Survodutide
Dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist
A dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist studied in emerging metabolic and hepatic-research contexts.
Also referenced as: BI 456906
Overview
An investigational dual agonist of the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors developed by Boehringer Ingelheim (also known as BI 456906). It has been evaluated in clinical trials in the 2020s.
At a glance
What Survodutide does
Survodutide is a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist engineered for once-weekly dosing. Like mazdutide it pairs GLP-1 agonism with glucagon-receptor agonism rather than the GIP arm used by tirzepatide. The GLP-1 component provides glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and central appetite reduction; the glucagon-receptor arm adds increased energy expenditure and direct hepatic effects that promote fat mobilization within the liver. This liver-directed glucagon activity is the reason survodutide has been developed with particular emphasis on metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH/NASH) rather than weight loss alone.
In a phase 2 obesity trial, survodutide produced substantial weight loss — roughly in the high-teens percent (~18-19%) at higher doses over about 46 weeks. Its most distinctive result came in a phase 2 MASH trial, where a high proportion of participants achieved improvement in liver histology, including reduction of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis, and many showed measurable reduction in liver fat and fibrosis markers — a direct read-out of the glucagon-driven hepatic mechanism. It has also shown glycemic improvements consistent with its GLP-1 arm. Survodutide is investigational, with human phase 2 data and phase 3 programs underway in both obesity and liver disease; long-term efficacy, safety, and outcome data are not yet established. Its defining feature in this catalog is being a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist positioned prominently for liver disease as well as weight.
Effects reported in research
- Dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonism from a single once-weekly peptide (mechanistic / human clinical).
- ~18-19% mean body-weight reduction at higher doses over ~46 weeks in a phase 2 obesity trial (human clinical).
- High proportion of participants achieving MASH/NASH improvement on liver histology in a phase 2 trial, without worsening fibrosis (human clinical).
- Reduced liver fat and improvement in fibrosis markers via glucagon-driven hepatic fat mobilization (human clinical).
- Increased energy expenditure through glucagon-receptor agonism, complementing appetite suppression (mechanistic / human clinical).
- Glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, and slowed gastric emptying via the GLP-1 arm (human clinical).
- Reduced appetite and food intake through central GLP-1 satiety pathways (human clinical).
- Long-term efficacy and safety not yet established — investigational, phase 3 ongoing (investigational).
Effects listed reflect findings reported in the research literature — many in animal or in-vitro models. Listing an effect is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication in humans.
Mechanism of action
Survodutide is a synthetic peptide agonist that activates both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. GLP-1 agonism enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite, while glucagon-receptor agonism is proposed to raise energy expenditure and modulate hepatic metabolism. The combined action is being studied for effects on body weight and liver-related metabolic endpoints.
Mechanistic description reflects published research-literature understanding. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
What it's studied for
Research contexts in which Survodutide appears in the literature. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication.
Key characteristics
- Investigational dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist developed by Boehringer Ingelheim
- Glucagon-receptor agonism is hypothesized to increase energy expenditure and influence liver-fat metabolism
- Administered once weekly by subcutaneous injection in reported trials
- Studied notably for liver-related endpoints in MASH/NASH in addition to obesity and diabetes
- Distinct from GIP-containing dual agonists by targeting glucagon rather than GIP
Reported research dosing reference only
Educational reference, not dosing guidance. The figures below summarize amounts reported in published research and research-community protocols, provided for educational and research context only. They are not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not instructions for human use. Survodutide is a research compound.
In the clinical literature survodutide is administered once weekly with a multi-week (approximately 20-week) escalation. These are reference figures describing published research/protocols, not dosing guidance for humans.
- Phase 2 once-weekly doses studied: 0.6 mg, 2.4 mg, 3.6 mg, 4.8 mg
- Escalation phase reference: ~20 weeks before maintenance dosing
Half-life ~6-7 days drives the once-weekly schedule and the extended escalation. Investigational compound. Reference figures for research context only.
