Mounjaro may reverse scarring in fatty liver disease

Patients and recent research report that the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro has been linked with substantial weight loss and measurable improvement in liver fibrosis for some people with fatty liver disease; the drug is not yet licensed on the NHS for this use and a decision may come this summer.

Several UK patients with advanced fatty liver disease have reported large weight losses and improvements in liver scarring after taking the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro prescribed privately. Fatty liver disease is linked to long-term inflammation and obesity and can progress to cirrhosis. Experts cited in the report say research evidence supports benefits for liver damage, though the exact mechanisms are still being studied. GLP-1 medicines are not currently approved on the NHS for treating liver disease. Key facts: - Patient accounts in the report include one person whose liver fibrosis showed reversal after weight loss while taking Mounjaro and another whose scans improved from cirrhosis to fibrosis following the drug. - A 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that 62% of participants receiving the highest maintenance dose saw fatty liver disease resolve with liver function returning to normal. - GLP-1 drugs such as Mounjaro are not licensed on the NHS for liver disease treatment; a decision on approval has been reported as possible this summer. Summary: Reports and research indicate that GLP-1 medications, including Mounjaro, have been associated with notable weight loss and measurable improvement in liver scarring for some patients with fatty liver disease. Access in the UK remains largely through private prescriptions and some patients report significant personal cost. NHS licensing for this indication is not in place at present, with a decision reported as possible this summer.