California, Sept. 16 -- Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new investigational drug that shows promise in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious form of fatty liver disease linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer.

The study, published in the August 23, 2025 online edition of The Lancet, found that the medication, ION224, targets a liver enzyme called DGAT2, which plays a key role in how the liver produces and stores fat.

By blocking this enzyme, the drug helps reduce fat buildup and inflammation, two major drivers of liver damage in MASH.

"This study marks a pivotal advance in the f...