The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved Danish major Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 mg) for a new indication — fatty liver disease.It has become the first and only GLP-1 RA to be approved both globally and in India for the treatment of noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis along with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. MASH is a liver disease that develops due to excess fat buildup in the liver, causing chronic inflammation and liver damage, Novo Nordisk India said on Friday.“This approval is an important milestone, giving doctors and patients a new option for people at risk of MASH while also helping to address obesity and related heart and metabolic diseases,” Novo Nordisk India managing director Vikrant Shrotriya said.The approval is based on the ESSENCE, a phase 3 trial, in which Wegovy demonstrated resolution of steatohepatitis in 63% of patients and reduction in liver fibrosis in 37% of patients. It was a two-part trial where 1,197 participants were randomised 2:1 to receive semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo, on top of standard of care for 240 weeks, the company said in a release. Published - July 17, 2026 08:46 pm IST