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Tirzepatide

GLP-1 / GIP agonist

A dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist with strong weight-loss and glycemic data in trials.

Updated August 13, 2026 · By The Peptide Dex — Gut Editorial

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Tirzepatide

GLP-1 medicines and gut peptides have distinct names—brand names, generics, and research codes.

Pharmacokinetic snapshot

Reference values from published sources—not prescribing or dosing advice. Cosmetic INCI peptides do not belong here; injectable and prescription contexts only.

Half-life: 5 days
Typical dose range: 2.5–15 mg
Common frequency: Weekly (subcutaneous)

Source: PMC tirzepatide PK

Structure (cute edition)

Simplified amino acid chain for Tirzepatide

✨ real molecule sketch

This peptide is a short chain of about 4 amino acids—think of it as a tiny protein necklace on your label.

INCI: Tirzepatide · ~4 amino acids in our simplified view

FDA label data

Sourced from OpenFDA drug labels (public domain). Not medical advice.

Brand names: Zepbound, ZEPBOUND, Zepbound KwikPen, Mounjaro, Mounjaro KwikPen

Manufacturer: Eli Lilly and Company

Indications

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZEPBOUND ® is indicated in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity: to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity or adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. ZEPBOUND is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activ…

Warnings

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS In rats, tirzepatide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether ZEPBOUND causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and …

Research & public records

Counts and links from public databases (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Wikidata, NIH drug nomenclature). Educational only — not medical advice.

Knowledge base: neuropeptide analogue of gastric inhibitory polypeptide — Wikipedia

PubMed: 102 indexed papers (search PubMed)

Influence without medical expertise: a social network analysis of Mounjaro discussions on twitter (X). · Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
GLP-1 medications: use and interest in a representative survey of Finns. · International journal of obesity (2005)
Clinical Implications of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) for Breast Cancer Detection and Management: A Narrative Review. · Cureus
Correction: Clinical Implications of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) for Breast Cancer Detection and Management: A Narrative Review. · Cureus
Can the NHS afford Mounjaro? It spent £574m on the jab last year despite most eligible patients not getting it. · BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
Decoding the hallmarks of GLP-1RA weight-loss super-responders. · Biology methods & protocols
Cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide versus semaglutide for patients with obesity or overweight in the US: evidence from the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head phase-3 trial. · Journal of medical economics
Tirzepatide.

Clinical trials: 286 studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (view search)

A Study of Tirzepatide at Different Injection Sites in Participants With Different Body Sizes · COMPLETED
A Study of Tirzepatide (LY3298176) in Participants With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) · COMPLETED
GLP-1 Agonists for Lung Function Improvement and Muscle Restoration in COPD · NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Improving Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis and Treatment in Kazakhstan Using Metabolic Correction With GLP-1 Drugs · ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
A Study of Tirzepatide (LY3298176) in Japanese Participants With Type 2 Diabetes · COMPLETED
Tirzepatide in PWS, HO and GNSO · RECRUITING
Spartina® (Tirzepatide) Effectiveness and Safety Evaluation · COMPLETED
A Study to Investigate the Effectiveness of Tirzepatide (LY3298176) Following Initiation of Ixekizumab (LY2439821) in Participants With Moderate-to-Severe Plaque PsO and Obesity or Overweight in Clinical Practice (TOGETHER AMPLIFY-PsO) · RECRUITING

ChEMBL: TIRZEPATIDE · max phase 4.0

RxNorm names: 0.5 ML tirzepatide 5 MG/ML Auto-Injector [Zepbound]; 0.5 ML tirzepatide 10 MG/ML Auto-Injector [Zepbound]; 0.5 ML tirzepatide 15 MG/ML Auto-Injector [Zepbound]; 0.5 ML tirzepatide 20 MG/ML Auto-Injector [Zepbound] (RxNav)

DailyMed labels: 2 SPLs

What brands say it does

Tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors—a newer mechanism than semaglutide alone. SURMOUNT trials showed ~20% body weight loss at higher doses. Prescription-only; side effects include nausea and rare pancreatitis risk.