Survodutide, a new horizon in the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A narrative review

Abstract

The global increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity requires effective treatments. However, conventional antidiabetic drugs often result in weight gain, highlighting the need for novel therapies that treat both T2DM and obesity. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) RAs have been shown to be effective in weight loss and metabolic improvement. Survodutide (BI 456906) is an investigational long-acting double agonist administered weekly. Phase 2 trials exhibited significant reductions in HbA1c (up to 1.7% at 16 weeks) and substantial weight loss (up to 14.9% at 46 weeks) in patients with T2DM and obesity. In addition, survodutide enhanced cardiovascular risk factors and some markers of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, notable rates of gastrointestinal side effects and treatment discontinuation have been observed. Future research should prioritize addressing these adverse effects and assessing long-term outcomes. The current review evaluated the efficacy and safety of survodutide, a novel dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, in managing obesity and T2DM. Clinical and preclinical data on survodutide were analyzed, focusing on its mechanism of action, clinical trial results, and comparisons with other therapies.