Tirzepatide, or LY3298176, is a unimolecular dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist that is under study for its glycemic control and weight loss benefits .
Tirzepatide is based on the human GIP hormone and has a length of 39 amino acids. It includes a C20 fatty di-acid moiety that provides extended duration and allows for once-weekly dosing in humans .
Following extensive clinical testing, including against comparable treatments, tirzepatide was approved in May 2022 by the United State Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment. It became the first dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist indicated for T2D.
Tirzepatide is now in clinical trials to establish its safety and efficacy as a weight loss treatment in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater, with the initial results suggesting that it provides significant and sustained weight management benefits .
While it is now an approved prescription medication for T2D patients, tirzepatide is also available as a reference material to credentialed professionals wishing to conduct research on this novel GLP-1/GLP agonist.
