A 31-amino-acid acylated GLP-1 analog with 97% homology to native human GLP-1(7-37), modified with a C16 palmitoyl fatty acid chain enabling albumin binding and extending its half-life from 2 minutes to approximately 13 hours. The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial demonstrated 8.0% mean weight reduction at 56 weeks with the 3.0 mg dose. As a once-daily injectable, liraglutide bridges the pharmacokinetic gap between short-acting exenatide and weekly semaglutide.
Research Profile
Structure31 amino acids, C₁₇₂H₂₆₅N₄₃O₅₁
TargetsGLP-1R (selective, high affinity)
Research FocusIncretin pharmacokinetics, β-cell preservation, daily vs weekly GLP-1 dosing, appetite regulation
ReconstitutionBacteriostatic water — 1 mg/mL
Stability28 days at 2–8°C
Key distinction: Once-daily GLP-1 agonist with the longest clinical track record of any incretin — FDA-approved since 2010. The C16 palmitoyl chain enables albumin-mediated half-life extension without PEGylation.
Scientific Evidence
Published Research
[1]
Pi-Sunyer X et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management (SCALE). NEJM 2015;373:11-22 — PubMed 26132939
[2]
Knudsen LB et al. The discovery and development of liraglutide and semaglutide. Front Endocrinol 2019;10:155 — PubMed 31031702
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