Slim Liver study, phase 2b - Semaglutide as treatment for NAFLD

[Jim Allen]

Small study but these are promising results.

POZ.com article in full: https://www.poz.com/article/semaglutide-reduces-severity-common-liver-disease-people-hiv

In Brief:

A weekly injection of semaglutide [brand names Ozempic or Wegovy] was safe and reduced the amount of fat in the liver by 31% in people with HIV and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), according to a presentation today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver.

Previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD is characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver that is not caused by alcohol consumption or viral hepatitis.

An estimated 30% to 40% of people with HIV experience MASLD, slightly higher than the average among people without HIV. Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication approved for use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication used for long-term weight management.

The Phase 2b pilot study enrolled people with HIV and MASLD aged 18 years and older whose viral load—the amount of HIV in the blood—was suppressed to undetectable levels by antiretroviral therapy (ART).  Participants experienced an average 31% reduction in liver fat, with 29% of participants experiencing a complete resolution of MASLD, meaning their liver fat decreased to 5% or less of overall liver content.

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04216589
Study of Semaglutide for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a Metabolic Syndrome With Insulin Resistance, Increased Hepatic Lipids, and Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk (The SLIM LIVER Study)