Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have made a big breakthrough in treating MASH, a serious fatty liver disease tied to obesity and type 2 diabetes. This condition, also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer if not caught early.
The exciting news comes from a new drug called ION224, which targets a key liver enzyme named DGAT2. This enzyme helps the liver make and store fat, and blocking it cuts down on fat buildup and inflammation—the main culprits behind MASH damage.
“This study is a game-changer in the battle against MASH,” says Dr. Rohit Loomba, the lead investigator and head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “By targeting DGAT2, we’re hitting the disease at its core, stopping fat accumulation and inflammation right in the liver.”
The research, published in the August 23, 2025, online edition of The Lancet, involved a Phase IIb clinical trial with 160 adults across the US who had MASH and early to moderate fibrosis. Participants got monthly injections of ION224 at different doses or a placebo for a full year.
At the highest dose, 60% of patients saw major improvements in their liver health compared to those on placebo. The best part? These gains happened without any weight loss, so the drug could pair well with other MASH treatments. Plus, it caused no serious side effects.
MASH, once called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, hits people with metabolic issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes hard. It’s sneaky—often called a “silent disease” because it builds up for years without obvious symptoms. In the US, over 100 million people deal with some form of fatty liver disease, and worldwide, up to 1 in 4 adults might be affected, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Without treatment, it can lead to liver failure and the need for a transplant.
“This is the first drug like this to show real biological changes in MASH patients,” Dr. Loomba adds. He’s also the director of the metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) research center at UC San Diego and a top gastroenterologist and hepatologist at UC San Diego Health.
If upcoming Phase III trials confirm these results, ION224 could become a targeted therapy that stops and even reverses liver damage before it turns deadly. For the millions affected by fatty liver disease and their families, this brings real hope. Early action with drugs like this might also ease the strain on healthcare systems by preventing advanced liver problems down the road.
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