A type of drug related to a hormone called FGF-21 might be the best option for helping reduce liver scarring in adults with a common liver disease, and early results suggest it works better than other treatments.

What we've found so far suggests that FGF-21 analogues may be a promising option for reducing liver stiffness in adults with MASLD. The evidence we've reviewed leans toward this approach being more effective than other current treatments [1]. Our analysis of the available research shows that drugs based on the hormone FGF-21 are being studied for their ability to reduce liver scarring, which is linked to stiffness in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Early results indicate these analogues might offer greater benefits compared to other therapies [1]. So far, we’ve analyzed one key assertion, and it supports the idea that FGF-21-related drugs could be among the most effective options for this purpose. No studies in our review have contradicted this [1]. We want to be clear: this is what we’ve found up to now, not a final conclusion. The number 49.0 listed in support likely reflects a scoring system rather than 49 actual studies, meaning the strength of the evidence is based on how compelling the data appears, not on volume. There is no evidence we’ve seen that argues against this effect. Still, we don’t yet have enough data to say this is the top treatment for everyone. Liver stiffness can change for many reasons, and what works well in early trials may not hold up over time or across different groups of people. For now, the takeaway is this: if you’re looking at emerging treatments for MASLD, FGF-21 analogues are showing strong early signs of helping reduce liver stiffness—possibly more than other options currently available. But it’s too soon to say for sure how they’ll compare in the long run. We’ll keep updating our analysis as new evidence comes in.