Data show nearly 19% weight loss in Phase II trial with survodutide vs placebo

German family-owned pharma major Boehringer Ingelheim seems to be challenging front runners in the obesity treatment therapy sector with its candidate survodutide, but tolerability issues could be a problem.

Announcing new data at the 2023 American Diabetes Association’s 83rd Scientific Sessions in San Diego, along with Danish partner Zealand Pharma (Nasdaq: ZEAL), Boehringer said additional data demonstrating superior efficacy with survodutide (also known as BI 456906) versus placebo in people with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes after 46 weeks of treatment.

The primary endpoint was percentage bodyweight change from baseline to week 46. The Phase II study included two analyses: planned (assigned dose at randomization) and actual (dose at the end of treatment). People who completed the study on the 4.8mg dose (actual treatment analysis) achieved nearly 19% weight loss (95% CI; p<0.01) versus just over 2% for those on placebo.