New Jab Slashes Visceral Fat by 34%

An investigational injection called survodutide has demonstrated significant reductions in visceral and liver fat during Phase III trials. This new treatment, administered once weekly, aims to tackle metabolic health issues by targeting fat stored around internal organs and within the liver. In one trial, participants with obesity lost up to 16.6% of their body weight, alongside reductions of up to 34% in visceral fat and 63.1% in liver fat.

Survodutide differentiates itself from existing weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro by activating both glucagon and GLP-1 receptors. This dual-receptor action is intended to influence appetite, energy expenditure, and fat metabolism more broadly. While these findings are encouraging, survodutide is still an investigational medicine and has not received regulatory approval.

Further trials have also explored survodutide's efficacy in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes, where participants achieved notable weight loss compared to a placebo. However, gastrointestinal adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in a significant percentage of participants. Experts emphasize that tolerability and long-term health benefits, in addition to weight loss, are crucial factors in assessing a treatment's real-world value.