<- All drugs

Investigational and unapproved. Findings below describe what trials and reports have observed. Nothing here is an endorsement, a claim of safety or effectiveness, or a clinical recommendation.

Efinopegdutide

INVESTIGATIONAL

GLP-1 and glucagon receptor dual agonist

graded results

ongoing records

effect domains

Evidence spread

High evidence 0Moderate evidence 5Low evidence 0Very low evidence 0

Efinopegdutide is investigational in the scoped programme below. Study records do not establish approval, safety or personal suitability. Results describe observations and do not provide treatment advice.

Dated status sources

INVESTIGATIONAL Global programme; Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis; Subcutaneous injection; as of 2026-07-13. Merck

The grade rates how strong the evidence is, not how good or safe the drug is. A low or very-low grade means the evidence is thin, not that an effect is harmful or ruled out.

Thin or bounded evidence here means uncertainty remains visible. It is not evidence that an effect has been ruled out.

Efinopegdutide INVESTIGATIONAL

Liver and MASH Decrease

Moderate evidence

Efinopegdutide (MK-6024; formerly HM12525A / JNJ-64565111; Merck, licensed from Hanmi) is a GLP-1/glucagon co-agonist developed primarily for MASLD/MASH. In a phase 2a...

Romero-Gomez et al., phase IIa efinopegdutide in NAFLD, J Hepatol 2023 (EASL 2023) Source

Full findingEfinopegdutide (MK-6024; formerly HM12525A / JNJ-64565111; Merck, licensed from Hanmi) is a GLP-1/glucagon co-agonist developed primarily for MASLD/MASH. In a phase 2a active-comparator open-label study in NAFLD, efinopegdutide 10 mg weekly produced a significantly greater relative liver-fat reduction at 24 weeks than semaglutide 1 mg weekly; weight loss was 8.5% (efinopegdutide) vs 7.1% (semaglutide), with higher GI adverse-event incidence.

PopulationAdults with NAFLD; phase 2a randomised active-comparator open-label, efinopegdutide 10 mg vs semaglutide 1 mg weekly, 24 wk (NCT04944992)

Fundingindustry - Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (efinopegdutide licensed from Hanmi)

Comparatorssemaglutide

Efinopegdutide INVESTIGATIONAL

Liver and MASH Decrease

Moderate evidence

In a phase 2a open-label active-comparator NAFLD trial (LFC >=10%), the GLP-1/glucagon dual efinopegdutide produced a significantly greater relative MRI-PDFF liver-fat...

Romero-Gómez M et al. A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the effi... Source

Full findingIn a phase 2a open-label active-comparator NAFLD trial (LFC >=10%), the GLP-1/glucagon dual efinopegdutide produced a significantly greater relative MRI-PDFF liver-fat reduction at 24 weeks than the GLP-1-mono semaglutide, at numerically (non-significantly) greater weight loss.

PopulationNCT04944992; N=145 (efinopegdutide 72 / semaglutide 73); NAFLD LFC >=10%, 33% T2D; open-label; 24 wk.

Fundingindustry-Merck (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; efinopegdutide licensed from Hanmi)

Comparatorssemaglutide

Thin or bounded evidence here means uncertainty remains visible. It is not evidence that an effect has been ruled out.

Efinopegdutide INVESTIGATIONAL

pharmacology Not directional

Moderate evidence

GLP-1/glucagon receptor co-agonist; glucagon arm posited to drive direct hepatic fatty-acid oxidation/reduced lipogenesis

Romero-Gómez M et al. A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the effi... Source

PopulationMechanistic framing in NAFLD trial

Fundingindustry-Merck (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; efinopegdutide licensed from Hanmi)

Comparatorssemaglutide

Thin or bounded evidence here means uncertainty remains visible. It is not evidence that an effect has been ruled out.

Efinopegdutide INVESTIGATIONAL

Stomach and gut Increase

Moderate evidence

Slightly higher AEs vs semaglutide, mainly GI

Romero-Gómez M et al. A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the effi... Source

PopulationNAFLD (n=145), phase 2a, 24 wk

Fundingindustry-Merck (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; efinopegdutide licensed from Hanmi)

Comparatorssemaglutide 1 mg

Thin or bounded evidence here means uncertainty remains visible. It is not evidence that an effect has been ruled out.

Efinopegdutide INVESTIGATIONAL

weight-loss Decrease

Moderate evidence

Weight loss numerically greater than semaglutide but not statistically significant

Romero-Gómez M et al. A phase IIa active-comparator-controlled study to evaluate the effi... Source

PopulationNAFLD (n=145), phase 2a, 24 wk, open-label

Fundingindustry-Merck (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; efinopegdutide licensed from Hanmi)

Comparatorssemaglutide 1 mg