GLP's ⏱ Half-life: ~5 days FDA-Approved

Dulaglutide

Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

Updated March 30, 2026

Evidence at a Glance

Regulatory statusFDA-Approved
FDA-approved September 2014 as Trulicity (Eli Lilly); once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Human evidenceExtensive
Animal evidenceExtensive

Dulaglutide is an FDA-approved once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist backed by large randomized trials supporting glycemic control and cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes.

What the research does not support

  • It is approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction, not as a standalone FDA-approved weight-loss drug.
  • It carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors and is contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2.
  • It is a prescription injectable requiring medical supervision, not a supplement.
Half-Life
~5 days
Purity
Pharmaceutical grade
Mol. Weight
~63 kDa
Form
Pre-filled pen for subcutaneous injection

What is Dulaglutide?

Dulaglutide (marketed as Trulicity) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly, approved for type 2 diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Its unique fusion protein design provides once-weekly dosing convenience with a pre-filled, ready-to-use pen that requires no reconstitution.

Dosage Information (Research Use)

Standard initiation: 0.75mg subcutaneously once weekly. May increase to 1.5mg, 3.0mg, or 4.5mg weekly based on glycemic response. Administer on the same day each week. Prescription medication — not a research peptide.

Reconstitution & Handling

Pre-filled pen — no reconstitution required.

Half-Life & Pharmacokinetics

~5 days

Reported Observations in Literature

Common: nausea (12-21%), diarrhea (8-12%), vomiting (6-12%), abdominal pain (6-9%), decreased appetite (5-8%). Most GI effects are mild to moderate and diminish with continued use. Carries class warnings for thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent studies), pancreatitis, and renal impairment.

Key Research References

  • Gerstein HC et al. “Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND).” Lancet. 2019;394:121-130
  • Dungan KM et al. “Once-weekly dulaglutide versus once-daily liraglutide (AWARD-6).” Lancet. 2014;384:1349-57

How Dulaglutide Works

GLP-1 Receptor Activation

Dulaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist consisting of a GLP-1 analog covalently linked to a modified human IgG4 Fc fragment. This design extends the half-life to approximately 5 days, enabling once-weekly dosing. It activates the GLP-1 receptor on pancreatic beta cells, enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon release.

Cardiovascular Effects

The REWIND trial demonstrated a 12% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes, making it one of the few GLP-1 RAs with proven CV benefit in a broad population including primary prevention patients.

Research Applications

🔬 Type 2 diabetes glycemic control
🔬 Cardiovascular outcome improvements
🔬 Weight management in diabetic patients

Research Findings

The AWARD clinical trial program encompassed over 6,000 patients across multiple studies. AWARD-1 showed superior HbA1c reduction versus exenatide. The REWIND trial (9,901 patients, median follow-up 5.4 years) demonstrated cardiovascular benefit with a hazard ratio of 0.88 for MACE.

Dosage & Administration

Standard initiation: 0.75mg subcutaneously once weekly. May increase to 1.5mg, 3.0mg, or 4.5mg weekly based on glycemic response. Administer on the same day each week. Prescription medication — not a research peptide.

Safety & Side Effects

Common: nausea (12-21%), diarrhea (8-12%), vomiting (6-12%), abdominal pain (6-9%), decreased appetite (5-8%). Most GI effects are mild to moderate and diminish with continued use. Carries class warnings for thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent studies), pancreatitis, and renal impairment.

Important: All safety information is derived from published research, primarily animal studies. No controlled human clinical trial data exists unless explicitly noted. This compound is sold for research purposes only.

Quick Facts

Molecular Weight ~63 kDa
Half-Life ~5 days
Purity Pharmaceutical grade
Form Pre-filled pen for subcutaneous injection
Storage Refrigerate 2-8°C. May store at room temperature up to 14 days.

Key Research References

  • Gerstein HC et al. "Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND)." Lancet. 2019;394:121-130
  • Dungan KM et al. "Once-weekly dulaglutide versus once-daily liraglutide (AWARD-6)." Lancet. 2014;384:1349-57

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