Emerging Therapeutic Perspectives in Obese Patients with MASLD Leading to Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is now recognized as the principal hepatic manifestation of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Its pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial, driven by insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbiota alterations, and abnormalities in lipid metabolism; together, these promote steatosis, lipotoxicity, and progression to fibrosis which can lead to compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD). MASLD is also a multisystem condition closely associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, and other extrahepatic complications. In this context, emerging metabolic therapies show significant potential for modifying the natural history of the disease. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists induce substantial weight loss and improve steatosis and necro-inflammatory activity. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2I) reduce glucotoxicity, promote modest weight loss, and lower hepatic fat content by improving insulin sensitivity and inflammatory signaling. Even more promising are dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, which have demonstrated superior efficacy in metabolic control, reducing hepatic steatosis, and potentially modulating fibrotic processes, although definitive histological confirmation is still lacking. Overall, in this review, we discuss the physiopathological mechanisms of MASLD leading to cACLD along with the emerging therapies, such GLP1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2I, and GLP1/GIP which, when combined with structured lifestyle interventions, may attenuate progression toward steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, and, thus, cirrhosis.