A new treatment effectively reduces liver fat and weight in obese individuals
An innovative drug, survodutide, demonstrates remarkable effectiveness in treating obesity and a liver disease linked to metabolic disorders. This condition, known as metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver, often associated with inflammation or fibrosis. It particularly affects overweight individuals and can progress to serious complications if left untreated.
The study involved 216 adults suffering from obesity, defined by a high body mass index, and presenting high-risk liver steatosis. Participants received either a weekly injection of 6 mg of survodutide or a placebo. After 48 weeks, the results revealed that 84% of people treated with survodutide experienced at least a 30% reduction in liver fat, measured by magnetic resonance imaging. In comparison, only 24% of placebo participants reached this threshold. Average weight loss was also significantly greater in the treated group, with a decrease of 12.2% compared to 1% for the placebo.
Survodutide works by simultaneously activating the receptors for glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1, two hormones involved in regulating metabolism and appetite. This dual action promotes the reduction of body fat and improves liver health. The most common side effects, mainly digestive such as nausea or diarrhea, occurred primarily during the dose escalation phase and were generally mild to moderate.
In addition to reducing liver fat and weight, the treatment also led to notable improvements in several health markers. Waist circumference decreased by an average of 11 cm, while blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and inflammatory markers all showed significant improvement. These changes suggest an overall benefit for cardiometabolic health, thereby reducing the risks of complications related to obesity and liver diseases.
The results also indicate that survodutide could reduce liver inflammation and slow, or even reverse, the progression of fibrosis, a hardening of liver tissue that can lead to cirrhosis. Although the study was limited to 48 weeks, the observed improvements suggest significant therapeutic potential for individuals with these conditions, which are often difficult to treat.
This treatment therefore opens a promising perspective for patients suffering from obesity and liver steatosis, offering an effective approach to reduce both body fat and the risks associated with metabolic diseases.
Information and Sources
Scientific Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04479-3
Title: Survodutide in adults with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: SYNCHRONIZE-MASLD, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial
Journal: Nature Medicine
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Lee M. Kaplan; Elena Startseva; Carel W. le Roux; Sean Wharton; Biykem Bozkurt; Daniel F. Mazo; Jessica von Schlippenbach; Sandra González Maldonado; Samina Ajaz Hussain; Guy W. Neff; Yaneicy Gonzalez Rojas; Charles Smith; Ramy Younes; Arun J. Sanyal; ; Antonio O. Martin; Mark Leibowitz; Douglas Denham; Kevin Korenblat; Michael Herman; Shekhar Challa; Rasha Youssef; Masi Khaja; Apinya Vutikullird; Humberto Aguilar; Naga Chalasani; James Maher; Ronald Surowitz; Cassandra Steimle; Yaneicy G. Rojas; Antonio Sanchez; Ruth E. Kavcioglu; Julio Vijil; Robert Perry; Guy Neff; Martha G. Navarro; Omer Khalid; Rizwana Mohseni; Julie Vu; Gregg Lucksinger; Satish Iduru; Dmitry Shuster; Bruce Segal; Paul Hellstern