Existing Drugs Show Promise in Treating Fatty Liver Disease, Study Says

Scientists from the University of Barcelona have found that combining two existing drugs, pemafibrate and telmisartan, significantly reduces liver fat in animal models of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), offering a potential new approach for treating fatty liver disease.

The study, published in Pharmacological Research, reports that the drug combination not only decreased fat buildup in the liver but also showed promise in lowering related cardiovascular risks, which are commonly associated with the condition.

MASLD, now the most common liver condition worldwide, affects approximately one in three adults. It develops when excess fat accumulates in liver cells, potentially leading to serious liver damage and increasing the risk of death from heart and blood vessel disease.

Current treatment options for MASLD remain limited, making the findings particularly relevant for patients who lack effective therapies. The researchers noted that using lower doses of both drugs together worked just as effectively as higher doses of either drug alone, suggesting a possible advantage in reducing side effects while maintaining efficacy.

The research team emphasized that while the results are encouraging, the findings still need to be validated in human clinical trials before any treatment recommendations can be made.