How it compares
Survodutide is a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist (like mazdutide) rather than a GIP/GLP-1 agonist like tirzepatide, and has been notably studied for liver disease endpoints.
Commonly studied alongside
Compounds frequently researched together with Survodutide in the literature. Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
Compare and calculate
Side-by-side pages for the pairings the literature already documents for Survodutide, plus the unit-conversion reference for a reconstituted vial. Factual comparisons of documented characteristics — not a recommendation to combine or use any compound.
Handling & Stability
Lyophilized peptides are stored cold, protected from light, and reconstituted only at the time of intended in-vitro work.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Verify supplier lot and Certificate of Analysis
- Follow institutional lab-safety protocols
Analytical & COA Concepts
Reputable research suppliers publish a third-party Certificate of Analysis per batch. Key analytical concepts referenced in COAs include:
Category Context
Survodutide sits in the GLP-1 Family area of the PeptiDex library.
- Entry type: Research compound reference
- GLP-1 Family category hub →
- Browse the full library →
- Glossary of terms →
Where researchers source Survodutide
For researchers studying Survodutide, third-party suppliers such as Practically Natty Peptides offer research-grade material, third-party tests every batch and provides Certificates of Analysis on request, and ship from the US.
PeptiDex does not maintain a direct supplier listing for this compound. The link above goes to a third-party research-supplier directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is survodutide and what receptors does it target?
Survodutide (BI 456906) is a dual glucagon-receptor / GLP-1-receptor agonist developed by Boehringer Ingelheim under license from Zealand Pharma. It is an acylated peptide carrying a C18 fatty-acid chain for half-life extension. In research the GLP-1 arm is associated with satiety and glucose effects while the glucagon arm is associated with energy expenditure and hepatic fat, and it is studied in obesity and MASH models.
What is survodutide's half-life and what does it imply for study design?
Survodutide has a reported half-life on the order of ~6-7 days (roughly 120-170 hours across sources), supporting once-weekly administration. Steady state is generally reached by about week 5 of weekly dosing, so protocols include a multi-week escalation before maintenance readouts. The long half-life also means a multi-week washout after discontinuation.
How is survodutide dose-escalated in the clinical literature?
A phase 2 obesity dose-finding trial studied once-weekly doses of 0.6, 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8 mg, using an approximately 20-week dose-escalation phase followed by a maintenance phase. Escalation is used to manage gastrointestinal tolerability. These are reference figures for research context only, not human dosing guidance.
How does survodutide differ from a GLP-1 mono-agonist?
Survodutide adds glucagon-receptor agonism on top of GLP-1 activity, which is why it is studied not only for body weight but also for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). A GLP-1 mono-agonist like semaglutide lacks that glucagon arm. The dual mechanism is the central research distinction.
Is survodutide an approved drug?
No — survodutide is investigational, in phase 2/3 trials (including the SYNCHRONIZE obesity program and MASH studies) and is not an approved medicine. It should be handled strictly as a research chemical, not for human use.
What documentation should be expected for research-grade survodutide?
A third-party COA with HPLC purity (commonly greater than or equal to 98%) and mass-spec identity confirmation is the standard reference. Lyophilized survodutide is stored cold and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water for research handling, protected from light and freeze-thaw cycles.
Answers are educational summaries of research-literature context and do not constitute medical advice. See the Research Library, COA guide, and Storage & Handling guide for more.
References
Primary literature indexed in PubMed for Survodutide. Listing a study records that it exists and is indexed — it is not a claim of efficacy, a therapeutic indication, or an endorsement of its conclusions. Much of this literature is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model).
- Glucagon and GLP-1 receptor dual agonist survodutide for obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding phase 2 trial
- A Phase 2 Randomized Trial of Survodutide in MASH and Fibrosis
Each reference was checked against its PubMed record on 2026-07-28: the PMID resolves and the title, journal and year match. Where no indexed literature exists for a compound, PeptiDex says so rather than substituting a citation about a different molecule. See the editorial policy.