Novo Nordisk ESSENCE Japanese MASH Subgroup + Menopausal Women Analyses Land at EASL 2026 Day 1 — Extending Semaglutide MASH-with-Fibrosis Approval Toward Underrepresented Populations
Novo Nordisk presented two ESSENCE Phase 3 subgroup analyses at EASL 2026 today. The Japanese MASH subgroup analysis extends the semaglutide 2.4 mg efficacy and safety case to Asian populations where MASLD and MASH develop at lower body-mass-index thresholds and involve distinct metabolic risk profiles. The Menopause subgroup analysis covers women in menopause, where hormonal changes accelerate liver disease progression and metabolic deterioration. Both analyses show consistent hepatic safety profile and efficacy across the underrepresented groups. The August 2025 FDA MASH-with-fibrosis approval of semaglutide 2.4 mg was based on the broader ESSENCE Phase 3 cohort; the EASL Day 1 presentations strengthen the global labeling case across non-Western populations and the menopausal-women subgroup that has historically been underrepresented in MASH clinical trials. Real-world evidence data presented today documents quality-of-life impairment and healthcare-cost escalation in MASH patients.