Tirzepatide (LY3298176) is a synthetic peptide agonist of both the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. With a length of 39 amino acids, tirzepatide is primarily based on human GIP and modified with a C20 fatty di-acid moiety to extend its duration and thus allow for once-weekly subcutaneous administration [1, 2].
What are GIP and GLP-1?
GIP is an incretin that is secreted from K cells in the upper small intestine in response to food, and is responsible for the majority of the insulinotropic incretin effect in man. GLP-1 is also an incretin, but which also inhibits glucagon secretion in the hyperglycaemic and normoglycaemic states. The hormone slows gastric emptying, promotes satiety, and reduces food intake, and GLP-1 analogs like semaglutide have had their own success as type 2 diabetes treatments [1, 2, 3, 4].
Research indicates that tirzepatide’s activation of both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors produces a synergistic effect to exert greater insulin and glucagonostatic responses, compared to administering GIP or GLP-1 alone. This makes the peptide a powerful tool in the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity [1, 3].
Tirzepatide Regulatory Status
Following completion of clinical trials in type 2 diabetes patients, tirzepatide became roundly acknowledged as a potent glucose lowering and weight loss agent with a comparable safety profile to other GLP-1 receptor agonists [5, 6, 7, 8, 9].
In May 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide as an adjunct treatment of type 2 diabetes, available by prescription under brand name Mounjaro [10].
Licensed researchers may also buy tirzepatide online as a reference material for laboratory experimentation only.