Jorge Bartolome discussed why the quality of weight loss should be considered in MASH treatment and how emerging therapies could help preserve lean mass.
When it comes to weight loss and metabolic health, what the body loses can matter just as much as how much it loses.
“Weight loss is a really important part of the treatment of MASH, but just looking at pounds on the scale does not really provide the complete picture around metabolic health,” said Jorge Bartolome, CEO of Rivus Pharmaceuticals.
In this episode of the Xtalks Life Science Podcast, Jorge spoke with host Dr. Mohammad Ali, Life Science Writer and Knowledge Translation Specialist at Xtalks, about the changing treatment landscape for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive liver disease involving fat accumulation and inflammation.
GLP-1 therapies have changed how obesity and metabolic diseases are treated. While they can help patients lose substantial amounts of weight, some of that reduction can come from lean body mass, which includes muscle.
Jorge estimated that around 30% to 40% of the weight lost with GLP-1 therapies can come from lean mass. He explained why preserving muscle is particularly important for older patients with MASH or other cardiometabolic conditions, and how changes in body composition can affect metabolism and weight regain.
The conversation also explored emerging treatment approaches, including Rivus’s investigational therapy HU6, and the potential for combining therapies that address different aspects of metabolic disease.
Jorge discussed the challenges of developing MASH treatments, from identifying patients through non-invasive testing to conducting clinical trials that can demonstrate meaningful benefits over time.
He also shared why earlier intervention and improving patients’ broader metabolic health could be important for the future of MASH treatment.
Listen to the full episode to hear Jorge’s perspective on GLP-1 therapies, muscle preservation and what researchers are learning about the quality of weight loss.
We also featured Jorge’s insights in a recent issue of Xtalks Clinical Edge.
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