PLAINSBORO, New Jersey, and BAGSVÆRD, Denmark, October 28, 2026
Novo Nordisk has announced that it will present 12 new scientific abstracts featuring liver research and clinical data at The Liver Meeting® 2026, organized by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). The scientific meeting will take place from November 5–9, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, United States. The presentations will highlight new findings involving Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg), real-world treatment outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and research on investigational efruxifermin, an FGF21 analogue being evaluated for liver disease. The research programme includes clinical trial analyses, retrospective real-world studies and investigations into liver fibrosis, metabolic health and disease progression. These presentations reflect Novo Nordisk’s continued focus on advancing treatment approaches for metabolic and liver-related disorders, particularly MASH, a progressive condition that can cause inflammation, liver damage and fibrosis.
Semaglutide Research Highlights MASH Treatment Outcomes
A major component of Novo Nordisk’s research programme will focus on semaglutide 2.4 mg, including real-world evidence and additional analyses from the Phase 3 ESSENCE clinical trial. One important presentation will feature the PLATINUM-Truveta retrospective cohort study, which compared semaglutide 2.4 mg with resmetirom in patients with MASH receiving treatment in routine clinical practice. Researchers evaluated changes in liver enzymes, body weight, HbA1c and other cardiometabolic markers at three and six months. The analysis included 2,873 patients who initiated semaglutide and 2,285 patients who initiated resmetirom across 30 U.S. health systems. The study has been selected as a Poster of Distinction, recognizing it among the top 10% of submitted posters. Additional findings from the RHODIUM-2 study will examine changes in liver enzymes and cardiometabolic markers among patients initiating semaglutide compared with those who did not receive the treatment. Furthermore, a post-hoc analysis of the Phase 3 ESSENCE trial will investigate liver-related outcomes among participants with MASH and a body mass index below 27 kg/m². The analysis is intended to provide further information about semaglutide’s potential effects on liver health in people without obesity.
Efruxifermin Research Explores Liver Fibrosis Improvement
Another important area of the scientific programme will involve efruxifermin, an investigational fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogue being studied for its potential to improve liver health in patients with MASH. Novo Nordisk will present four research abstracts examining different aspects of the investigational treatment, including findings from the Phase 2b SYMMETRY clinical trial. One post-hoc analysis will examine liver fibrosis outcomes in patients with MASH-related cirrhosis and multiple cardiometabolic comorbidities. Another presentation will explore multidimensional histological improvements in compensated cirrhosis using artificial intelligence-based analysis of SYMMETRY trial data. This research will be presented as an oral scientific presentation on November 8. Additional investigations will examine how efruxifermin may influence cellular signalling pathways involved in liver fibrosis and the transfer of dysfunctional mitochondria between hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells. Researchers will also present multi-omic findings investigating the mechanisms associated with efruxifermin-mediated improvements in lipotoxicity in human liver cells. These studies aim to expand scientific understanding of FGF21-based therapeutic approaches and their potential role in managing advanced liver disease.
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New Research Addresses Liver Disease Awareness and Burden
Beyond therapeutic development, Novo Nordisk’s 12-abstract programme will include research examining the clinical, economic and healthcare challenges associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and MASH. Two ACT on MASH research presentations will assess awareness, understanding and perceptions of these conditions among healthcare professionals and people living with or at risk of developing MASH. Other studies will investigate the economic burden associated with MASH according to baseline and changes in the FIB-4 fibrosis index, alongside the impact of cardiometabolic risk factors on healthcare resource utilization among adults with steatotic liver disease. The programme will also include a Phase 2 randomized clinical trial investigating the effects of zalfermin, cagrilintide and semaglutide on non-invasive fibrosis biomarkers in alcohol-related liver disease. These research areas highlight the importance of early identification, disease monitoring and treatment strategies addressing both metabolic dysfunction and progressive liver damage. The presentations will provide additional scientific information for clinicians and researchers working to improve liver disease management.
The upcoming presentations at The Liver Meeting 2026 represent an important opportunity for Novo Nordisk to share clinical and real-world evidence across its liver disease research portfolio. The findings will contribute to scientific discussions about semaglutide, investigational efruxifermin and emerging approaches to managing MASH and other chronic liver conditions. However, real-world observational analyses cannot independently establish cause-and-effect relationships, while post-hoc analyses are generally considered exploratory. Efruxifermin remains investigational, and further clinical evaluation is required to establish its safety and efficacy. Through its research programme, Novo Nordisk aims to advance scientific understanding of liver disease and support the development of future treatment options for patients affected by metabolic and chronic liver disorders.
Source: Novo Nordisk press release
