Health · Pharma & Biotech · 19 hrs ago
Resmetirom Linked to Lower Heart Risks Than Semaglutide in Liver Disease Analysis
A real-world analysis found lower rates of major heart events and death among people taking resmetirom than among matched people taking semaglutide.
The study involved adults with fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis and was presented at a 2026 meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Resmetirom is a liver-directed medicine, while semaglutide is another treatment approved for this patient group.
Researchers matched 4,253 patients in each treatment group using health and medical information, then compared outcomes over two years.
The results showed an association, not proof that resmetirom caused the lower risks, because the study used health records and may have missed factors that affect outcomes.
The groups had similar rates of heart attacks, and resmetirom has no published randomized heart-outcome trial.
Further research would be needed to confirm whether the apparent benefit is caused by the medicine.
A retrospective TriNetX analysis found lower rates of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality among patients with liver disease who received resmetirom rather than semaglutide.
The propensity-matched study included 4,253 patients in each treatment group and followed outcomes for up to two years.
The findings were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.
The analysis found no significant difference between the groups in myocardial infarction rates.
The researchers said the results show an association, not proof that resmetirom causes better outcomes.
- Who
- Adults with MASLD or MASH and hepatic fibrosis treated with resmetirom or semaglutide.
- What
- A real-world analysis found lower risks of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with resmetirom. It did not establish that resmetirom caused the difference.
- When
- Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. Outcomes were assessed at one and two years.
- Where
- The meeting was held in Nashville, Tennessee; the analysis used the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.
- Why
- The investigators sought to compare cardiovascular outcomes because they said comparative data for the two therapies were lacking.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The FDA granted resmetirom accelerated approval for noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis.
Semaglutide received accelerated approval for the same population.
The TriNetX analysis was presented in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Matched cohort
- 4,253 patients per treatment group
- Follow-up
- Outcomes reported at 1 year and 2 years
- 2-year MACE
- Resmetirom vs semaglutide: HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.41–0.89
- 2-year all-cause mortality
- Resmetirom vs semaglutide: HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.20–0.55
- Myocardial infarction
- No significant difference between groups
Sources
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