liver disease worldwide. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the critical stage of MASLD, and early diagnosis and treatment o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Da Zhou, Jiangao Fan, Yuanyuan Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2024-11-01
Series:Chinese Medical Journal
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003355
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850059414219784192
author Da Zhou
Jiangao Fan
Yuanyuan Ji
author_facet Da Zhou
Jiangao Fan
Yuanyuan Ji
author_sort Da Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most epidemic chronic liver disease worldwide. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the critical stage of MASLD, and early diagnosis and treatment of MASH are crucial for reducing the incidence of intrahepatic and extrahepatic complications. So far, pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of MASH are still a major challenge, because of the complexity of the pathogenesis and heterogeneity of MASH. Many agents under investigation have shown impressive therapeutic effects by targeting different key pathways, including the attenuation of steatohepatitis or fibrosis or both. It is notable that thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist, resmetirom has become the first officially approved drug for treating MASH with fibrosis. Other agents such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs, and fibroblast growth factor 21 analogs are awaiting approval. This review focuses on the current status of drug therapy for MASH and summarizes the latest results of new medications that have completed phase 2 or 3 clinical trials, and presents the future directions and difficulties of new drug research for MASH.
format Article
id doaj-art-bedb32c4f7d4486ea9428506cdf5e90d
institution DOAJ
issn 0366-6999
2542-5641
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
record_format Article
series Chinese Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-bedb32c4f7d4486ea9428506cdf5e90d2025-08-20T02:50:53ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992542-56412024-11-01137222687269610.1097/CM9.0000000000003355202411200-00006Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and directionDa Zhou0Jiangao Fan1Yuanyuan Ji1 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China3 Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, ChinaAbstract. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most epidemic chronic liver disease worldwide. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the critical stage of MASLD, and early diagnosis and treatment of MASH are crucial for reducing the incidence of intrahepatic and extrahepatic complications. So far, pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of MASH are still a major challenge, because of the complexity of the pathogenesis and heterogeneity of MASH. Many agents under investigation have shown impressive therapeutic effects by targeting different key pathways, including the attenuation of steatohepatitis or fibrosis or both. It is notable that thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist, resmetirom has become the first officially approved drug for treating MASH with fibrosis. Other agents such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs, and fibroblast growth factor 21 analogs are awaiting approval. This review focuses on the current status of drug therapy for MASH and summarizes the latest results of new medications that have completed phase 2 or 3 clinical trials, and presents the future directions and difficulties of new drug research for MASH.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003355
spellingShingle Da Zhou
Jiangao Fan
Yuanyuan Ji
Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
Chinese Medical Journal
title Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
title_full Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
title_fullStr Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
title_full_unstemmed Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
title_short Drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Progress and direction
title_sort drug treatment for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease progress and direction
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003355
work_keys_str_mv AT dazhou drugtreatmentformetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseprogressanddirection
AT jiangaofan drugtreatmentformetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseprogressanddirection
AT yuanyuanji drugtreatmentformetabolicdysfunctionassociatedsteatoticliverdiseaseprogressanddirection