<unk>  is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. It increases the production of insulin, a hormone that lowers the blood sugar level. It also appears to enhance growth of β cells in the pancreas, which are the sites of insulin production. It also inhibits glucagon, which is a hormone that increases blood sugar. It additionally reduces food intake by lowering appetite and slows down digestion in the stomach. In this way it reduces body fat. Structure<unk>  is chemically similar to human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), with 94% similarity. The only differences are two amino-acid substitutions at positions 8 and 34, where alanine and lysine are replaced by 2-aminoisobutyric acid and arginine, respectively. Amino-acid substitution at position 8 prevents chemical breakdown by dipeptidyl peptidase-4. In addition, lysine at position 26 is in its derivative form (acylated with stearic diacid). Acylation with a spacer and C-18 fatty diacid chain increases the drug binding to blood protein (albumin), which enables longer presence in the blood circulation. Its half-life in the blood is about 7 days (165–184 hours); therefore, once-weekly injection is enough.
Semaglutide
Albiglutide
Teduglutide
Dulaglutide
Liraglutide
Linagliptin
Exenatide
Saxagliptin