Siemens Healthineers and Novo are joining forces to tackle a growing but often overlooked health threat: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

 

The companies said their collaboration will focus on raising disease awareness, promoting earlier assessment and removing barriers to non-invasive testing for patients at risk.

 

MASLD affects millions of people worldwide, including nearly one in four U.S. adults, and is closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Yet many people at risk remain unaware they have the condition, which can progress silently until significant liver damage develops.

 

“Too often, liver health flies under the radar," said Michele Zwickl, head of Laboratory Solutions for Siemens Healthineers North America. “People deserve the same level of awareness as for other major diseases, creating a better opportunity to intervene before serious complications develop.”

 

The collaboration comes as healthcare providers increasingly turn to non-invasive tests (NITs) to identify patients at risk of advanced liver disease.

 

Traditionally, assessing liver fibrosis has relied on specialized imaging or invasive procedures such as liver biopsy. While biopsy remains necessary for some patients, the companies said there is growing recognition of the role non-invasive testing can play in managing MASLD and MASH.

 

The need for earlier identification is significant. Untreated disease can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and other serious complications, while the economic burden of MASLD is projected to exceed $635 billion by the end of the decade.

 

Siemens Healthineers said its blood test is the first and only test authorized in the United States to help clinicians assess the risk of disease progression in patients with advanced fibrosis due to MASH and support patient-management decisions.

 

The test is available through major national laboratory providers and is covered by a Category 1 CPT code, 81517. The companies say blood-based testing can help address some limitations associated with other non-invasive approaches, including challenges related to body composition.

 

Siemens Healthineers and Novo said their work will span the healthcare continuum, from improving public awareness to expanding access to testing and helping clinicians make earlier, more informed decisions.

 

"Earlier triage is one of the most important opportunities to improve the future of MASH care," said Michelle Long, senior international medical director for MASH at Novo. "Our collaboration recognizes that patients, clinicians, laboratories, health systems, and industry partners all have a role to play in creating a more effective pathway for liver disease assessment and management."

 

The companies said the ultimate goal is to make assessment of MASH more accessible and actionable, particularly for people who may have the disease but do not yet know it.