Liraglutide

Technical data

INN name

Liraglutide

Development code

NN2211

CAS

204656-20-2

Molecular formula

C172H265N43O51

Molecular weight

3751.2 g/mol

Identity and composition

La liraglutide is an analog peptide of human GLP-1 and a GLP-1 receptor agonist, studied in metabolic research on glucose-dependent insulin secretion, satiety and body weight control. Structurally it is an acylated analog with a fatty acid that prolongs its action. Product for research use.

As for its chemical identity, its molecular formula is C172H265N43O51, with a molecular weight of 3751 g/mol (PubChem CID 16134956). The CAS number was not confirmed in an open source, so it is not reported; likewise, the exact peptide sequence was not verified in an open source and is omitted so as not to publish unsupported data.

Frequent synonyms and designations: Liraglutide and the development code NN2211.

Mechanism of action

Liraglutide acts as GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, a Gs protein-coupled membrane receptor. Its activation stimulates adenylate cyclase and raises intracellular cAMP in the pancreatic beta cell, which amplifies the insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner (that is, only when glucose is elevated) and suppresses the secretion of glucagon, also in a glucose-dependent manner. Additionally it slows gastric emptying and acts on satiety centers of the central nervous system to modulate appetite (PMID 39114288).

From a structural standpoint, it is an analog of human GLP-1 acylated with a C16 fatty acid (palmitate) attached via a gamma-glutamate spacer to the lysine residue. This acylation promotes self-association, albumin binding and protection against degradation by the enzyme DPP-IV, which prolongs its action (PMID 31031702).

Pharmacokinetics

The central pharmacokinetic trait described for liraglutide is a prolonged half-life compared to that of native GLP-1, whose duration of action is very brief. This prolongation is attributed to three combined mechanisms: the self-association that delays absorption after subcutaneous administration, the binding to plasma albumin and the stability against DPP-IV and neutral endopeptidases.

In the available consulted literature, the exact half-life figure comes from a secondary source not directly confirmed, so here it is described qualitatively: an action sufficiently prolonged to have been investigated with once-daily dosing schemes. Any specific numerical value must be verified against the current technical data sheet before asserting it.

Scientific evidence

Liraglutide is a compound widely studied in the metabolic field. Much of the evidence comes from completed clinical programs in type 2 diabetes and weight management, contexts in which it was approved by the FDA. In research, its role has additionally been explored in fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NASH) and in cardiovascular risk.

Studies on this class have investigated its mechanism of action on glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, slowing of gastric emptying, and appetite regulation (PMID 39114288). The exact status and phase by research indication (for example, NASH or cardiovascular) were not verified on ClinicalTrials.gov, so they should be confirmed there before being asserted. The evidence summarized here should be read as scientific context, not as a promise of outcome.

Research applications

Product for research use.

• Ideal for: experimental in vitro work and laboratory studies oriented toward the biology of the GLP-1 receptor, cAMP signaling in the beta cell, models of glucose-dependent insulin secretion, and characterization of acylated peptide analogs and their class pharmacology.
• Not applicable for: clinical use, self-medication, clinical use, diagnosis, or treatment of any condition. It is not intended for the preparation of formulations for administration to humans or animals outside a duly authorized research framework.

Responsible use requires handling by trained personnel, with protective equipment and under the controls proper to a research environment.

Research protocols

The available literature consulted does not specify concrete doses used in studies (neither amounts in mg nor schemes by indication), so no dosing figures are reported so as not to publish unsupported data.

Qualitatively, the class evidence has been generated with subcutaneous administration schemes, and the described pharmacology is compatible with daily-frequency dosing. Any specific experimental protocol (concentration, volume, frequency) must be defined in accordance with the study design and the verified primary literature, not from this data sheet.

Reconstitution

As a general standard laboratory guide for lyophilized peptides, reconstitution is usually performed with bacteriostatic water for injection (sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol), added slowly down the wall of the vial to minimize foam formation and agitation of the peptide.

• Let the vial reach room temperature before opening.
• Add the diluent with the needle directed at the vial wall, without injecting directly onto the powder.
• Do not shake; swirl gently until completely dissolved.
• The diluent volume is chosen according to the working concentration desired for the study.

This is general laboratory handling guidance, not a preparation instruction for administration.

Stability and storage

As a handling standard for peptides of this type:

• Lyophilized (powder): is the most stable form; it is usually kept frozen and protected from light and moisture, with prolonged integrity as long as it remains sealed and dry.
• Reconstituted (in solution): is less stable; it is usually kept under refrigeration and used within a short time window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can degrade the peptide.

It is recommended to aliquot after reconstitution to reduce repeated handling and to record the date of preparation. These are general guidelines of good laboratory practices; the definitive conditions must be adjusted to the internal validation of each laboratory.

Safety profile

The safety profile documented for liraglutide (as summarized from the FDA prescribing information, without opening the label directly in this research) includes a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors: medullary thyroid carcinoma was observed in rodents. For this reason it is described as contraindicated in personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 syndrome.

Among the frequent adverse effects, gastrointestinal events (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) have been reported. A risk of pancreatitis and of hypoglycemia when combined with insulin secretagogues has also been noted.

This summary is informative and not exhaustive; the current label must be verified for the complete detail. In any case, the product is for research use and not for clinical use.

Comparative context

Liraglutide belongs to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists and shares a family with other compounds studied in the metabolic field:

• Semaglutide: is also an acylated analog, longer-acting, investigated with weekly dosing schedules.
• Exenatide: another GLP-1R agonist of the same class.
• Tirzepatide: represents the dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, which act on additional receptors besides the GLP-1R.

Compared to the native GLP-1, the distinguishing characteristic of liraglutide is the acylation with the C16 fatty acid, which confers resistance to DPP-IV and a notably longer half-life, the basis of its prolonged duration of action.

History and development

Liraglutide was developed as an analog of human GLP-1 modified to overcome the very short duration of action of the native peptide. The key strategy was acylation with a C16 fatty acid (palmitate) bound via a gamma-glutamate spacer to a lysine residue, which promotes self-association, albumin binding and protection against degradation by DPP-IV (PMID 31031702).

Under the development code NN2211, advanced through phase III clinical programs and came to be approved by the FDA under two trade names: one for type 2 diabetes and another for weight control. Its history is part of the broader development of the GLP-1R agonist class, which later included even longer-acting analogs.

FAQ

Certificate of analysis per batch

Liraglutide batches with certificate of analysis published in the COA catalog:

• Lot EXO010626147A — 30 mg, issued 2026-05-28
• Lot EXO010626147B — 10 mg, issued 2026-05-29
• Lot EXO010626147C — 5 mg, issued 2026-05-30

Scientific references (5)

Peer-reviewed literature on Liraglutide, with its PubMed identifier where available:

• Empagliflozin and liraglutide ameliorate HFpEF in mice via augmenting the Erbb4 signaling pathway (Ni XY et al. · Acta pharmacologica Sinica · 2024) PMID 38589689.
• Liraglutide attenuates type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by activating AMPK/ACC signaling and inhibiting ferroptosis (Guo T et al. · Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2023) PMID 37770820.
• The arcuate nucleus mediates GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide-dependent weight loss (Secher A et al. · The Journal of clinical investigation · 2014) PMID 25202980.
• Liraglutide, GLP-1 receptor agonist, for chronic weight loss (Moore, et al. · Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2016) PMID 30058906.
• A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management (Pi-Sunyer, et al. · The New England Journal of Medicine · 2015) PMID 26132939.

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