Could a diabetes drug help teens with fatty liver?

NCT ID NCT03867487

Not yet recruiting Disease control Sponsor: Justin Ryder Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether empagliflozin, a drug used for diabetes, can help teens with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity. Forty participants will take either the drug or a placebo for several weeks. The main goal is to see if the drug reduces liver fat measured by MRI.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for teens with fatty liver disease, potentially reducing liver fat and improving metabolic health.
What could go wrong: This is an early phase 2 trial with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not work better than placebo, and side effects like dehydration or urinary infections are possible.

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.

NAFLD NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE PEDIATRIC NAFLD

Contacts and locations

Locations

Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60601, United States

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