Survodutide

Survodutide is a generic medication containing survodutide, a new weight loss injection being tested in clinical trials. It works on 2 natural hormones to help reduce hunger and support how the body uses energy. Early studies suggest it may help with weight loss, but it is not yet approved or available in the UK.

In this guide, we explain what survodutide is, how it works, and when it may be available.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Crystal Wyllie

Last reviewed: 20 Feb 2026

What's on this page?

1. What is survodutide?
2. How does survodutide work?
3. How to use survodutide
4. Survodutide dosages
5. Where can I get survodutide?
6. Survodutide side effects
7. Is survodutide better than Mounjaro or Wegovy?

What is survodutide?

Survodutide is a medication that is currently being trialled and developed as a weight loss support medication. It is given as a weekly injection under the skin. The active ingredient survodutide works by acting on natural hormones that control hunger and how the body uses energy.

As survodutide is still in clinical trials, it cannot be prescribed in the UK yet.

What is survodutide used for?

Survodutide is being developed to support weight loss in adults who are overweight or obese. In studies, it is also being tested to see how it affects metabolism and body fat. It is not approved for use outside clinical trials at this time.

What is the active ingredient?

Survodutide contains 1 active ingredient called survodutide. This ingredient is designed to act on 2 hormone systems linked to hunger and metabolism, including glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).

Who makes survodutide?

Survodutide is being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma. These companies are working together to study how the medication affects weight, metabolism, and overall health.

How does survodutide work?

Survodutide works by helping you feel less hungry and by supporting how your body uses energy. It acts on two natural hormones that control appetite and how fat is used. This can help you eat less and may help your body burn stored fat, which supports weight loss over time.

How long does survodutide take to work?

Some people may notice changes in appetite within the first few weeks. Weight loss usually happens slowly over several months. Results can vary, and your body may need time to adjust as the dose increases.

How effective is survodutide?

Early studies suggest survodutide can lead to noticeable weight loss. In trials lasting around 46 weeks, many people lost between 15 and 19% of their body weight. These results come from early research, and larger studies are still ongoing.

How to use survodutide

For now, survodutide is being tested as a weekly injection under the skin – because it is currently only being used in clinical trials, there is no approved dose for public use yet. In clinical trials, a doctor gives the injection and monitors people closely during studies.

When should you take survodutide?

In current studies, survodutide is given once a week, on the same day each week. It is designed to work slowly over several days.

How much survodutide should you take?

There is no fixed dose approved for general use yet. Researchers are still testing different doses in clinical trials.

In studies so far:

treatment often starts at 0.6 mg once weekly
the dose is increased gradually over time
higher doses tested include 2.4mg, 3.6mg, and up to 4.8mg once weekly

This helps reduce stomach-related side effects. The final dosing schedule will only be confirmed after larger studies are complete.

Survodutide dosages

There are no approved survodutide doses for public use yet. All dosing information comes from clinical trials, where researchers test different dose levels to see what works best and what is safest.

Final doses will only be confirmed if survodutide is approved in the future.

What is the starting dose of survodutide?

In published trials, starting doses have commonly been 0.6mg once weekly, before being increased over time.

The starting dose is used to:

lower the risk of stomach side effects
help the body adjust slowly
allow researchers to check how people respond

The exact starting dose may change as studies continue.

What is the highest dose of survodutide?

Researchers are still testing higher doses to find the best balance between results and side effects.

In trials:

some studies have tested doses of 2.4mg, 3.6mg, and up to 4.8mg once weekly
doses are increased step by step
not everyone reaches the same dose

There is no confirmed maximum dose for general use yet.

Why might someone be given a specific dose?

During clinical trials, doses are chosen carefully for each person.

A specific dose may be used based on:

how well the person tolerates the medication
whether side effects occur
the goals of the study

If survodutide is approved, dosing rules will be clearly set out by a doctor.

Where can I get survodutide?

Survodutide is not available yet. It is still being tested in clinical trials and has not been approved for use in the UK. This means you cannot buy it from a pharmacy or get it through a clinic at the moment.

How long will it be until survodutide is available in the UK?

Based on current research timelines, survodutide may not be available in the UK until around 2027. This depends on trial results and how long the review process takes. The timeline could change if studies take longer or new data is needed.

Will survodutide be prescription only?

Yes. If survodutide is approved, it will only be available with a prescription. This means you would need to speak to a doctor before using it. As with other new weight loss medication, it is likely to be offered privately before any NHS access is decided.

Survodutide side effects

Survodutide can cause side effects, similar to other injectable weight loss medications. In studies so far, most side effects have been mild and linked to the stomach. They were more common when treatment started or when the dose increased, and often improved over time.

What are the common side effects of survodutide?

The most common side effects affect digestion.

Common side effects include:

feeling sick
being sick
diarrhoea
constipation
stomach discomfort
reduced appetite

Are there uncommon or rare side effects?

More serious side effects were reported less often, but they can still happen.

Less common side effects include:

stronger stomach problems at higher doses
dehydration caused by severe vomiting or diarrhoea
changes in liver test results in people with existing liver conditions

Researchers are still collecting safety data in larger studies.

How long do survodutide side effects last?

Side effects usually appear in the early weeks of treatment. For many people, they become milder as the body adjusts.

In most cases, side effects:

improve after a short time
are linked to dose increases
do not last for the full course of treatment

Is survodutide better than Mounjaro or Wegovy?

It is too early to say if survodutide is better than Mounjaro or Wegovy. Survodutide is still being tested and is not approved yet. Early studies show strong weight loss, but the results may change as larger trials finish.

Survodutide vs Mounjaro

Survodutide and Mounjaro are both weekly injections, but they use different hormones to support weight loss:

	Survodutide	Mounjaro
Active ingredients	Survodutide	Tirzepatide
How it works	Acts on GLP-1 and glucagon, which may reduce hunger and help the body use stored fat	Acts on 2 hormones that control appetite, fullness, and blood sugar
How often it is taken	Once a week injection (in trials only)	Once a week injection
Availability	Not approved or available yet	Approved and available in the UK
Average weight loss in studies	Around 15 to 19% after about 46 weeks (early trials)	On average 22.5% after 72 weeks (SURMONT-1 trial)

Early results for survodutide are promising, but it has not been tested as widely as Mounjaro yet.

Survodutide vs Wegovy

Survodutide and Wegovy both act on GLP-1, but survodutide also acts on glucagon, which may affect how the body uses energy.

Feature	Survodutide	Wegovy
Active ingredients	Survodutide	Semaglutide
How it works	Acts on GLP-1 and glucagon, which may reduce hunger and help the body use stored fat	Targets GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite and increase fullness throughout the day
How often it is taken	Once a week injection (in trials only)	Once a week injection
Availability	Not approved or available yet	Approved and available in the UK
Average weight loss in studies	Around 15 to 19% after about 46 weeks (early trials)	On average 21% after 72 weeks

Wegovy is already available, while survodutide is still being studied. This makes it hard to compare them fairly and accurately right now.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Crystal Wyllie

Dr Crystal Wyllie studied at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, graduating in 2010. She then completed her training as a GP in hospitals and practices in and around London. Her particular interests are in reproductive, sexual, and women’s health.

Last reviewed: 20 Feb 2026