By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novo Nordisk<\/a>\u2019s popular weight-loss drug Wegovy<\/a> to treat a serious form of fatty liver disease.<\/p>\n The approval makes Wegovy the only GLP-1 therapy cleared to treat adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. About 14.9 million U.S. adults \u2014 or roughly 6% of the population \u2014 have the condition, according to the FDA<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWegovy is now uniquely positioned as the first and only GLP-1 treatment approved for MASH, complementing the already proven weight loss, cardiovascular benefits and extensive body of evidence linked to semaglutide,\u201d Dr. Martin Holst Lange<\/a>, Novo Nordisk\u2019s chief scientific officer and head of research and development, told The Wall Street Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n Wegovy is best known as a once-weekly injection used for weight loss, but clinical trials have shown it may benefit people with other serious health conditions.<\/p>\n The FDA has also approved the drug to lower the risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attacks<\/a>, in high-risk patients, The Wall Street Journal <\/em>said.<\/p>\n Novo Nordisk\u2019s sister drug Ozempic<\/a>, which shares the same active ingredient \u2014 semaglutide \u2014 is already approved for diabetes.<\/p>\n The FDA decision was based on results from a late-stage clinical trial showing Wegovy\u2019s effectiveness in treating MASH.<\/p>\n Novo Nordisk said it is using the same data in applications for approval in the European Union and Japan.<\/p>\n MASH, previously known as NASH, occurs when fat builds up in the liver and causes inflammation and scarring. If left untreated, it can lead to liver failure or cancer, The Cleveland Clinic<\/a> says.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cleveland Clinic has more on MASH<\/a>.<\/p>\n