Home / Encyclopedia / GLP-1 & Weight / Dapiglutide

MONOGRAPH No. 114

EVIDENCE BASEModerate

TYPE

GLP-1 / GLP-2 dual agonist

Peptide (33 aa)

CAS

2296814-85-0

EU STATUS

Investigational · Development paused

WADA

Not listed

MIN PURITY

≥98% HPLC

⚖ GLP-1 & Weight

Dapiglutide — EU research guide.

Dapiglutide (ZP7570) is Zealand Pharma's investigational dual GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor agonist, studied in people for obesity (short bowel syndrome only in mice) — though its clinical programme was paused in 2025.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24

What is Dapiglutide?

Dapiglutide combines GLP-1 receptor activity (appetite, glucose) with GLP-2 receptor activity (intestinal barrier repair and nutrient absorption), a mechanism explored in mice for short bowel syndrome and in people for weight management.

What does the research show?

Early studies showed that dapiglutide improved intestinal barrier function in mouse short bowel models and produced weight loss in company-reported Phase 1b trials; an independent 12-week Phase 2a trial in 54 adults with obesity found no statistically significant weight difference versus placebo (p = 0.076). Zealand Pharma's own pipeline disclosures describe the programme as “Phase 2-ready — development paused,” with resources redirected to other candidates such as petrelintide and survodutide.

EU legal status

Not approved anywhere and not currently in active clinical development. As a paused, single-sponsor investigational drug, dapiglutide has no legitimate research-peptide supply route.

⚠ Investigational drug; clinical programme paused by the developer as of 2025–2026. Not EMA/FDA-approved. No human use outside authorised trials.

✓ For active GLP-1/glucagon-axis mechanisms, PeptideCompare tracks semaglutide, survodutide and cagrilintide from EU research vendors with COA documentation.

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

MODERATE

Weight loss in phase 1b (company-reported) — In a single-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 1b trial, the sponsor reported placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 8.3% after 13 weeks (54 participants) and a mean of 11.6% versus 0.2% with placebo after 28 weeks (30 participants), with mostly mild gastrointestinal events. These are company announcements from small trials, not full peer-reviewed reports.

LIMITED

Independent phase 2a in obesity (peer-reviewed) — In a 12-week randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2a trial in 54 adults with obesity in Denmark, the higher tested dose gave a 2.1% greater weight change than placebo, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.076). It was generally well tolerated with no drug-related discontinuations; the authors call for higher doses in larger, longer studies.

ANIMAL ONLY

Short bowel syndrome (mouse model only) — In mice after 40% ileocecal resection, dapiglutide promoted body weight recovery and intestinal growth and improved barrier function. No human short bowel data were found, and Zealand's pipeline lists dapiglutide for obesity only; it has paused the programme (Phase 2 ready) since November 2025.

Molecular information

Molecular weight

Peptide (33 aa)

CAS number

2296814-85-0

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life (t½)

≈ 123–129 h

Source: Zealand Pharma press release, 9 September 2024 (mean half-life across four dose cohorts in earlier phase 1 data; the mid-point 126 h is plotted)

This half-life comes from a company statement, not from a peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic paper.

Potency retained over time

Each line is one storage condition: it starts at 100% and falls as potency is lost. Above the dashed 80% line the material is considered reliable — hover for exact values.

Freezer −20 °C

36+ mo

Stable · >95% potency

Fridge 4 °C

4-6 mo

In use · after recon

Room 20 °C

2-3 wks

Limited · moderate loss

Warm 37 °C+

<1 day

Critical · rapid degradation

⚠ Modelled per compound from molecular structure — chain length, cyclisation, oxidation- and deamidation-prone residues and light sensitivity. Indicative only, not lab-measured per batch.

GLP-1-axis compounds across EU suppliers

COA-verified EU vendors · Updated monthly

References

Peer-reviewed, sponsor-funded but academically run phase 2a trial (54 adults, 12 weeks). It is the only full human paper found, and its main weight endpoint was not significant. Nielsen CK, Pálsson TG, Forman JL, et al. Dapiglutide, a dual GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor agonist, for obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group, proof-of-concept trial. eClinicalMedicine. 2026;93:103801. DOI PubMed 41768273
Mouse study in a short bowel model (40% ileocecal resection). It supports the biological rationale, but animal results in this model do not show effects in people. Reiner J, Berlin P, Held J, et al. Dapiglutide, a novel dual GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor agonist, attenuates intestinal insufficiency in a murine model of short bowel. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2022;46(5):1107-1118. DOI PubMed 34705281
Company announcement of the 13-week phase 1b part 1 (54 participants). It reports placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 8.3%, safety and the half-life of 123 to 129 hours; it is a company statement. Zealand Pharma. Zealand Pharma announces positive topline results from 13-week Phase 1b multiple ascending dose clinical trial with GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist dapiglutide. Company announcement; 9 September 2024. Source
Company announcement of the 28-week phase 1b part 2 (30 participants) reporting a mean 11.6% weight loss versus 0.2% with placebo. It is a small trial reported by the sponsor, not a peer-reviewed paper. Zealand Pharma. Zealand Pharma announces positive topline results from 28-week Phase 1b trial with GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist dapiglutide. Company announcement; 18 June 2025. Source
News report on the sponsor's November 2025 decision to pause dapiglutide, citing a crowded GLP-1 field and the need for clear differentiation; it reports a company decision, not a safety finding. Fierce Biotech. Zealand hits pause on dual GLP-1/GLP-2 asset as CMO cites 'increasingly crowded' metabolic development scene. News report; 13 November 2025. Source
The sponsor's pipeline page, which lists dapiglutide as Phase 2 ready with development paused. It is the primary source for the current status. Research vials sold online are not a licensed medicine and none exists. Zealand Pharma. Pipeline: dapiglutide (GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist, Phase 2 ready - development paused). Company website, accessed September 2026. Source

Dapiglutide — EU research guide.

What is Dapiglutide?

What does the research show?

EU legal status

Molecular information

Pharmacokinetics

Potency retained over time

GLP-1-axis compounds across EU suppliers

References

Related guides

Semaglutide

Survodutide

Cagrilintide