Home / Encyclopedia / GLP-1 & Weight / Dulaglutide

MONOGRAPH No. 124

EVIDENCE BASEStrong

TYPE

GLP-1 agonist (Fc-fusion protein)

~59.6 kDa (fusion protein)

CAS

923950-08-7

EU STATUS

EMA approved (Trulicity)

WADA

Not prohibited

MIN PURITY

≥98% HPLC

⚖ GLP-1 & Weight

Dulaglutide — EU research guide.

Dulaglutide (Trulicity) is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist fused to a modified antibody fragment (Fc region), which extends its half-life to roughly five days without needing a fatty-acid side chain like semaglutide.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-24

What is Dulaglutide?

Structurally, dulaglutide links a modified GLP-1 peptide to an IgG4 Fc fragment, forming a large fusion protein rather than a fatty-acid-conjugated small peptide. This gives it a long half-life via the same recycling pathway antibodies use.

What does the research show?

The REWIND cardiovascular outcomes trial (2019) showed a cardiovascular benefit of dulaglutide versus placebo in type 2 diabetes, and it remains widely prescribed. Weight-loss effect is more modest than semaglutide or tirzepatide at equivalent tolerability, reflecting its diabetes-first development.

EU legal status

EMA-approved prescription medicine (Trulicity) for type 2 diabetes.

⚠ Approved for type 2 diabetes management, not as a primary weight-loss therapy — weight loss is a secondary effect.

✓ For dedicated weight-management GLP-1 compounds, PeptideCompare tracks semaglutide and tirzepatide from EU research vendors with COA documentation.

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

STRONG

Cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND) — In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 9,901 adults with type 2 diabetes and a median follow-up of 5.4 years, the composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke or cardiovascular death occurred in 12.0% on dulaglutide versus 13.4% on placebo (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79-0.99). Gastrointestinal adverse events were reported by 47.4% versus 34.1%. The trial was sponsored by the manufacturer.

STRONG

Glycaemic control versus liraglutide (AWARD-6) — In a 26-week, open-label phase 3 trial in 599 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin, HbA1c fell by 1.42% with dulaglutide and 1.36% with liraglutide (difference -0.06%, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.07), meeting the non-inferiority criterion. Stopping because of adverse events was 6% in both groups.

MODERATE

Weight effect (secondary and modest) — The EU product information reports sustained weight reduction across its trials, ranging from -0.35 kg to -2.90 kg from baseline. The EU indication is type 2 diabetes; dulaglutide is not authorised in the EU as a weight-management medicine.

Molecular information

Molecular weight

~59.6 kDa (fusion protein)

CAS number

923950-08-7

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life (t½)

≈ 5 days

Source: Trulicity EU summary of product characteristics (EMA), section 5.2: elimination half-life of about 5 days; chart uses 120 h

This is the half-life of the licensed product in humans. It says nothing about the stability of any unregulated material sold as dulaglutide.

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 compounds across EU suppliers

COA-verified EU vendors · Updated monthly

References

The peer-reviewed REWIND report: 9,901 adults with type 2 diabetes, median 5.4 years, placebo-controlled. It shows a modest reduction in major cardiovascular events and more gastrointestinal side effects; it is manufacturer-funded and concerns the licensed medicine, not vendor 'research' vials. Gerstein HC, Colhoun HM, Dagenais GR, Diaz R, Lakshmanan M, Pais P, Probstfield J, Riesmeyer JS, Riddle MC, Rydén L, Xavier D, Atisso CM, Dyal L, Hall S, Rao-Melacini P, Wong G, et al.; REWIND Investigators. Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2019;394(10193):121-130. DOI PubMed 31189511
The peer-reviewed AWARD-6 head-to-head trial against liraglutide: 599 adults, 26 weeks, open-label. It supports non-inferiority for HbA1c; it does not address weight-loss treatment or long-term outcomes. Dungan KM, Tofé Povedano S, Forst T, González González JG, Atisso C, Sealls W, Fahrbach JL. Once-weekly dulaglutide versus once-daily liraglutide in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes (AWARD-6): a randomised, open-label, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2014;384(9951):1349-1357. DOI PubMed 25018121
The official EU summary of product characteristics: indication, elimination half-life (about 5 days), storage (refrigerated, in the original package away from light), the weight data and the REWIND design. This describes the licensed product, which vendor research material is not. European Medicines Agency. Trulicity (dulaglutide): EPAR product information (summary of product characteristics). Source
The EMA plain-language overview: type 2 diabetes indication from age 10, marketing authorisation valid across the EU since 21 November 2014, and nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea as the most common side effects. European Medicines Agency. Trulicity (dulaglutide): EPAR medicine overview. Source

Dulaglutide — EU research guide.

What is Dulaglutide?

What does the research show?

EU legal status

Molecular information

Pharmacokinetics

Potency retained over time

GLP-1 compounds across EU suppliers

References

Related guides

Exenatide

Semaglutide

Liraglutide