Siemens Healthineers and Novo Join Forces to Advance Care for People Living with MASLD and MASH

Siemens Healthineers and Novo will work together to expand awareness and access to non-invasive blood testing for MASLD and MASH.

Rhea-AI Summary

Siemens Healthineers (SMMNY) and Novo announced a collaboration to improve care for people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, MASH.

The partners plan joint projects to raise disease awareness, promote earlier assessment, and expand access to non-invasive liver testing. A focus area is broader use of the Siemens Healthineers Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) blood test, described as the first and only test authorized in the United States to help assess risk of disease progression in patients with advanced fibrosis due to MASH. The ELF test is available through major national laboratories and is covered by Category 1 CPT code 81517, and its results are not impacted by body composition factors such as BMI.

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Tarrytown, New York, USA, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

• People most at risk for MASLD/MASH remain largely unaware of the disease and its wider health risks
• Patients facing this metabolic condition benefit from early intervention
• The companies aim to remove barriers to non-invasive testing

Siemens Healthineers and Novo have announced a collaboration focused on 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 engaged in several projects to strengthen disease awareness, support earlier assessment of the disease, and help expand patient access to non-invasive blood testing.

MASLD is a metabolic condition that affects millions of people worldwide – nearly a quarter of U.S. adults – and is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.[1] MASLD has become the leading indication for liver transplant for women [1] and healthcare costs associated with the disease are projected to surpass $635 billion by the end of the decade.[2] Though MASLD is reversible if caught early, low disease awareness and its silent progression have led to many individuals remaining undiagnosed until significant liver damage occurs. In fact, people most at risk for MASLD remain largely unaware of the disease and its wider health risks.[3]

“Too often, liver health flies under the radar," said Michele Zwickl, head of Laboratory Solutions for Siemens Healthineers North America. “People deserve the same level of awareness as for other major diseases, creating a better opportunity to intervene before serious complications develop.”  

Supporting earlier assessment and wider access through non-invasive testing


Assessment of liver fibrosis has relied heavily on specialized imaging equipment or invasive procedures such as liver biopsy, which are not widely accessible to patients. Clinicians recognize that liver biopsy remains necessary for certain patients, though there is growing consensus about the critical role that non-invasive tests play in the management of MASLD/MASH.[4,5]

As the global burden of metabolic disease rises, liver health experts are sounding the alarm about the importance of identifying the disease before it advances 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 noninvasive 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 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 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.

"Earlier triage is one of the most important opportunities to improve the future of MASH care," said Michelle Long, senior international medical director for MASH at Novo. "Our collaboration recognizes that patients, clinicians, laboratories, health systems, and industry partners all have a role to play in creating a more effective pathway for liver disease assessment and management."

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1 Younossi ZM, et al. (2024) Epidemiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
2 Suenghataiphorn T, et al. (2026) Future burden of MASLD in the United States: A state-level forecasting study
3 According to a survey of 1,000 U.S.‑based adults most at risk for MASLD based on the disease’s screening criteria. Conducted by YouGov on behalf of Siemens Healthineers.
4 Lam, BP, et al. (2025) Focused recommendations for the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) by advanced practice providers in the United States
5 Advancing liver care with non-invasive tests (Part 2) https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/advancing-liver-care-with-non-invasive-tests-part-2/id1618029606?i=1000712407598

Contact Info

Kimberly Nissen
kimberly.nissen@siemens-healthineers.com
+1 610-241-2129

Attachment

• Siemens Healthineers Novo Collab Press Release

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is the role of the ELF test in this collaboration?

The collaboration highlights Siemens Healthineers’ Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) blood test as a non-invasive option to help clinicians assess risk of disease progression in patients with advanced fibrosis due to MASH and to support patient management decisions. The companies aim to increase awareness and adoption of such non-invasive testing approaches.

How accessible is the ELF test for patients and clinicians?

The ELF test is available through major national laboratory providers in the United States and is covered by a Category 1 CPT code (81517). Its blood-based format supports high patient demand and avoids certain failure rates and unreliable results reported for other non-invasive methods, and its results are not affected by body composition characteristics such as BMI.