Experimental drug reverses severe fatty liver disease by repairing the gut
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an experimental drug called DT-109 that reverses severe fatty liver disease in animal models. The drug works by repairing the gut barrier and preventing harmful bacterial products from triggering liver inflammation.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a potential new therapeutic pathway for MASH, a serious liver condition that currently lacks effective treatment options.
An experimental drug developed at Michigan Medicine has shown the ability to reverse severe fatty liver disease in animal studies by restoring gut health. The findings, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation , suggest that targeting the connection between the gut and liver could offer a promising new approach for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
MASH is a serious form of fatty liver disease that affects about 7% of people worldwide. It can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure, yet effective treatment options remain limited.
The investigational compound, known as DT-109, is a glycine-based tripeptide. Researchers found that it reversed MASH in animal models by interrupting a harmful biological process linking the gut and liver.
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