Survodutide (BI 456906): GLP-1/Glucagon Dual Agonist Research Summary
What is survodutide?
Survodutide (development code BI 456906) is a synthetic peptide that acts as a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and the glucagon receptor. It has been developed by Boehringer Ingelheim in collaboration with Zealand Pharma, and studied in two main research areas: obesity and MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, the condition formerly known as NASH).
It sits in the same broad family as the single agonist semaglutide (GLP-1 only), the dual agonist tirzepatide (GIP/GLP-1), and the triple agonist retatrutide (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon). What makes survodutide distinct is the specific GLP-1 + glucagon pairing — the glucagon component is of particular research interest for energy expenditure and hepatic (liver) fat, which is why survodutide has been investigated for liver disease as well as weight.
Mechanism: why pair GLP-1 with glucagon?
The GLP-1 receptor is the well-characterised target behind the incretin class — broadly associated in research with effects on satiety signalling and glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The glucagon receptor adds a complementary axis: glucagon-receptor agonism is studied for its potential to increase energy expenditure and to influence hepatic lipid metabolism.
The research rationale for a dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist is that the GLP-1 arm may help offset the glucose-raising tendency of glucagon while the glucagon arm contributes additional metabolic effects — a balance the molecule is engineered to strike. This is the same conceptual thread that runs through the broader incretin programme; see Is retatrutide a GLP-1? for how single, dual and triple designs relate.
| Compound | Receptor targets | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | GLP-1 | Single agonist |
| Tirzepatide | GIP + GLP-1 | Dual agonist |
| Survodutide | GLP-1 + glucagon | Dual agonist |
| Retatrutide | GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon | Triple agonist |
Published research to date
Survodutide's published research clusters around two Phase 2 programmes — one in obesity, one in MASH — with Phase 3 work underway. The summaries below describe publicly reported findings only.
Design: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding trial evaluating subcutaneous survodutide across multiple dose levels over a multi-month treatment period.
Reported findings: Higher-dose survodutide groups were reported to achieve substantial mean body-weight reductions versus placebo, with a dose-response across the cohorts studied. Gastrointestinal adverse events (nausea, vomiting) were the most commonly reported, predominantly during dose escalation — consistent with the incretin class.
Significance: Established survodutide as a serious obesity-research candidate within the GLP-1/glucagon dual-agonist mechanism.
Design: Randomised, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study in participants with biopsy-confirmed MASH and liver fibrosis, evaluating histological endpoints.
Reported findings: A meaningfully greater proportion of survodutide-treated participants were reported to achieve improvement in MASH on histology (without worsening of fibrosis) compared with placebo. This liver-focused result is the differentiator that sets survodutide apart from GLP-1-only compounds and reflects the glucagon-receptor contribution to hepatic fat.
Significance: One of the more notable MASH read-outs in the incretin space, supporting advancement to Phase 3 in liver disease.
Research context: where survodutide fits in 2026
As covered in our Peptide Research Landscape 2026, the incretin field has moved from "single agonist" (semaglutide) to dual and triple designs. Survodutide is one of the most-watched dual agonists precisely because it pairs GLP-1 with glucagon rather than GIP — giving it a distinct liver-research angle alongside weight. For the triple-agonist comparison, see retatrutide vs tirzepatide vs semaglutide and the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head.
Availability
No compound referenced here is a medicine, and none has been evaluated by the MHRA or FDA for the uses discussed. Research reagents are supplied for in vitro use only. See our Research Use Policy.
References
- Phase 2 obesity dose-finding trial of survodutide (BI 456906). N Engl J Med. 2024. PubMed: survodutide obesity
- Phase 2 trial of survodutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). N Engl J Med. 2024. PubMed: survodutide MASH
- Survodutide (BI 456906) clinical development records. ClinicalTrials.gov: survodutide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is survodutide?
Survodutide (BI 456906) is a dual agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and the glucagon receptor, developed by Boehringer Ingelheim with Zealand Pharma and studied in obesity and MASH research. For research reference only.
How does survodutide differ from semaglutide, tirzepatide and retatrutide?
Semaglutide is GLP-1 only; tirzepatide is GIP + GLP-1; survodutide is GLP-1 + glucagon; retatrutide is GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon (triple). Survodutide's glucagon component is the reason it has a distinct liver (MASH) research angle.
Why is survodutide studied for liver disease (MASH)?
Glucagon-receptor agonism is studied for its influence on hepatic lipid metabolism and energy expenditure. Pairing it with GLP-1 is the research rationale behind survodutide's investigation in MASH alongside obesity.
Is survodutide sold by Velox Peptides?
No. Survodutide is investigational and is not stocked. This is a research-reference page only. The closest stocked compound is retatrutide, a triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonist.
