Siemens Healthineers (XETRA: SHL) and Novo announced a collaboration to expand awareness and non-invasive blood-based testing for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The partnership centers on deploying Siemens Healthineers' Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test alongside Novo's cardiometabolic disease reach to drive earlier patient identification and reduce reliance on liver biopsy. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The ELF test is an in vitro diagnostic blood-based assay that quantifies three extracellular matrix remodeling biomarkers — hyaluronic acid, procollagen III amino terminal peptide, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 — to stratify risk of advanced fibrosis progression in MASH patients. Siemens Healthineers describes the ELF test as the first blood test authorized in the US to support clinician assessment of disease progression risk in patients with advanced fibrosis due to MASH. The test carries a Category 1 CPT code (81517) and is available through major national laboratory providers, with results unaffected by body composition parameters such as BMI.
Under the collaboration, both companies will conduct disease awareness activities, support earlier assessment pathways, and promote adoption of non-invasive testing (NIT) approaches across the healthcare continuum. Novo contributes its standing in cardiometabolic medicine — including its US-approved obesity drug semaglutide (Wegovy), which received approval to treat noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis — while Siemens Healthineers provides diagnostic infrastructure and laboratory solutions.