A study has found that Ozempic may reverse signs of a disease that contributes to 2,000,000 deaths per year.
New research has discovered that there could be more effects associated with the drug than just weight loss.
The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that medications that are now being widely used for things such as diabetes and obesity have the potential to offer other health benefits.
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This includes treatment for people with liver disease who have seen positive effects from taking semaglutide, which is popularly sold as Wegovy and Ozempic.
The weight loss drugs have been found to effectively treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
MASH is a type of chronic liver disease diagnosed when there is excessive fat build-up in the liver, and at least one metabolic risk factor.
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The condition can cause liver scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer.
Talking about these health benefits, Dr. Celine Gounder, who is a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said: “Almost two-thirds of people had a reduction in liver inflammation related to this fatty liver condition, and over a third had a reduction in liver scarring.”
Speaking about the severity of the condition, Gounder added: “The life-threatening consequences can be very real.”
However, things could all turn around
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Throughout the study, 800 patients were monitored for up to 72 weeks where they documented significant improvements to their liver health while receiving the semaglutide drug.
MASH is a major driver of liver cancer, which contributes to two million deaths per year.
If the drug proves to be a viable treatment for patients with MASH, this could be life changing.
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However, despite the fact that study looks promising, Gounder has warned that more research will be needed, specifically longer studies.
She added: “Seventy-two weeks, that’s not very long.”
Examining the results, the study read: “In part 1 of our trial, patients who received a weekly dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide had better results regarding steatohepatitis and fibrosis than those who received placebo. Patients in the semaglutide group also had more weight loss.
“Although formal hypothesis tests were not planned or conducted, semaglutide appeared to be associated with improvements in glucometabolic factors and noninvasive markers of liver health. Changes in bodily pain did not differ significantly between the groups.
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“The findings were similar regardless of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes or obesity and regardless of age, sex, or fibrosis stage.”