UK Approves Semaglutide (Wegovy) for Liver Disease with Conditional Authorization
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted conditional approval for semaglutide (Wegovy) to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis. The agency announced the decision on July 3, 2026.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) already authorized in the UK for weight management in adults and adolescents, and for reducing cardiovascular events in adults. With this new conditional approval, its use now includes adults diagnosed with MASH and moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis. MASH is a progressive liver disease marked by fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring, and is most often found in people with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high blood lipids.
Julian Beach, Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access at the MHRA, said current evidence supports semaglutide as a safe and effective treatment for patients with MASH, but stressed that it should only be used under medical supervision. The agency emphasized that the approval is conditional and depends on further results from an ongoing clinical study in adults with MASH and liver scarring. The MHRA will review new data at least once a year and will update the product’s Summary of Characteristics as needed.
The recommended dosing begins at 0.25 mg once a week, gradually increasing to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. For patients with obesity (body mass index over 30), the dose may be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly after at least four weeks at the 2.4 mg dose. The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
The MHRA also noted that patients with MASH cannot currently access semaglutide for this indication through the National Health Service (NHS). Access will depend on a future decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is reviewing semaglutide’s clinical and cost effectiveness for treating MASH. The conditional marketing authorization means that continued approval requires submission and review of additional confirmatory data.
MASH, previously known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is estimated to affect millions of people worldwide. In the UK, the prevalence of MASH has increased in recent years, largely due to rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The condition can progress to cirrhosis or liver failure if left untreated, and until now, there have been no approved medicines specifically for MASH in the UK.
The ongoing clinical trial referenced by the MHRA is designed to evaluate semaglutide’s long-term effectiveness and safety in patients with MASH and liver fibrosis. Interim results from this study formed the basis for the conditional approval, but the agency requires further evidence before granting full authorization. The MHRA has stated that it will continue to assess new data as it becomes available and may revise the approval or prescribing information accordingly.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report suspected side effects of semaglutide through the Yellow Card scheme, which helps regulators monitor the safety of medicines in real-world use. The MHRA’s decision reflects a cautious approach, balancing early access to a potential treatment for a serious disease with the need for ongoing evidence collection.
Further details are available in the full MHRA announcement at the source URL.