New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis — scarring that replaces healthy liver tissue — affects roughly 4 million Americans and is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. Caused by chronic hepatitis, alcohol use, fatty liver disease, or autoimmune conditions, cirrhosis has no approved drug that reverses scarring. Treatment focuses on managing complications like fluid buildup and bleeding, and preventing further damage.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing antifibrotic drugs that may slow or reverse scarring, therapies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly NASH) which often leads to cirrhosis, and treatments for portal hypertension that drives bleeding and fluid buildup. Researchers are also studying stem cells, drugs that target stellate cells responsible for scarring, and combinations that address inflammation and fibrosis together.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on cirrhosis cause, severity (often measured by MELD score or Child-Pugh class), presence of complications, and whether the underlying liver disease is still active.

What types of trials are currently open

• Antifibrotic trials — Testing drugs that aim to reduce liver scarring, often measured by biopsy or imaging after 12-24 months of treatment.
• MASH trials — Studies of drugs targeting fat buildup and inflammation in the liver before it progresses to cirrhosis, or treating early cirrhosis from MASH.
• Complication prevention — Testing treatments to prevent bleeding from enlarged veins, fluid buildup in the abdomen, or confusion from toxin accumulation.
• Cell therapy trials — Studies of stem cells or liver cell transplants aimed at regenerating healthy tissue or reducing scarring.
• Long-term outcome studies — Following people with cirrhosis to understand progression patterns, identify biomarkers, and measure response to treatments over years.