A major new use for the weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved in the UK, with regulators authorising semaglutide injections to treat adults with metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive form of liver disease that can cause serious scarring.

 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved semaglutide (Wegovy) on 3 July 2026 for adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis — the buildup of scar tissue caused by ongoing liver damage.

 

MASH occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver, triggering inflammation and scarring. People living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high levels of blood lipids are at increased risk of developing the condition.

 

The approval marks another expansion of semaglutide’s use. The medicine is already authorised for weight management in adults and adolescents, as well as reducing cardiovascular events in adults.

 

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.”

 

Patients will begin treatment with a 0.25 mg weekly dose of semaglutide, which is gradually increased through 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg doses over four-week periods before reaching the standard maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once a week. For patients with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) above 30, the dose may be increased to 7.2 mg weekly after at least four weeks on the 2.4 mg dose.

 

The MHRA has granted the approval as a conditional marketing authorisation, meaning further evidence is still required before a full authorisation can be issued. Additional results from an ongoing study involving adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis must be submitted for review.

 

The regulator will continue monitoring the medicine and will review new safety and effectiveness information at least annually.

 

However, patients in the UK will not yet be able to access semaglutide for MASH through the NHS. A decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is still pending, following its assessment of the medicine’s clinical and cost effectiveness for this condition.