Formoterol May Reverse MASH Liver Damage, Prompting Clinical Trials After Mouse and Human Data
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 23
Formoterol May Reverse MASH Liver Damage, Prompting Clinical Trials After Mouse and Human Data
2 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 23
A March 25 npj Metabolic Health and Disease study found formoterol reversed MASH-like liver damage in high-fat-diet mice at histologic, ultrastructural and functional levels.
MUSC researchers traced the effect to beta-2 signaling that appeared to boost mitochondrial biogenesis, after earlier 2024 kidney-disease experiments unexpectedly showed less liver fat in treated mice.
Retrospective human data also linked beta-2 agonist use to lower rates of cirrhosis and all-cause mortality, but the evidence remains associative rather than proof the drug works in people.
More than 60% of patients with diabetic nephropathy also have MASH, and an ongoing clinical trial in kidney disease patients may offer an early read on whether the decades-old asthma and COPD drug can help both conditions.
MASH affects hundreds of millions worldwide and remains hard to treat; with only two approved therapies offering moderate benefit, a repurposed drug with an established safety profile could move faster if human benefits are confirmed.
This asthma drug reverses liver damage in mice. What are the biggest hurdles to it becoming a cure for humans?
Could this drug's power to boost cell energy also treat other major metabolic diseases beyond just the liver?
Breakthrough in MASH Therapy: Asthma Drug Formoterol Reduces Liver Damage in Preclinical and Human Studies
Overview
Formoterol, a medication commonly used for asthma, is showing promise as a new treatment for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe form of fatty liver disease. MASH is marked by liver inflammation and damage, which can progress to serious conditions like fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, making it a major global health challenge. Currently, there are no widely effective or approved therapies for MASH, so the discovery of formoterol’s potential is an important breakthrough. Early studies in both mice and humans suggest formoterol could offer hope for patients who urgently need better treatment options.