Effect of survodutide, a glucagon and GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, on weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
This meta-analysis pooled data from 18 treatment arms across multiple randomized controlled trials (total n = 1,029 participants) to evaluate the effect of injectable survodutide — a dual glucagon and GLP-1 receptor agonist — on obesity-related outcomes. Searches were conducted across major databases through August 2024. Using a random-effects model, the authors found that survodutide was associated with statistically significant reductions in body weight (weighted mean difference: −8.33 kg), BMI (−4.03 kg/m²), and waist circumference (−6.33 cm) compared to control groups. Subgroup analyses suggested that longer intervention durations (more than 16 weeks) and higher doses were associated with greater reductions in weight and waist circumference, a pattern also supported by meta-regression. Key limitations include very high statistical heterogeneity for weight (I² = 99.6%) and waist circumference (I² = 99.5%), which may reflect substantial differences in study populations, doses, and durations across the included trials. The relatively small total participant count and the emerging nature of the evidence base for survodutide also limit the certainty of conclusions. The findings suggest a potential role for survodutide in weight management, but the high heterogeneity warrants cautious interpretation.
Why this grade: While the study synthesizes data from RCTs in humans, the very high heterogeneity (I² up to 99.6%), small total sample size (n = 1,029 across 18 arms), and the early-stage evidence base for survodutide limit the strength of conclusions beyond "moderate."
Background Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity/overweight, its treatment or prevention with new interventions can greatly help health and reduce its adverse effects in people. One of these new interventions is investigating the effect of Survodutide as a dual agonist of glucagon and GLP-1 receptors, which seems to be able to influence weight loss processes in different ways. In this study, we investigated the effect of injectable Survodutide on weight loss. Methods In order to identify all randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of Survodutide on factores related to obesity, a systematic search was conducted in the original databases using predefined keywords until August 2024. The pooled weighted mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were computed using the random-effects model. Results The Findings from 18 treatment arms with 1029 participants indicated significant reductions in weight (WMD: -8.33 kg; 95% CI: -10.80, -5.86; I 2 = 99.6%), body mass index (BMI) (WMD:-4.03 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI: -4.86, -3.20; I2 = 72.7%), and waist circumferences (WC) (WMD: -6.33 cm; 95% CI: -8.85 to -3.81; I 2 = 99.5%) following the Survodutide injection compared to the control group. Subgroup analysis reveals that longer interventions (more than 16 weeks) and higher doses (more than 2 mg/week) of Survodutide are associated with more significant reductions in weight and WC. These results were also observed in the meta-regression analysis. Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis show that Survodutide is effective in reducing weight, BMI and waist circumference, especially with longer interventions and higher doses.
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