UK regulator approves Wegovy (semaglutide) to treat a form of liver disease
The UK approved Wegovy to treat MASH with liver scarring, a new use for the drug there; the decision is conditional, and US approval status was not addressed.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the semaglutide injection Wegovy on July 3, 2026, to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis, which is scar tissue in the liver [1].
Semaglutide already had UK authorizations for weight management in adults and adolescents and for reducing cardiovascular events in adults [1]. The new authorization, granted to Novo Nordisk, adds MASH as an additional use [1]. It is a conditional marketing authorization, meaning the MHRA is requiring further results from an ongoing study in adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced liver scarring before it can issue a full authorization [1]. The agency said it will review new information on the medicine at least once a year and update the prescribing information, known as the Summary of Product Characteristics, as needed [1].
MASH develops when excess fat in the liver causes inflammation and scarring. People who have obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high blood lipid levels are more likely to develop it [1]. Julian Beach, the MHRA's executive director of healthcare quality and access, said: "The available evidence indicates that semaglutide is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with MASH. As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication and should only be taken in consultation with a doctor." [1]
Under the approval, dosing starts at 0.25 mg once weekly and rises through 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg, with four weeks at each step, to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly [1]. For people with obesity, defined as a BMI over 30, the dose can be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly after at least four weeks on the 2.4 mg dose [1]. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting, and the MHRA encourages patients to report side effects through its Yellow Card scheme [1]. Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed in combination with diet and exercise; it works by mimicking a hormone the body releases after eating, which helps people feel fuller for longer and reduces food cravings [1].
Why it matters for patients
This is a UK regulatory decision and does not change what is available to patients in the United States. The announcement does not say whether the US Food and Drug Administration has approved semaglutide for MASH or is considering doing so [1].
The approval is conditional rather than full, because the MHRA says more confirmatory evidence of efficacy and safety is required before a full authorization can be issued [1].
People in the UK with MASH cannot currently get semaglutide for this condition through the NHS, the country's public health system [1]. That depends on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is appraising semaglutide's clinical and cost effectiveness as a MASH treatment [1]. The approval announcement gives no date for that decision [1].
The higher 7.2 mg weekly dose applies only to patients with a BMI over 30; other patients remain on the 2.4 mg maintenance dose [1].
What happens next
The MHRA said the Summary of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets will be published on the MHRA Products website within seven days of the approval, which would be by about July 10, 2026 [1]. The agency will review new information on semaglutide at least every year [1]. NICE's appraisal of semaglutide for MASH is ongoing, and no decision date was given in the approval announcement [1].
Sources
Semaglutides.org provides information only, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own care before making changes. Some telehealth links are affiliate links and are labeled where they appear.