Liver cirrhosis is permanent scarring of the liver that develops over years, most often from hepatitis C, alcohol-related liver disease, or fatty liver disease. Treatment focuses on managing complications like fluid buildup, bleeding, and confusion, while the only cure is liver transplant. New drugs now target the underlying scarring process itself.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing antifibrotic drugs that aim to reverse scarring, FXR agonists that reduce inflammation and fat buildup, GLP-1 receptor agonists for metabolic liver disease, and combinations that address multiple scarring pathways at once. Researchers are also studying biomarkers to catch cirrhosis earlier and predict who will develop liver cancer.
Antifibrotic therapies
Several drugs target the cells that produce scar tissue in the liver. Early trials show some can reduce fibrosis markers and may slow progression to advanced cirrhosis.
Metabolic treatments
GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and drugs targeting FXR receptors are being tested for cirrhosis from fatty liver disease. They address the metabolic drivers rather than just managing complications.
Combination approaches
Studies are testing two or three drugs together that hit different scarring pathways. The idea is that cirrhosis involves multiple processes that may need simultaneous treatment.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on cirrhosis cause, severity measured by Child-Pugh or MELD score, presence of complications, and liver function test results.
What types of trials are currently open
- Antifibrotic trials — Testing drugs that aim to stop or reverse liver scarring, often requiring liver biopsy to measure changes in scar tissue.
- Metabolic trials — Testing treatments for cirrhosis caused by fatty liver disease, often using drugs that improve insulin resistance or reduce liver fat.
- Complication trials — Testing drugs or devices to prevent or treat ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or bleeding from varices.
- Cancer prevention trials — Testing whether drugs can reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in people with cirrhosis.
- Natural history studies — Following people with cirrhosis to understand how the disease progresses and what blood tests or imaging can predict complications.
Recently added Liver Cirrhosis trials
Receive an MRI scan to map your bile duct anatomy
Living donor liver transplantation is widely accepted as an life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases. Careful donor selection is essential to maximize the success and minimize the risk of postoperative complications in donors and recipients. Mapping of biliary anatomy is one of the critical assessments for donor selection and surgical planning ,Biliary reconstruction is considered as the "Achilles heel" of liver transplantation and adequate imaging assessment of biliary anatomy can largely benefit the biliary anastomosis. Preoperative imaging assessment of biliary anatomy is good for the selection of donors but may not indispensable for surgical planning and Intraoperative confirmative assessment of biliary anatomy with IOC was essential
A Study to Investigate Safety and Efficacy of Efimosfermin Compared With Placebo in Adult Participants With Compensated Cirrhosis Due to Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)
This is a multi-center, randomized, two-part (Part A and Part B) study investigating the safety and efficacy of efimosfermin alfa in adult participants with compensated cirrhosis due to MASH. Participants who complete the treatment during Part A of the study and meet the inclusion criteria will have the option to enroll in Part B (open label) of the study.
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