The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (3 July 2026) approved a semaglutide injection (Wegovy) to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis (scar tissue in the liver).
Semaglutide has existing authorisations for weight management in adults and adolescents and for the reduction of cardiovascular events in adults.
MASH develops when excess fat in the liver causes inflammation and scarring. You are more likely to develop MASH if you have obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high blood lipid levels.
Julian Beach, Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access at the MHRA, 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.”
The starting dose of 0.25 mg semaglutide once weekly is increased to doses of 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, with four weeks on each dose, up to the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly. For patients with obesity (a BMI over 30), the dose can be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly after a minimum of 4 weeks on the 2.4 mg dose.
Semaglutide has been approved to treat MASH on the condition that further results from an ongoing study in adults with MASH and moderate to advanced liver scarring will be submitted. The product has a conditional marketing authorisation because further confirmatory evidence is required of its efficacy and safety as a treatment for MASH before a full marketing authorisation can be issued.
The MHRA will review new information on this medicine at least every year and the Summary of Product Characteristics will be updated, as necessary.
Patients with MASH are not currently able to get semaglutide to treat this condition on the NHS. This is subject to a decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which is currently appraising its clinical and cost effectiveness as a treatment option for MASH.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed in combination with diet and exercise. It works by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring hormone, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), which is released by the body after eating, helping people feel fuller for longer and decreasing food cravings.
As with any medicine, the MHRA keeps the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide under close review.
The most common side effects of the medicine are gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Notes to editors
- Authorisation for this new indication for semaglutide (Wegovy) was granted on 3 July 2026 to Novo Nordisk.
- More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
- The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
- For media enquiries, please contact the news centre on 020 3080 7651 or [email protected]
