The dual GCGR/GLP‐1R agonist survodutide: Biomarkers and pharmacological profiling for clinical candidate selection

Abstract Aim To describe the biomarker strategy that was applied to select survodutide (BI 456906), BI 456908 and BI 456897 from 19 dual glucagon receptor (GCGR)/ glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists for in‐depth pharmacological profiling, which led to the qualification of survodutide as the clinical development candidate. Materials and Methods Potencies to increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were determined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)‐K1 cells stably expressing human GCGR and GLP‐1R. Agonism for endogenously expressed receptors was investigated in insulinoma cells (MIN6) for mouse GLP‐1R, and in rat primary hepatocytes for the GCGR. In vivo potencies to engage the GLP‐1R or GCGR were determined, measuring improvement in oral glucose tolerance (30 nmol/kg) and increase in plasma fibroblast growth factor‐21 (FGF21) and liver nicotinamide N‐methyltransferase (NNMT) mRNA expression (100 nmol/kg), respectively. Body weight‐ and glucose‐lowering efficacies were investigated in diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice and diabetic db/db mice, respectively. Results Upon acute dosing in lean mice, target engagement biomarkers for the GCGR and GLP‐1R demonstrated a significant correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient with p < 0.05) to the in vitro GCGR and GLP‐1R potencies for the 19 dual agonists investigated. Survodutide, BI 456908 and BI 456897 were selected for in‐depth pharmacological profiling based on the significant improvement in acute oral glucose tolerance achieved (area under the curve [AUC] of 54%, 57% and 60% vs. vehicle) that was comparable to semaglutide (AUC of 45% vs. vehicle), while showing different degrees of in vivo GCGR engagement, as determined by hepatic NNMT mRNA expression (increased by 15‐ to 17‐fold vs. vehicle) and plasma FGF21 concentrations (increased by up to sevenfold vs. vehicle). In DIO mice, survodutide (30 nmol/kg/once daily), BI 456908 (30 nmol/kg/once daily) and BI 456897 (10 nmol/kg/once daily) achieved a body weight‐lowering efficacy from baseline of 25%, 27% and 26%, respectively. In db/db mice, survodutide and BI 456908 (10 and 20 nmol/kg/once daily) significantly lowered glycated haemoglobin (0.4%–0.6%); no significant effect was observed for BI 456897 (3 and 7 nmol/kg/once daily). Conclusions Survodutide was selected as the clinical candidate based on its balanced dual GCGR/GLP‐1R pharmacology, engaging the GCGR for robust body weight‐lowering efficacy exceeding that of selective GLP‐1R agonists, while achieving antidiabetic efficacy that was comparable to selective GLP‐1R agonism. Survodutide is currently being investigated in Phase 3 clinical trials in people living with obesity.