Hepatology Month in Review: March 2025

March brought key developments in the field of hepatology, ranging from advances in drug development to new research into notable liver disease risk factors.

This past month saw the 1-year anniversary of resmetirom’s FDA approval as the first and only metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) therapeutic, prompting reflection on its impact on clinical practice and a closer look at the evolving pipeline in a 6-part HCPLive RX Review. Additionally, new findings from a phase 2a trial suggest zetomipzomib may be on track for an equally monumental FDA approval for autoimmune hepatitis.

Research about alcohol-associated hepatitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes; hepatitis B vaccination; factors affecting metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progression, and the negative impact of excessive screen time during adolescence on liver health also made headlines.

Check out this March 2025 hepatology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top hepatic news and research from the past few weeks:

Recognizing the Anniversary of a Landmark Approval in Hepatology

Celebrating 1 Year of Resmetirom, Progress in MASH/MASLD

March 14, 2025, marked the 1-year anniversary of the FDA’s accelerated approval of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ resmetirom (Rezdiffra) as the first and only treatment for noncirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now known as MASH.

In recognition of the anniversary of the landmark decision and resmetirom’s evolving impact on clinical practice and patient care, this 6-part HCPLive RX Review features insight from a trio of subject matter experts: Jeff McIntyre, the vice president of Liver Health Programs at the Global Liver Institute; Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc, a professor of medicine and a transplant hepatologist at Houston Methodist and director of the Houston Research Institute; and Juan Pablo Arab, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Part 1: Reflecting on Resmetirom’s Historic FDA Approval for MASH

Part 2: Unmet Needs in MASH Care

Part 3: The Future of MASH Care: New Agents in Clinical Development

Part 4: Lifestyle Interventions for MASH Management

Part 5: The Role of Noninvasive Testing in MASH

Part 6: Looking Ahead to the Future of MASH Management

In the Pipeline

Zetomipzomib Shows Promise for Autoimmune Hepatitis in Phase 2a PORTOLA Trial

On March 25, Kezar Life Sciences announced positive topline results from the phase 2a PORTOLA clinical trial of zetomipzomib in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Results showed that, consistent with AASLD treatment goals, zetomipzomib treatment resulted in greater rates of complete biochemical response combined with a steroid dosage reduction to ≤ 5 mg/day compared with placebo.

Pregnancy and Hepatic Disease Research

Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Linked to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Recent research suggests women with alcohol-associated hepatitis are less likely to become pregnant and are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy-related outcomes, including abortive outcomes, spontaneous abortion, early pregnancy bleeding, excessive vomiting, genitourinary infections, and pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.

Pregnancy Vaccine Receipt Linked to Greater Odds of Neonatal HBV Vaccination

Findings from this retrospective cohort study of patients who received prenatal care and delivered at an academic tertiary care hospital in central Pennsylvania between January 2015 and January 2020 suggest maternal receipt of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine or seasonal influenza vaccine during pregnancy is associated with greater odds of neonatal vaccination against hepatitis B virus before hospital discharge.

An Evolving Understanding of Lifestyle Factors Driving MASLD Risk

Poor Diet, Social Determinants of Health Linked to Fibrosis, HRQoL in MASLD

Cardiometabolic risk factors, physical activity, diet, and social determinants of health are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fibrosis in patients with MASLD, according to findings from this cross-sectional analysis. Results showed living in a more impoverished neighborhood, dyslipidemia, obesity, and physical inactivity were associated with HRQoL, while decreased physical activity, poorer diet, neighborhood-level poverty, and lower HRQoL were associated with cirrhosis.

Excessive Screen Time Linked to Higher Liver Steatosis Risk in Adolescents

Leveraging data for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants 12–17 years of age who took part in the 2017-2018 cycle, findings from this study suggest ≥ 5 hours of self-reported screen time per day is linked to a greater risk of liver steatosis. Of note, this association was found to be partially mediated by body mass index.