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Survodutide Once Weekly in Adults with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Journal
The New England journal of medicine (Q1)
Published
1 October 2026
Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Evidence level
Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
Authors
Sean Wharton, Carel W le Roux, Elena Startseva, Isabel M Kloer, Ahmad Alhussein, Samina Ajaz Hussain, et al.
PMID
42820639
DOI
10.1056/NEJMoa2607219

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: For persons living with both type 2 diabetes and obesity, weight management may be the most effective therapy for type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have potent weight-reducing effects, and other mechanisms may confer additional benefits. Survodutide is an investigational glucagon receptor-GLP-1 receptor dual agonist with potential weight-reducing and metabolic benefits. METHODS: In this multinational, double-blind, phase 3 trial involving adults with type 2 diabetes and a body-mass index (BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 27 or more, we randomly assigned participants in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive once-weekly subcutaneous survodutide (3.6 mg or 6.0 mg) or placebo. The two primary end points were the percent change in body weight and a reduction in body weight of at least 5% from baseline to week 76. RESULTS: Among 752 participants (250 in the 3.6-mg survodutide group, 251 in the 6.0-mg survodutide group, and 251 in the placebo group), the mean age at baseline was 55.7 years, and the mean BMI was 36.5; 49.3% were men. The mean weight change at week 76 according to the treatment-regimen estimand (which assessed effects regardless of whether the trial regimen was discontinued or interrupted or whether other antiobesity therapies were used) was -8.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], -9.2 to -7.2) in the 3.6-mg group, -9.8% (95% CI, -10.8 to -8.8) in the 6.0-mg group, and -3.9% (95% CI, -4.9 to -2.9) in the placebo group; weight reduction of at least 5% occurred in 57.6%, 64.5%, and 35.1% of the participants, respectively (P<0.001 for all comparisons with placebo). The mean change in the glycated hemoglobin level (from a baseline level of 7.4%) was -0.9 percentage points in the 3.6-mg group, -0.8 percentage points in the 6.0-mg group, and -0.2 percentage points in the placebo group. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal (generally mild to moderate and transient), which occurred in 182 participants (72.8%) in the 3.6-mg group, 195 (77.7%) in the 6.0-mg group, and 97 (38.6%) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, survodutide at a weekly dose of 3.6 mg or 6.0 mg resulted in significantly greater weight reduction than placebo. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim; SYNCHRONIZE-2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT06066528.).

Abstract as published, via PubMed.

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For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.