Summary
Telmisartan has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis) would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis). No registered clinical trial in this database tests Telmisartan specifically in NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis). The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study. The literature layer holds 3 publications for this pair: 1 meta-analysis and 2 clinical trial publications. Publication years run from 2016 to 2022. Because at least one synthesis-level source exists (systematic review, meta-analysis or Cochrane review), this pair has been assessed beyond single studies, although the synthesis may concern a different indication.
The RepurpOS disease-intelligence file for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis ranks 292 candidate therapeutics from Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and PubMed; only a minority carry direct clinical evidence, and this page covers one of those. Spontaneous remission context recorded for the condition: MASH (formerly NASH) with fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis in ~20% over 10 years on standard care (which until 2024 was lifestyle modification only); fibrosis regression occurs spontaneously in ~25% over 5 years with sustained weight loss.
Evidence table
| Evidence tier | A · Strong |
|---|---|
| Evidence score | 28.0 (trials 0.0, literature 8.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0) |
| Registered trials | 0 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 0 completed, 0 other |
| Linked publications | 3 (2 clinical trial publications, 1 meta-analysis) |
| Agent type | Drug (Small molecule) |
| Development stage (any indication) | Approved |
| Mechanism / class | inhibitor; inhibitor |
| Data sources | DGIdb |
| Linked via biomarker / target | AGTR1 |
How the evidence score is calculated
- Each registered trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5). The trial component is capped at 30.
- Each literature item scores by design (Cochrane review 5, meta-analysis 4, systematic review 3, RCT 3, clinical trial publication 2, curated reference 1.5, other PubMed record 1). The literature component is capped at 30.
- The existing evidence tier adds 15 (A / Strong), 10 (B / Moderate), 5 (C / Preliminary) or 0 (D / Anecdotal).
- Agents approved for any indication (max clinical phase 4) add 5, because an approved agent has an established safety profile that lowers the barrier to repurposing trials.
- The score ranks what has been studied, not what works. It does not read effect sizes or directions of effect.
Registered clinical trials
No registered trial links Telmisartan to NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis) in the current OSMF trial extract.
Published literature
- Clinical trial publication Effects of Orlistat or Telmisartan on the Serum Free Fatty Acids in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: An Open-Labeled Randomized Controlled StudyWasta Esmail VA, Al-Nimer MSM, Mohammed MO · The Turkish journal of gastroenterology : the official journal of Turkish Society of Gastroenterology · 2022 · PMID 35678800
- Meta-analysis Pharmacological interventions for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysisSridharan K, Sivaramakrishnan G, Sequeira RP et al. · Postgraduate medical journal · 2018 · PMID 30341231
- Clinical trial publication Effect of telmisartan on histological activity and fibrosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A 1-year randomized control trialAlam S, Kabir J, Mustafa G et al. · Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association · 2016 · PMID 26831610
Mechanism and notes
Recorded mechanism or class: inhibitor; inhibitor.
OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target AGTR1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Telmisartan approved for NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis)?
Telmisartan has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis) would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis). Approval status for the specific indication should always be confirmed with the relevant regulator and prescribing information.
Is Telmisartan in clinical trials for NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis)?
No registered clinical trial in this database tests Telmisartan specifically in NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis). The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study.
What does the evidence show for Telmisartan in NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis)?
Synthesis-level literature links Telmisartan to NAFLD / MASH (Metabolic-Associated Steatohepatitis), but no registered trial in this database tests the pair, so the evidence is observational, pooled from other indications, or pre-dates registry practice. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target AGTR1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Cite this page
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-05. Page built 2026-10-07.