ClinicalTrials16 Apr 2026·Phase 3● 7/10i A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicentre, Phase III Trial Evaluating Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Survodutide Weekly Injections in Adult Participants With Noncirrhotic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis/Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) and (F2) - (F3) Stage of Liver Fibrosis
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is testing survodutide, a weekly injectable, versus placebo in 1,800 adults with MASH and moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (F2-F3). This placebo-controlled trial runs up to 7 years with dual primary endpoints: MASH resolution without fibrosis worsening and composite clinical outcomes including progression to cirrhosis. This positions Boehringer as the first major pharma to advance a dedicated MASH program into Phase 3, targeting a liver indication where Novo's semaglutide and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide have shown promise but lack specific approvals. The 7-year duration reflects the extended timeline needed to demonstrate meaningful liver outcomes in this progressive disease.
Strategic signal
Boehringer enters the MASH space with a differentiated dual incretin approach while GLP-1 leaders focus primarily on diabetes and obesity indications. The 7-year trial design signals confidence in demonstrating hard clinical endpoints that regulators will likely require for MASH approval, potentially creating a new therapeutic category. This lengthy timeline gives Boehringer runway to establish the MASH evidence base while competitors may face pressure to initiate their own liver-focused programs. US FDA has provided clear MASH guidance favoring histologic endpoints, which this trial directly addresses through biopsy-confirmed outcomes.
Original Abstract
This study is open to adults who are at least 18 years old living with obesity and have:
* a confirmed liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)/metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and
* moderate or advanced liver fibrosis
People with a history of acute or chronic liver diseases other than MASH or chronic alcohol intake cannot take part in this study. The purpose of this study is to find out whether a medicine called survodutide helps people with MASH and moderate or advanced liver fibrosis improve their liver function.
This study has 2 parts. The purpose of the first part of this study is to find out the effect of survodutide on MASH and liver fibrosis. The purpose of the second part is to find out how safe and effective survodutide is in improving liver function. Participants are put into 2 groups randomly, which means by chance. 1 group gets survodutide and 1 group gets placebo. Placebo looks like survodutide but does not contain any medicine. Each participant has twice the chance of getting survodutide. Participants and doctors do not know who is in which group. Participants inject survodutide or placebo under their skin once a week. The survodutide doses are slowly increased until the target dose is reached. All participants receive counselling to make changes to their diet and to exercise regularly.
Participants are in the study for up to 7 years. During this time, they regularly visit the study site or have remote visits by video call. For about the first year of the study, participants have these visits every 2 weeks, increasing to every 4 weeks and then every 6 weeks. After being in the study for a little over a year participants will then alternate between visiting the study site or having a remote visit every 3 months until the end of the study.
The doctors check participants' health and take note of any unwanted effects. The participants' body weight and effects on the stomach and intestines are regularly measured. At some visits the liver is measured using different imaging methods. At 2 or 3 visits doctors take a small sample of liver tissue (biopsy). The participants also fill in questionnaires about their symptoms and quality of life. The results are compared between the groups to see whether the treatment works. | Condition(s): Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH); Liver Fibrosis | Primary endpoint(s): Part 1: Resolution of MASH without worsening of liver fibrosis on MASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) fibrosis score; Part 1: At least a 1-point improvement in fibrosis stage with no worsening of MASH; Part 2: Time to first occurrence of any of components of the composite endpoint consisting of progression to cirrhosis, all-cause mortality, liver transplant, hepatic decompensation event(s), worsening of MELD score to ≥15, progression to CSPH | Enrollment: 1,800 (estimated) | Phase: Phase 3 | Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim | Expected completion: 2031-12-27 | Status: Recruiting | Last update: 2026-04-16