Peptide Database
86 therapeutic peptides with research summaries, clinical findings, and regulatory status.
Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy)
A glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) with 94% amino acid homology to native GLP-1. Semaglutide enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, delays gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic GLP-1 receptors to reduce appetite. Its fatty acid side chain enables albumin binding, extending its half-life to approximately 7 days.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound)
A first-in-class dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide activates both incretin pathways simultaneously, producing superior glycemic control and weight loss compared to selective GLP-1 RAs. The dual mechanism enhances insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism beyond what either pathway achieves alone.
Retatrutide
An investigational triple hormone receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously. The glucagon receptor component adds thermogenic energy expenditure and hepatic lipid mobilization to the incretin-mediated appetite suppression and insulin sensitization. This triple mechanism addresses obesity through complementary metabolic pathways.
AOD-9604
A modified 16-amino acid fragment (amino acids 176-191) of the C-terminus of human growth hormone with an added tyrosine at the N-terminus. AOD-9604 retains the lipolytic activity of hGH without its growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects. It stimulates lipolysis and inhibits lipogenesis through a mechanism distinct from the GH receptor, acting on beta-3 adrenergic receptors in adipose tissue.
Liraglutide (Saxenda/Victoza)
A GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% homology to native GLP-1, modified with a fatty acid side chain (C-16 palmitoyl) enabling albumin binding and a half-life of approximately 13 hours. Liraglutide enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, delays gastric emptying, and promotes satiety through hypothalamic GLP-1R activation. It was the first GLP-1 RA approved for chronic weight management.
Exenatide (Byetta/Bydureon)
A synthetic version of exendin-4, a 39-amino acid peptide originally isolated from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard (Heloderma suspectum). Exenatide shares 53% homology with human GLP-1 and is resistant to DPP-4 degradation. It activates GLP-1 receptors to enhance insulin secretion, suppress glucagon, slow gastric emptying, and promote beta-cell preservation.
Glucagon
A 29-amino acid peptide hormone produced by alpha cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Glucagon acts primarily on hepatocytes via the glucagon receptor (GCGR), a G-protein-coupled receptor that activates adenylyl cyclase, increasing cAMP and triggering glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis to raise blood glucose. It also relaxes smooth muscle of the GI tract and has positive inotropic and chronotropic cardiac effects.
Pramlintide (Symlin)
A synthetic analog of amylin (islet amyloid polypeptide), a 37-amino acid peptide hormone co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells. Pramlintide has three proline substitutions that prevent amyloid fibril formation while retaining amylin receptor activity. It slows gastric emptying, suppresses postprandial glucagon secretion, and promotes satiety via area postrema activation, complementing insulin therapy in diabetes management.
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
A long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist consisting of a GLP-1 analog covalently linked to a modified human IgG4 Fc fragment via a peptide linker. This fusion protein design increases molecular size to reduce renal clearance and enables FcRn-mediated recycling, producing a half-life of approximately 5 days suitable for once-weekly dosing. Dulaglutide activates pancreatic GLP-1 receptors to enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion and suppress glucagon.
Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
A selective GLP-1 receptor agonist derived from exendin-4 with a modified C-terminal tail containing six lysine residues. Lixisenatide has a half-life of approximately 3 hours and primarily reduces postprandial glucose through potent delay of gastric emptying rather than fasting glucose reduction. It is designed for once-daily use as an add-on to basal insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes.
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
A cyclic peptide melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist designed to restore MC4R signaling in patients with obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the leptin-melanocortin pathway. Setmelanotide bypasses upstream defects in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes by directly activating MC4R, reducing hunger and increasing energy expenditure. It represents one of the first precision medicines for genetically defined obesity.