Survodutide

What people use it for

• Obesity and weight management (clinical trials)
• MASH, a form of fatty liver disease (clinical trials)

What Survodutide does in the body

Activates GLP-1 receptors, which reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying, and glucagon receptors, which increase energy use and fat breakdown in the liver. The glucagon effect is why it is being studied for liver fat as well as weight.

Strength of evidence

Moderate and growing: phase 2 trials showed substantial weight loss and improvements in liver fat; larger phase 3 programmes are under way.

Look up the evidence

• Reviews on PubMed: Summaries of the published research
• Clinical trials on PubMed: Published studies in people
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Registered trials, past and ongoing

Live searches of official databases. New to the terms? See the glossary.

Reported side effects & risks

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation
• Increased heart rate
• Reduced appetite

Who should avoid it or take extra care

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Anyone outside a clinical trial (not approved)
• Heart rhythm problems (it raises heart rate)

Not a complete list. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.

Regulatory status

Not approved anywhere; in phase 3 trials (Boehringer Ingelheim with Zealand Pharma).

How it's taken

Route: Injection under the skin, once a week (in trials)

How long it lasts (half-life): Long-acting, designed for weekly dosing