Novo Nordisk presents new MASH data at EASL 2026

At the European Association for the Study of the Liver Annual Congress 2026, held from 27 to 30 May in Barcelona, Spain, Novo Nordisk is presenting a broad portfolio of new data shining a long overdue spotlight on metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis, better known as MASH. MASH is a progressive and potentially fatal liver disease that affects an estimated 250 million people globally, yet remains widely unrecognised, undiagnosed, and untreated.

MASH is the more advanced and inflammatory form of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease. It causes scarring of the liver, can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer, and is now one of the leading causes of liver transplantation in the Western world. Patients have long been left without options, and globally around 9 out of 10 cases remain undiagnosed. Despite its staggering prevalence, and the disproportionate burden it places on those living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, until very recently there were no approved pharmacological treatments.

The new data presented by Novo Nordisk across multiple sessions at EASL 2026 build on the groundbreaking ESSENCE Phase 3 programme, which previously showed that semaglutide 2.4 mg, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 receptor agonist, significantly reduced liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with MASH. The new analyses deepen the clinical picture in three important ways.

The ESSENCE Liver Safety analysis provides critical reassurance to hepatologists and treating physicians, showing a favourable hepatic safety profile for semaglutide 2.4 mg across patient characteristics. It is the only GLP-1 receptor agonist clinically proven to renew liver health in patients with MASH, a population with inherently vulnerable liver function in whom treatment safety is paramount.

The ESSENCE Menopause subgroup analysis (Abdelmalek et al.) addresses a significantly underserved group: women in menopause, in whom hormonal changes are known to accelerate liver disease progression and metabolic deterioration. The analysis offers new, targeted evidence for a population that has historically been excluded from or underrepresented in liver disease trials.

The ESSENCE Japanese subgroup analysis extends the evidence base to Asian patient populations, where MASLD and MASH occur at lower body weight thresholds and carry distinctive metabolic and genetic risk profiles. It marks a meaningful step toward global applicability and more equitable access to effective treatment.

“The science we are sharing this week moves us closer to a future where MASH is caught early, treated effectively, and is no longer overlooked. That is what drives us the people behind these numbers and their unmet needs,” said David Ørsted, vice president, Global Medical Affairs Obesity & MASH at Novo Nordisk. “Our clinical data presented at EASL 2026, led by semaglutide, reflect our continued commitment to ensuring that people living with MASH receive timely evidence-based care. A commitment that no patient should fall through the cracks; that women going through menopause deserve evidence-based care for their liver, and that patients in Japan, in the UK, in Germany and across the world deserve access to treatments that work for them.”

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