Researchers have achieved a breakthrough that may mark a turning point in the treatment of liver diseases, after discovering that combining two commonly used medications can reverse metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—a condition not linked to alcohol consumption but caused by excessive fat accumulation in the liver.
The study revealed that using Pemafibrate, a medication widely prescribed in Japan to treat high cholesterol, together with Telmisartan, a drug used to lower high blood pressure, can significantly reduce fat buildup in the liver.
The research was conducted by scientists from the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona. The findings were published in Pharmacological Research in July and reported by the Daily Mail.
Experiments on mice and zebrafish showed that this drug combination not only reduces liver fat but may also lessen cardiovascular complications—an advancement experts described as highly significant. They noted that the dual-therapy approach could offer a safer and more effective alternative to the currently limited treatment options.
Reducing Fat Accumulation and Improving Health Outcomes
Professor Marta Alegret, a specialist in pharmacology and food sciences at the University of Barcelona and co-author of the study, stated that the combined therapy benefits liver health while also helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol—factors that collectively reduce cardiovascular risk. She added that cardiovascular mortality is notably high among patients with MASLD, especially those who also suffer from hypertension and high cholesterol.
The researchers evaluated the effectiveness of Pemafibrate and Telmisartan both individually and together. Their findings showed that when used in combination, the medications reversed fat buildup caused by a high-fat, high-fructose diet. Fructose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and honey, and is commonly added to soft drinks, sweets, and processed foods.
In the mouse experiments, the team also discovered that using half a dose of each medication together was as effective as a full dose of either drug alone in reducing liver fat accumulation. This suggests that lower doses may achieve the same therapeutic results while minimizing potential side effects.
This discovery could pave the way for safer, more effective treatment strategies that may transform how one of the world’s most common liver diseases is managed.
