Could a malaria drug melt liver fat? new trial investigates

NCT ID NCT07679542

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether dihydroartemisinin, a drug used for malaria, can safely reduce liver fat in adults with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). About 30 participants aged 18 to 45 will take the drug three times daily for 12 weeks. The main goal is to measure changes in liver fat using MRI scans.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: dihydroartemisinin
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for metabolic fatty liver disease using a well-known malaria drug.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase proof-of-concept study with no control group, so results may not be conclusive. The drug's effectiveness for liver fat reduction is unproven.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MAFLD

Contacts and locations

Locations

The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029
RECRUITING

Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

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