The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that researchers from Toronto's Sinai Health have published a study that sheds light on a central mystery for scientists studying the liver benefits of drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy: How exactly they improve liver health, even in patients who don't lose weight.
The Globe's Jennifer Yang reports that a study published in Cell Metabolism from Daniel Drucker's lab focuses on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s).
GLP-1s were initially created for diabetes treatment but gained popularity due to their weight-loss effects. They are now being researched for various other disorders and chronic diseases.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a severe fatty liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. In December, Health Canada conditionally approved Wegovy as the first pharmaceutical treatment for MASH.
An enduring mystery has been how certain drugs improve liver health. Dr. Drucker and his team, using mouse models and advanced technologies, provided answers that challenge common assumptions in hepatology regarding GLP-1s and liver function.
The study showed that GLP-1s can lead to liver improvements.
© 2026 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.