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What it is
Survodutide, formerly BI 456906, is a long-acting peptide developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma. It combines GLP-1 receptor activity, which can reduce appetite and improve glucose-dependent insulin signaling, with glucagon receptor activity intended to influence energy use and liver fat.
It remains investigational and is not FDA approved. The clinical product used in regulated trials should not be assumed equivalent to unapproved research vials sold online, even when a vial uses the same name or sequence.
What people research it for
Reduced body weight in phase 3
Human studiesIn the 725-person SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial, mean weight change at 76 weeks was -12.2% and -13.0% in the two survodutide groups versus -5.4% with placebo under the treatment-regimen analysis.
Produced a clear phase 2 weight signal
Human studiesIn 387 adults without diabetes, planned-treatment weight change at 46 weeks ranged from -6.2% to -14.9% across survodutide groups versus -2.8% with placebo.
Improved MASH histology in phase 2
Human studiesAmong adults with biopsy-confirmed MASH and fibrosis, improvement without worsening fibrosis occurred in 43% to 62% of survodutide groups versus 14% with placebo.
Reduced liver fat in a controlled trial
Human studiesAt least a 30% liver-fat reduction occurred in 57% to 67% of survodutide groups versus 14% with placebo in the phase 2 MASH study.
How it works
GLP-1 receptor activation slows gastric emptying, supports glucose-dependent insulin release, and changes appetite signaling. Glucagon receptor activation can increase hepatic energy expenditure and fat oxidation, but it can also affect blood sugar and heart rate.
Survodutide is engineered for prolonged exposure and was studied as a once-weekly injection. Its clinical effects reflect the balance between both receptor pathways, not simply a stronger version of a GLP-1-only drug.
What the research actually shows
The phase 2 obesity study enrolled 387 adults with overweight or obesity and no diabetes across 43 centers. At week 46, mean planned-treatment weight changes were -6.2%, -12.5%, -13.2%, and -14.9% across four survodutide groups, compared with -2.8% for placebo.
That phase 2 study also showed substantial tolerability limits. Only 60.4% of treated participants completed 46 weeks. Adverse events occurred in 91% of survodutide recipients and 75% of placebo recipients, with gastrointestinal events reported in 75% and 42%, respectively.
A separate 48-week phase 2 trial enrolled 293 adults with biopsy-confirmed MASH and fibrosis stages F1 through F3. MASH improvement without worsening fibrosis occurred in 47%, 62%, and 43% of the three survodutide groups versus 14% with placebo.
Fibrosis improvement by at least one stage was less decisive in that MASH study: 34% to 36% with survodutide versus 22% with placebo. Nausea occurred in 66% versus 23%, diarrhea in 49% versus 23%, and vomiting in 41% versus 4%.
The 2026 SYNCHRONIZE-1 phase 3 trial randomized 725 adults with obesity or overweight plus a complication, excluding diabetes. At week 76, treatment-regimen mean weight loss was 12.2% and 13.0% for survodutide versus 5.4% for placebo. Gastrointestinal events occurred in 80.9% and 89.7% of the survodutide groups versus 47.9% with placebo.
Phase 3 evidence is now stronger than the earlier dose-finding studies, but survodutide remains unapproved. Open questions include long-term cardiovascular outcomes, durability after treatment stops, comparative effectiveness, and the full safety profile in broader populations.
Handling & storage
Storage at a glance
General peptide guidance- Lyophilized
- -20°C for general long-term peptide storage
- General fallback only. Follow product-specific validated instructions when available.
- Reconstituted
- product-specific instructions required
- Retail claims conflict and no formulation-specific stability assay was found.
- Light
- Keep dry and protected from bright light.
- Room temperature
- No product-specific room-temperature allowance was established.
- Reconstitution
- product-specific validated diluent
- The sponsor's trial formulation must not be assumed equivalent to a retail research vial.
Basis: General peptide guidance. Sources: Bachem peptide handling and storage guidance, Umbrella Labs survodutide listing
No public storage label for the sponsor's clinical formulation was found. General peptide-manufacturer guidance recommends keeping lyophilized peptides tightly closed, dry, protected from bright light, and frozen near -20°C for long-term laboratory storage.
Retail instructions conflict. One survodutide seller says to keep its lyophilized vial refrigerated and not frozen, while another page allows room temperature or refrigeration and claims 30 days at 2 to 8°C after preparation. Because neither supplies formulation-specific stability data, no prepared-solution use window is presented as established.
Safety & cautions
Gastrointestinal effects are common and include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Trial data also require attention to gallbladder disease, pancreatitis signals, dehydration, kidney effects, heart-rate changes, glucose changes, and loss of lean mass, although the frequency and causality of every potential risk are not yet settled.
Survodutide is investigational. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, severe gastrointestinal disease, pancreatitis history, gallbladder disease, diabetes medication interactions, and personal or family histories relevant to incretin-drug warnings require clinical oversight in trials. Unapproved vials add separate risks involving identity, strength, sterility, and endotoxin contamination.
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Frequently asked questions
Is survodutide FDA approved?
No. Survodutide remains an investigational drug despite positive phase 3 results.
How much weight loss occurred in phase 3?
In SYNCHRONIZE-1, treatment-regimen mean weight change at 76 weeks was -12.2% and -13.0% in the survodutide groups versus -5.4% with placebo.
How is survodutide different from semaglutide?
Survodutide activates both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor without direct glucagon-receptor agonism.
What did the MASH study find?
The phase 2 trial found more MASH improvement without worsening fibrosis and more liver-fat reduction with survodutide than placebo. Fibrosis improvement itself showed a smaller separation.
What are the most common survodutide side effects?
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common events in controlled trials.
Are online survodutide vials the same as the trial drug?
That cannot be assumed. Clinical-trial material is manufactured and controlled under sponsor specifications, while retail research vials may differ in identity, formulation, strength, and sterility.
How should laboratory survodutide be stored?
A public sponsor storage label was not found, and retail instructions conflict. Use validated product-specific instructions rather than a generic online claim.
Sources
- Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 obesity trial
- Phase 2 survodutide obesity trial
- Phase 2 survodutide MASH and fibrosis trial
- SYNCHRONIZE phase 3 trial design
- SYNCHRONIZE-1 ClinicalTrials.gov record
- Bachem peptide handling and storage guidance
- GenScript peptide storage and handling guidance
- Umbrella Labs survodutide listing
Last reviewed September 17, 2026. This guide is educational and research-focused, not medical advice. Survodutide products referenced on PeptidePub are sold by third parties as materials for laboratory research use only, not for human or animal consumption.
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