Peptide LibraryDulaglutide
Also known as: Trulicity, LY2189265
Dulaglutide (also called Trulicity or LY2189265) is an FDA-approved weekly GLP-1 agonist. Dulaglutide is a fusion protein in which two modified human GLP-1 analog sequences are joined by a peptide linker to the Fc fragment of a human IgG4 antibody.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 923950-08-7
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- ~63 kDa (Fc fusion)
- Half-life
- ~5 days
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
- Frequency
- Once weekly, any time of day, with or without food
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
- Targets
- GLP-1 receptor
Research summary
FDA-approved once-weekly GLP-1 Fc-fusion peptide (Trulicity) for type 2 diabetes and CV risk reduction in eligible T2D populations.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)3 reviewed sources
- Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
- Early or uncontrolled human studiesNone in reviewed sources
- Lab & animal studiesNone in reviewed sources
How it works
Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.
Peptide Library's Dulaglutide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Dulaglutide dosage evidence
Dulaglutide has an FDA-approved human dosage. Trulicity for adults with type 2 diabetes starts at 0.75 mg once weekly under the skin, can go to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks, and then up in 1.5 mg steps to a maximum of 4.5 mg once weekly. For children aged 10 and over with type 2 diabetes the maximum is 1.5 mg once weekly.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 0.75–4.5 mg once weekly (maximum 1.5 mg in children) |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Frequency | Once weekly, any time of day, with or without food |
| Duration studied | Continuous |
| Titration | 0.75 mg weekly to start; after 4 weeks 1.5 mg; then 3 mg and 4.5 mg, each after at least 4 weeks on the current dose. |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label — Trulicity, type 2 diabetes in adultsFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus | Start 0.75 mg; 1.5 mg after 4 weeks; then 1.5 mg steps every 4 weeks or more; maximum 4.5 mg | Subcutaneous, abdomen, thigh or upper arm | Once weekly | Continuous, with diet and exercise | Glycemic control | TRULICITY (dulaglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — Trulicity, type 2 diabetes in childrenFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus | Start 0.75 mg; maximum 1.5 mg after at least 4 weeks | Subcutaneous | Once weekly | Continuous | Glycemic control | TRULICITY (dulaglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — Trulicity, cardiovascular risk reductionFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors | Same adult dosing: 0.75 mg to start, up to 4.5 mg | Subcutaneous | Once weekly | Continuous | Lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events | TRULICITY (dulaglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
Where sources disagree
- The adult and pediatric ceilings differ: 4.5 mg once weekly for adults and 1.5 mg once weekly for children aged 10 and over.
- Trulicity carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rats. It must not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with MEN 2.
Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- Single-dose pen
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Timing Notes
- Educational catalog only — not medical advice
How to reconstitute Dulaglutide
- Check the vial size and diluent volume. The profile example for Dulaglutide is: Single-dose pen.
- Swab both vial stoppers and draw the bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial so it does not jet onto the powder, then swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, refrigerate it (see Storage & stability below), and use the calculator preset to convert a dose in mcg into syringe units.
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular weight | ~63 kDa (Fc fusion) |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 923950-08-7 |
| Half-life | ~5 days |
| Appearance | Solution in single-dose pen |
| Formulation | Prefilled Pen |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Dulaglutide is a fusion protein in which two modified human GLP-1 analog sequences are joined by a peptide linker to the Fc fragment of a human IgG4 antibody. Substitutions in the GLP-1 portion confer resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase-4, while the Fc domain both increases hydrodynamic size beyond the renal filtration threshold and engages the neonatal Fc receptor recycling pathway. The combination extends half-life to around five days, supporting weekly dosing. Receptor activation itself is conventional GLP-1 pharmacology: glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppression of inappropriate glucagon release, slowed gastric emptying, and reduced appetite through hypothalamic and brainstem circuits.
Origin
Recombinant GLP-1–Fc fusion (Lilly).
Targets
Studies
- Comparative effectiveness of semaglutide versus liraglutide, dulaglutide or tirzepatide: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Mazdutide Versus Dulaglutide for Weight Loss and Diabetes Management: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
- Mazdutide versus dulaglutide in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes
- Comparison of Dose Escalation Versus Switching to Tirzepatide Among People With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Lower Doses of Dulaglutide : A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Effect of ketogenic diet plus dulaglutide on glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes mellitus
Research statistics
1,085 PubMed publications · 53.0% human clinical research · 121 registered trials
Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted
Regulatory & research status
Dulaglutide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Permitted |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
Dulaglutide side effects
The effects below are drawn from Dulaglutide's prescribing information, which lists the full adverse-reaction data.
Side Effects
- GI class effects
- Injection-site reactions
Storage & stability
This compound is not supplied as a powder to be mixed, so the freeze-dried powder and reconstitution handling described for research peptides does not apply. Storage conditions are product-specific: follow the label or packaging of the product itself.
Dulaglutide: frequently asked questions
What is Dulaglutide?
FDA-approved once-weekly GLP-1 Fc-fusion peptide (Trulicity) for type 2 diabetes and CV risk reduction in eligible T2D populations.
How does Dulaglutide work?
Dulaglutide is a fusion protein in which two modified human GLP-1 analog sequences are joined by a peptide linker to the Fc fragment of a human IgG4 antibody. Substitutions in the GLP-1 portion confer resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase-4, while the Fc domain both increases hydrodynamic size beyond the renal filtration threshold and engages the neonatal Fc receptor recycling pathway.
Is Dulaglutide FDA approved?
Yes. Dulaglutide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What is the half-life of Dulaglutide?
Reported half-life for Dulaglutide is ~5 days. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
Is Dulaglutide banned in sport?
Dulaglutide is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use.
What peptides are similar to Dulaglutide?
Compounds most often compared with Dulaglutide include Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide and Liraglutide. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Trulicity labelExternal reference
- Comparative effectiveness of semaglutide versus liraglutide, dulaglutide or tirzepatide: a systematic review and meta-analysis — Front Pharmacol, 2025External reference
- Mazdutide Versus Dulaglutide for Weight Loss and Diabetes Management: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials — Am J Ther, 2024External reference
- Mazdutide versus dulaglutide in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes — Nature, 2026External reference
- Comparison of Dose Escalation Versus Switching to Tirzepatide Among People With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Lower Doses of Dulaglutide : A Randomized Clinical Trial — Ann Intern Med, 2025External reference
- Effect of ketogenic diet plus dulaglutide on glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes mellitus — Pak J Pharm Sci, 2025External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 2
This Dulaglutide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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