How does survodutide work? Plain language review of a potential new medication for obesity and liver disease

Abstract

Summary

What is this review about?

This review provides an overview of a medication called survodutide. Survodutide is not yet approved for use but is currently being tested to treat people living with obesity, as well as those living with MASH (metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis). Obesity is a long-term disease in which extra energy stored as fat by the body begins to have harmful effects on health. MASH is an advanced form of a condition commonly called “fatty liver disease”, or MASLD (metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease). MASLD causes abnormal amounts of fat to build up in the liver. Obesity and MASH are linked diseases. Both involve problems related to metabolism, that is, the way that the body uses and stores energy. People living with obesity and those living with MASH often have other related health conditions at the same time. Improvements in dietary nutrition and increased physical activity are recommended treatments for people living with obesity and MASH. However, interventions such as medication and bariatric surgery are also effective treatments for metabolic dysfunction for those living with these diseases. Such therapies can help people reach their health goals. This review provides an overview of how survodutide works to help treat obesity and MASH. It also describes the key improvements in health status and the side effects experienced by people who took survodutide in clinical trials.

Keywords

Plain language review survodutide obesity MASLD MASH

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Footnotes

Acknowledgements

Survodutide is licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim from Zealand Pharma, with Boehringer Ingelheim solely responsible for development and commercialisation globally. The authors meet criteria for authorship as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), as supported by Good Publication Practice (GPP) guidelines. The authors did not receive payment related to the development of the plain language review. Cara Bertozzi, PhD, of Envision Ignite, an Envision Medical Communications agency, a part of Envision Pharma Group, provided medical writing support, which was contracted and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. Boehringer Ingelheim was given the opportunity to evaluate the plain language review for medical and scientific accuracy as well as intellectual property considerations.

Author contributions

All authors were involved in drafting this review and revising it critically for important intellectual content.

Declaration of conflicting interest

JPA reports receiving consulting fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Haleon, Kailera, Metsera, Novo Nordisk, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, and Rivus Pharmaceuticals. ADM reports receiving research funding from Anabio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, the European Union, Fractyl, Gila, HSC R&D division, Medical Research Council (MRC), Jon Moulton Charitable Foundation, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Novo Nordisk, and Randox. ADM has received honoraria for lectures and presentations from Algorithm, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Currax Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Ethicon, GI Dynamics, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Screen Health, and Zuellig Pharma. ADM is a shareholder in the Beyond BMI clinic, which provides clinical obesity care. JS reports receiving consulting fees and/or speaker honoraria and/or research support from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Sanofi Aventis. EP reports receiving speaker honoraria and/or advisory board fees from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Genetech, Pfizer, and Structure Therapeutics. EP has advised projects for UMN pediatric obesity, NIH, ASMBS, TOS, and OMA in an unpaid advocacy capacity and serves on the National Board of Directors for the Obesity Action Coalition as Secretary and Vice Chair.

Funding

Medical writing support for this plain language review was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.