Resmetirom and semaglutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH): a comparative perspective

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is emerging as a leading cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality worldwide. Among the most advanced pharmacologic candidates are resmetirom, a highly liver-selective thyroid hormone receptor-β (THR-β) agonist, and semaglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) already approved for diabetes and obesity. Although both agents improve hepatic steatosis, their mechanisms of action, extra-hepatic benefits, and safety signatures diverge markedly. Resmetirom, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2024, acts hepatocentrically to accelerate β-oxidation, lower atherogenic lipoproteins, and deliver early signals necessary for fibrosis regression, all while largely avoiding systemic thyrotoxic effects. Semaglutide acts systemically by reducing caloric load through pronounced weight loss and glycemic control, producing the highest rates of histologic MASH resolution reported to date, albeit with less direct antifibrotic efficacy and characteristic gastrointestinal tolerability issues. This comparative perspective juxtaposes the two compounds with respect to molecular pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety, and potential clinical positioning, and proposes that, because resmetirom primarily targets hepatic lipid disposal whereas semaglutide unloads systemic caloric pressure, their complementary actions could be harnessed sequentially or in combination to achieve broader, more durable disease modification across the heterogeneous spectrum of patients with MASH.

Keywords

MASLD / therapy / drugs / thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist / GLP-1 receptor agonist

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