A widely used asthma drug may unexpectedly improve liver health

In a study published in the journal Nature npj Metabolic Health and Disease, scientists suggested that a long-known asthma drug, Formoterol, may provide an unexpected benefit in MASH. This drug has been used for decades to widen the airways in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Initially, researchers did not study the liver at all. They tested the effects of formoterol on mice with diabetic kidney disease, trying to see if the drug could reduce the damage. The results were successful, but during the experiments, scientists noticed an unexpected effect – in mice receiving formoterol, the accumulation of fat in the liver decreased.

This observation is the starting point for a new study looking at whether targeting beta-2 receptors can affect multiple metabolic diseases at once.

To further work, the scientists used a mouse model of MASH induced by a high-fat diet. It turned out that treatment with formoterol contributed to the reversal of fatty liver disease. According to the researchers, the drug actually reversed pathological changes on several levels at once.

The team also tried to understand exactly how this effect works. The analysis showed that formoterol can change the processes of energy production and use inside cells. In addition to animal experiments, scientists studied data from patients who had already taken beta-2 agonists to treat diseases of the respiratory system. An analysis of real clinical practice showed that such patients were less likely to develop severe liver complications, including cirrhosis, and overall mortality was reduced.

MASH is considered an advanced stage of fatty liver disease, in which the accumulation of fat causes inflammation and tissue damage. Over time, the disease can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and the need for transplantation. The prevalence of MASH continues to rise along with obesity and type 2 diabetes, placing the disease as a major burden on healthcare systems. The researchers note that until recently, there were no approved drugs to treat MASH. Currently, medications such as Resmetirom and Semaglutide are used, but their effectiveness remains moderate, and therapy may be accompanied by side effects.