Peptide LibraryGlucagon
Glucagon is an FDA-approved pancreatic hormone in the Glucagon Receptor Agonist class. Glucagon is released by pancreatic alpha cells in response to falling blood glucose and acts on the hepatic glucagon receptor, a Gs-coupled receptor that raises cyclic AMP and activates protein kinase A.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- —
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 3482.7 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous · Intramuscular · Intravenous · Intranasal
- Frequency
- Single emergency dose; one repeat after 15 minutes if there is no response
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
Research summary
Endogenous 29-amino-acid pancreatic hormone, approved as an emergency treatment for severe hypoglycaemia and as a diagnostic aid to inhibit gastrointestinal motility during imaging. Available as injection and nasal powder.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)4 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 Glucagon 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.
Glucagon dosage evidence
Glucagon has FDA-approved human dosages for severe low blood sugar in people with diabetes. Injected glucagon is 1 mg for adults and for children weighing 20 kg or more, and 0.5 mg for children under 20 kg, given under the skin, into a muscle or into a vein. Gvoke is 1 mg under the skin from age 12 (0.5 mg for children aged 2 to under 12 who weigh less than 45 kg), and the Baqsimi nasal powder is a single 3 mg dose from age 1. Each label allows one more dose after 15 minutes if there is no response.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Route | Subcutaneous · Intramuscular · Intravenous · Intranasal |
| Frequency | Single emergency dose; one repeat after 15 minutes if there is no response |
| Duration studied | Single use per episode |
| 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 — Glucagon for Injection, severe hypoglycemiaFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults and children with diabetes | 1 mg for adults and children weighing 20 kg or more; 0.5 mg (or 20–30 mcg/kg) for children under 20 kg | Subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous (intravenous only under medical supervision) | Once; one more dose after 15 minutes if there is no response | — | Treatment of severe hypoglycemia | Glucagon for Injection (Amphastar) — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — Glucagon for Injection, diagnostic aidFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults having radiologic examinations | Usually 0.25–0.5 mg intravenously or 1 mg intramuscularly to relax the stomach and small bowel; up to 2 mg if required | Intravenous or intramuscular | Once, before or during the examination | — | Temporary inhibition of gastrointestinal movement | Glucagon for Injection (Amphastar) — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — GVOKE, severe hypoglycemiaFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults and children aged 2 and over with diabetes | 1 mg from age 12; ages 2 to under 12: 0.5 mg under 45 kg, 1 mg at 45 kg or more | Subcutaneous | Once; one more dose from a new device after 15 minutes if there is no response | — | Treatment of severe hypoglycemia | GVOKE (glucagon injection) — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| FDA label — BAQSIMI nasal powder, severe hypoglycemiaFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults and children aged 1 year and older with diabetes | 3 mg as one actuation into one nostril | Intranasal | Once; one more 3 mg dose after 15 minutes if there is no response | — | Treatment of severe hypoglycemia | BAQSIMI (glucagon) nasal powder — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
Where sources disagree
- Glucagon is an emergency medicine for severe hypoglycemia and a diagnostic aid for imaging. The labels call for emergency help right after a dose and oral carbohydrate once the person responds.
- Doses are not interchangeable between forms: the nasal powder dose is 3 mg, while injected doses are 0.5 mg or 1 mg.
Sequence & molecular data
| Amino acid sequence | His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C153H225N43O49S |
| Molecular weight | 3482.7 g/mol |
| PubChem CID | 16132283 |
| FDA UNII | 76LA80IG2G |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Glucagon is released by pancreatic alpha cells in response to falling blood glucose and acts on the hepatic glucagon receptor, a Gs-coupled receptor that raises cyclic AMP and activates protein kinase A. The result is stimulation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis and inhibition of glycogen synthesis, raising hepatic glucose output. It also relaxes smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, which is the basis for its diagnostic use.
Studies
- Transmucosal glucagon rapidly increases blood glucose concentration in healthy cats
- Immunogenicity of the Novel Glucagon Analogue Dasiglucagon: Results of a Dedicated Immunogenicity Trial in Type 1 Diabetes
- Glucagon receptor antagonism requires further mechanistic attention on α-cell physiology
- Hepatic glucagon action: beyond glucose mobilization
- Glucagon: Delivery advancements for hypoglycemia management
Regulatory & research status
Glucagon 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 |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
—
Glucagon side effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
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.
Glucagon: frequently asked questions
What is Glucagon?
Endogenous 29-amino-acid pancreatic hormone, approved as an emergency treatment for severe hypoglycaemia and as a diagnostic aid to inhibit gastrointestinal motility during imaging. Available as injection and nasal powder.
How does Glucagon work?
Glucagon is released by pancreatic alpha cells in response to falling blood glucose and acts on the hepatic glucagon receptor, a Gs-coupled receptor that raises cyclic AMP and activates protein kinase A. The result is stimulation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis and inhibition of glycogen synthesis, raising hepatic glucose output.
Is Glucagon FDA approved?
Yes. Glucagon 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 amino acid sequence of Glucagon?
Glucagon has the sequence His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr, giving a chain of 29 amino acids. Its molecular formula is C153H225N43O49S.
What peptides are similar to Glucagon?
Compounds most often compared with Glucagon include Dulaglutide, Exenatide, Liraglutide and Lixisenatide. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Transmucosal glucagon rapidly increases blood glucose concentration in healthy cats — J Feline Med Surg, 2024External reference
- Immunogenicity of the Novel Glucagon Analogue Dasiglucagon: Results of a Dedicated Immunogenicity Trial in Type 1 Diabetes — Diabetes Technol Ther, 2021External reference
- Glucagon receptor antagonism requires further mechanistic attention on α-cell physiology — Trends Endocrinol Metab, 2025External reference
- Hepatic glucagon action: beyond glucose mobilization — Physiol Rev, 2024External reference
- Glucagon: Delivery advancements for hypoglycemia management — Int J Pharm, 2024External 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 Glucagon 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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