Survodutide, a dual-action obesity drug, produced greater body weight reductions than placebo in a phase 3 trial of adults with obesity who do not have diabetes, according to results published by the New England Journal of Medicine.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has published full results from the SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial, a phase 3 clinical study testing survodutide in adults living with obesity but without type 2 diabetes. The drug — which targets two hormone receptors simultaneously, the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor — led to much greater reductions in body weight compared with a placebo, according to the journal.
Survodutide belongs to a class of medicines known as dual agonists, meaning it activates two biological pathways at once rather than one. GLP-1 receptor agonists have attracted wide attention as a treatment for obesity; adding glucagon receptor activation is intended to increase the metabolic effect. The SYNCHRONIZE-1 results represent phase 3 evidence — the stage of clinical testing that typically involves large numbers of participants and directly precedes regulatory review.
The NEJM posted the announcement on X, directing followers to the full trial results and an accompanying Research Summary. No specific figures on the degree of weight reduction, participant numbers, or adverse events have been made available outside the full journal publication.
What this means practically for patients in Kent is, for now, limited. Survodutide has not been approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK body that licenses medicines, and it is not currently available through NHS prescribing. Phase 3 results feed into regulatory applications, but approval — and any subsequent NHS commissioning decision — can take months or years after a trial concludes.
Anyone concerned about their weight is encouraged to speak to their GP in the first instance. NHS 111 can also advise on local services and referral pathways.
Key information
- Survodutide is not currently available on the NHS and has not been approved by the MHRA
- The full SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial results and a Research Summary are published in the New England Journal of Medicine
- Speak to your GP about weight management options currently available to you
- Call NHS 111 for advice on local services if you cannot reach your GP
Source: @NEJM
New Weight-Loss Drug Beats Placebo in Major Clinical Trial Quiz
5 questions