Forty-two abstracts include late-stage trials, early-phase RNA editing, and new research across liver disease
DENVER (Nov. 5, 2026) — The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) announced 42 late-breaking research abstracts to be presented at The Liver Meeting® (TLM) 2026. The meeting opens today at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver and runs through Nov. 9. Hepatitis B and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), account for more than half of the selections. Other abstracts report late-stage clinical trial data, early-phase RNA editing studies, and research in cirrhosis, alcohol-associated liver disease, and blood-based diagnostics.
“The Liver Meeting gives us a chance to see the breadth of progress happening across hepatology,” said Saul J. Karpen, MD, PhD, FAASLD, AASLD President. “This year’s late-breaking program includes large clinical trials addressing some of the field’s most persistent challenges, alongside early human studies exploring entirely different approaches such as RNA editing. Seeing that work together is exciting because it shows how many paths researchers are pursuing to improve liver care.”
The selections include 24 poster and 18 parallel presentations. Hepatitis B is the largest category with 13 abstracts, followed by MASLD and MASH with 10, and human cholestatic and autoimmune liver diseases with six. All but three of the 42 abstracts are clinical studies.
The late-breaking program highlights promising new approaches to chronic hepatitis B and MASH, including the landmark FDA approval of GSK’s hepatitis B drug, offering patients new hope for a functional cure and freedom from lifelong treatment (Abstract #5024). The program also features Phase 3 trials in primary biliary cholangitis (Abstracts #5007 and #5019), chronic hepatitis D (Abstracts #5005 and #5042), and compensated cirrhosis (Abstract #5004).
Two early-phase RNA editing studies are also on the program. An interim Phase 1/2a study in people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Abstract #5018) examines whether RNA editing can increase functional M-AAT and lower mutant Z-AAT. A Phase 1 study in 22 healthy participants (Abstract #5032) evaluates RNA editing of NTCP as a potential approach to cholestatic liver disease.
The 18 parallel presentations will take place during three late-breaking sessions:
- Late Breaking Abstract Parallel Session 1: Nov, 8 from 2 – 3:30 PM
- Late Breaking Abstract Parallel Session 2: 5 – 6:30 PM
- Late Breaking Abstract Parallel Session 3: Nov. 9 from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
The full list of late-breaking abstracts, including presentation details, is available here.
The 2026 program also includes the first full-day Liver Care for Frontline Clinicians Program for family physicians and internal medicine providers. The meeting is being held in Denver, where the world’s first successful liver transplant was performed in 1967.
“Earlier detection cannot be the responsibility of liver specialists alone,” Karpen said. “Family physicians and internal medicine providers are part of the pathway to recognizing liver disease and getting patients to specialty care. Bringing them into The Liver Meeting with dedicated, practical education expands the number of clinicians working to detect liver disease earlier and refer patients more effectively.”
Attendees can see the late-breaking posters Nov. 8 from 1 – 2 PM in the Poster Hall. Additional late-breaking research will be presented throughout the meeting, which runs through Nov. 9.
Media interested in speaking with AASLD experts or late-breaking abstract presenters can contact media@aasld.org.
For more information about The Liver Meeting, visit www.aasld.org/tlm-26/home.
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About The Liver Meeting®
The Liver Meeting (TLM) brings together clinicians, associates and scientists from around the world to exchange information on the latest research, discuss new developments in liver treatment and transplantation, and network with leading experts in the field of hepatology.
About AASLD
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) is the leading organization of scientists and health care professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. AASLD fosters research that leads to improved treatment options for millions of liver disease patients and advances the science and practice of hepatology through educational conferences, training programs, professional publications, and partnerships with government agencies and sister societies.
MEDIA CONTACT: media@aasld.org