Survodutide (BI 456906)

Survodutide (BI 456906): UK Research & Regulatory Information

Survodutide (BI 456906) is an investigational medicine being studied for weight management and metabolic and liver-related conditions. It is a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors and is being developed as a once-weekly subcutaneous treatment.

Survodutide is not currently an MHRA-authorised medicine for routine prescribing in the UK. The MHRA’s records include a paediatric investigation plan for survodutide in the treatment of obesity, while the medicine remains in clinical development. Therefore, it should not be presented as an approved UK weight-loss medicine or offered for routine purchase outside an authorised clinical research setting.

What Is Survodutide?

Survodutide, also known as BI 456906, is a long-acting peptide designed to activate both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. It is being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim in collaboration with Zealand Pharma.

Unlike medicines that primarily target GLP-1, survodutide is being investigated for the combined effects of GLP-1 receptor activation and glucagon receptor activation. Researchers are studying whether this approach can influence appetite, body weight, energy metabolism and liver-related outcomes.

How Does Survodutide Work?

Survodutide activates two biological pathways:

• GLP-1 receptor activity: GLP-1 signalling can influence appetite, food intake and glucose regulation.
• Glucagon receptor activity: glucagon signalling is involved in energy expenditure and metabolism.

The combination is being investigated to determine whether dual receptor activity can provide meaningful effects on body weight and metabolic health.

Because survodutide remains investigational, its final approved indications, dosing recommendations, long-term safety profile and place in clinical practice cannot yet be assumed.

Survodutide and Weight Management Research

Survodutide has progressed into Phase 3 clinical research for adults living with overweight or obesity. The SYNCHRONIZE-1 Phase 3 study evaluated once-weekly subcutaneous survodutide in adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes.

The ClinicalTrials.gov record identifies the study as a 76-week randomised, double-blind Phase 3 trial and lists survodutide doses of 3.6 mg and 6.0 mg once weekly. The study has been completed and is part of the broader evidence base being developed for the medicine.

For comparison with established medicines, see our information on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide).

Survodutide and Liver Disease Research

Survodutide is also being studied in people with obesity or overweight and metabolic liver disease. The Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-MASLD programme investigated its potential effects on liver fat, body weight and liver-related disease outcomes.

This research is particularly relevant because metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) frequently occurs alongside obesity and metabolic abnormalities. However, investigational findings should not be interpreted as evidence that survodutide is currently an approved treatment for MASLD or MASH in the UK.

Survodutide vs Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

Medicine	Primary mechanism	Current status
Survodutide	GLP-1 + glucagon receptor agonist	Investigational
Semaglutide	GLP-1 receptor agonist	Authorised medicines exist in the UK for specific indications
Tirzepatide	GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist	Authorised in the UK for specific indications

Survodutide should not be described as simply a stronger version of semaglutide or tirzepatide. Its dual GLP-1/glucagon mechanism is different, and clinical trials are required to establish its eventual benefits, risks and appropriate place in treatment.

Is Survodutide Approved in the UK?

No. Survodutide is not currently authorised for routine prescribing in the UK.

The MHRA currently records survodutide in connection with an investigation into treatment of obesity, but the record does not represent a marketing authorisation. The MHRA entry lists the invented name as “Not available at present.”

UK marketing authorisation is a separate regulatory process. Medicines must receive the appropriate authorisation before they can be routinely marketed and prescribed in the UK.

Can You Buy Survodutide Online?

Survodutide should not be marketed as an approved UK weight-loss medicine or sold as a routine prescription product while it remains investigational.

Websites offering unapproved or research-only medicines outside legitimate clinical research arrangements can create significant risks concerning product identity, quality, storage, dosing and patient safety.

If you are researching established treatment options, you can explore our weight-management medicines or read our health and medicine articles.

Safety and Side Effects

Because survodutide remains under investigation, its complete long-term safety profile has not been established.

Clinical studies of medicines acting on GLP-1 pathways have identified gastrointestinal adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Researchers continue to evaluate the safety and tolerability of survodutide at different doses.

Recent UK MHRA safety communications have also strengthened warnings concerning acute pancreatitis, including rare severe and fatal cases, for GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. This wider safety information is relevant when considering the development of medicines that affect incretin pathways. Always rely on current official prescribing and clinical-trial information rather than assuming that an investigational medicine has the same safety profile as an authorised medicine.

Who Is Studying Survodutide?

Survodutide is being developed through a collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma. Multiple clinical studies have evaluated the medicine in obesity, overweight and metabolic liver disease.

The ClinicalTrials.gov record for SYNCHRONIZE-1 identifies Boehringer Ingelheim as the study sponsor and describes survodutide as a once-weekly subcutaneous investigational treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is survodutide?

Survodutide, also known as BI 456906, is an investigational dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist being studied for obesity, weight management and metabolic liver-related conditions.

Is survodutide approved in the UK?

No. Survodutide is not currently authorised for routine prescribing in the UK. The MHRA has records relating to its clinical development, including obesity research.

Is survodutide a GLP-1 medicine?

Survodutide activates the GLP-1 receptor but also activates the glucagon receptor, making it a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist.

Is survodutide the same as semaglutide?

No. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, whereas survodutide is being investigated as a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist.

Is survodutide the same as Mounjaro?

No. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Survodutide is being investigated for GLP-1 and glucagon receptor activity.

Can a doctor prescribe survodutide in the UK?

It should not be treated as a routinely prescribable UK medicine while it lacks UK marketing authorisation. Access to investigational medicines may occur only through appropriate authorised clinical research arrangements.

Is survodutide available to buy online?

It should not be marketed as an ordinary UK prescription product while it remains investigational. Products claiming to contain research-only medicines may also carry risks concerning authenticity, quality and safety.

What is SYNCHRONIZE-1?

SYNCHRONIZE-1 is a Phase 3 clinical study evaluating once-weekly survodutide in adults with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes. The ClinicalTrials.gov record reports that the study has been completed.

Is survodutide being studied for liver disease?

Yes. Phase 3 research has also investigated survodutide in people with overweight or obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Key Product Information

Product	Survodutide (BI 456906)
Drug class	Dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist
Administration under investigation	Once-weekly subcutaneous injection
Primary research area	Obesity and weight management
Additional research	Metabolic liver disease
UK authorisation	Not currently authorised for routine prescribing
Regulatory status	Investigational
Routine UK purchase	Not appropriate while investigational

Authoritative Resources

• ClinicalTrials.gov – SYNCHRONIZE-1 survodutide study
• ClinicalTrials.gov – SYNCHRONIZE-MASLD study
• MHRA – Paediatric Investigation Plan records
• GOV.UK / MHRA – UK medicines regulatory information

Related Medicines and Information

For information about established medicines, see Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Ozempic (semaglutide) and Rybelsus (semaglutide).

You can also browse our weight-management category and diabetes medicines category.

Important Disclaimer

This page is provided for educational and research information. Survodutide is an investigational medicine and should not be presented as an MHRA-authorised treatment for routine UK prescribing. Clinical-trial status and regulatory information can change as development progresses. Patients should speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional about authorised treatment options.