Siemens Healthineers, Novo Collaborate on Liver Disease Care

Tarrytown, New York, USA, Sept. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Siemens Healthineers and Novo have announced a collaboration aimed at advancing care for people living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The companies are focused on several projects to strengthen disease awareness, support earlier assessment of the disease, and help expand patient access to non-invasive testing.

MASLD is a metabolic condition affecting millions of people worldwide, with nearly a quarter of U.S. adults being affected. It is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The disease has become the leading indication for liver transplant for women, and healthcare costs associated with MASLD are projected to surpass $635 billion by the end of the decade. Despite its prevalence, people most at risk for MASLD remain largely unaware of the disease and its wider health risks.

The companies are addressing these challenges by working to remove barriers to non-invasive testing. Assessment of liver fibrosis has traditionally relied on specialized imaging equipment or invasive procedures such as liver biopsy, which are not widely accessible to patients. Clinicians recognize the need for liver biopsy in certain cases, but there is growing consensus about the critical role that non-invasive tests play in the management of MASLD and MASH.

As the global burden of metabolic disease continues to rise, liver health experts are emphasizing the importance of identifying MASLD and MASH before they progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or other serious complications. The collaboration between Siemens Healthineers, a leading in vitro diagnostics company, and Novo, a global leader in cardiometabolic health, seeks to advance solutions that make MASH assessment more accessible and actionable across the healthcare continuum. This includes broader awareness and adoption of non-invasive testing (NIT) approaches that can provide clinicians with valuable information about liver health while helping reduce reliance on invasive procedures.

Among these approaches is a blood test from Siemens Healthineers. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) test is the first and only blood test authorized in the United States to help clinicians assess the risk of disease progression in patients with advanced fibrosis due to MASH and support patient management decisions. The simple test is available through major national laboratory providers and is covered by a Category 1 CPT code (81517). Blood-based testing supports high patient demand and avoids failure rates and unreliable results reported for other non-invasive methods. For example, the ELF test results are not impacted by body composition characteristics such as BMI.

The collaboration aims to make non-invasive testing more accessible and effective, which is crucial given the silent progression of MASLD and MASH. By working together, Siemens Healthineers and Novo hope to improve disease awareness and support earlier intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs associated with liver disease.