Survodutide: the latest development in the fight against overweight

Survodutide is being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma.

It is a promising new player in the field of weight-loss medication. The medicine has not yet been approved and is therefore not yet available.

Just likeOzempic,WegovyandMounjarosurvodutide will be used as a weeklyinjection. So for anyone hoping for a pill: a little more patience is needed.

Survodutide is being tested for two purposes: as aweight-loss treatmentand as a possible solution for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH is a serious form of fatty liver disease that is not caused by alcohol, but in many cases by overweight. Millions of people are affected by it without knowing.

Dual weight-loss action

Right, so yet another weight-loss medicine? Yes, but it looks like this one goes a step further than the existing medicines.

Survodutide belongs to an innovative class of medicines known as ‘dual receptor agonists’.

That means it works on two fronts at the same time:

1. GLP-1 receptor

This receptor has been in the news a lot lately, due to the growing popularity ofweight-loss medication. By activating the GLP-1 receptor:

• You feel full sooner.

• It takes longer for your stomach to empty.

• Insulin production is stimulated, which helps regulate your blood sugar.

1. Glucagon receptor [1,2]

This is where survodutide sets itself apart. By also activating the glucagon receptor, survodutide can:

• Increase your body’s energy expenditure.

• Stimulate fat burning.

• Possibly help tackle fat build-up in the liver (as in fatty liver disease or NASH).

The result? An approach that focuses not only on eating less, but also on burning more.

Extra powerful

Thanks to this dual action, survodutide is seen as a promising alternative for people for whom GLP-1 injections have insufficient effect.

But please note: no definitive comparative figures have been published yet.

Survodutide is still in the research phase. The phase 3 study for obesity started in 2024. If everything goes according to plan, we can expect approval in Europe around 2026-2027 [6].

That survodutide is promising is not just theory. It also shows impressive results in practice.

In a phase 2 study from 2023, carried out in people with obesity but without diabetes, participants were followed for almost a year (46 weeks). The group that received the highest dose of survodutide lost on average 18.7% of their body weight [3].

Notably:

• 67% of participants on the highest dose lost >15%.

• Almost 40% even achieved >20% weight loss.

By comparison: with Wegovy, the average weight loss is usually between 15-17%, and that is already impressive [4].

So suppose someone weighs 100 kilos at the start of treatment.

After 46 weeks on the highest dose of survodutide:

• Average weight loss: 18.7 kilos

• 67% lose more than 15 kilos

• 4 in 10 people even lose more than 20 kilos

By comparison, with Wegovy:

On average 15 to 17 kilos lost at a starting weight of 100 kilos.

In short: the difference may not be tens of kilos, but for people for whom every extra kilo counts, or for whom semaglutide does not deliver enough results, those extra few percent of weight loss can make all the difference.

And the side effects?

Theside effectsof survodutide were comparable to those of existing GLP-1 medicines:

• Nausea

• Reduced appetite

• Diarrhoea

• Occasional vomiting

These complaints occurred mainly in the first weeks of treatment, are mild to moderate, and often temporary. So far there are no signs of serious unexpected side effects, although larger and longer studies are still needed to confirm this.

Althoughweight-loss medicationsuch asOzempic, Wegovy andSaxendais highly effective, survodutide tackles overweight in a slightly smarter way; it:

• Stimulates fat burning via the glucagon receptor.

• Increases energy expenditure, even at rest.

• Tackles liver fat more powerfully (ideal for anyone dealing with early fatty liver disease or stubborn belly fat).

For people for whom GLP-1 alone does not deliver enough results, or whose metabolism is in ‘energy-saving mode’, this could be a game changer.

Survodutide is a promising new player in the field of weight-loss medication.

By combining the appetite suppression of GLP-1 with the fat burning of glucagon, the medicine is showing impressive results in early studies.

Two important points:

• It has not yet been approved.

• It is not a replacement for healthy choices in diet, exercise and lifestyle.

Curious whether you are eligible for weight-loss medication?Fill in our short questionnaire and find out straight away.

Is survodutide an injection or a pill?

Survodutide is currently only being tested as a weekly injection, similar to Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. A pill version is not (yet) available.

How does it differ from Ozempic or Wegovy?

Survodutide works on two hormone receptors instead of one. In addition to the GLP-1 receptor (which suppresses your appetite), it also activates the glucagon receptor, which provides:

• Extra fat burning

• Increased energy expenditure

• Possibly more effect on liver fat

For people for whom GLP-1 alone is not enough, this could make all the difference.

When will survodutide be available in the Netherlands?

Survodutide is expected to come onto the market in 2026 or 2027, depending on European approval.

For NASH (fatty liver disease), approval may follow slightly later.

How much weight do you lose with it?

In a phase 2 study, the group on the highest dose lost on average 18.7% of their body weight in 46 weeks. By comparison: with Wegovy this averages 15-17%.

What are the side effects of survodutide?

The most common side effects are comparable to those of other GLP-1 medicines:

• Nausea

• Diarrhoea

• Reduced appetite

• Occasional vomiting

These complaints usually occur in the first weeks and are often temporary.

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What if I don’t have NASH?

Don’t worry. You don’t need to have fatty liver disease to benefit from survodutide.

Even without NASH:

• You lose weight

• Your fat burning increases

• Your liver stays healthy (no negative effects on the liver have been found)

Please note: these are possible effects. The medicine has not yet been approved.

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Is it a miracle cure?

No, but it does come close to being the next big step in weight-loss medication.

It is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, but possibly an extra tool for people who find losing weight difficult.