Mazdutide
Long-acting dual GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist
- Class
- Dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist
- Half-life
- ~6–7 days
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Weekly
- Evidence
- Human clinical trials
Overview
Mazdutide is a dual GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist — think of it as tirzepatide's cousin, but instead of hitting GIP it hits glucagon. Weekly subcutaneous injection. The combination is counterintuitive: GLP-1 slows digestion and suppresses appetite (the familiar satiety signal), while glucagon normally tells your liver to dump glucose and ramp up energy expenditure. Together, the two arms seem to drive weight loss through appetite suppression plus a modest metabolic rate boost.
It's in late-stage development by Innovent Biologics (China) and Eli Lilly (outside China). Phase 2 data in people with obesity showed about 15% body weight loss at 48 weeks on the highest dose tested (9 mg weekly) — solid, but not quite tirzepatide territory. Phase 3 trials are running now. It's not approved anywhere yet, and the peptide circulating in research markets is unregulated gray-market material.
Side effects mirror other incretins: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea during the ramp-up period. The glucagon component also raises heart rate more than GLP-1-only drugs — about 5–8 bpm above baseline in trials. If you have cardiovascular issues, that's worth weighing carefully.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Not approved by FDA, EMA, MHRA, or any other regulator. The peptide in research markets is unregulated — purity and dosing accuracy are unknowns.
- Heart rate increase of 5–8 bpm above baseline seen in phase 2 trials — larger than semaglutide or tirzepatide. If you have pre-existing cardiovascular issues, this is a red flag worth discussing with a cardiologist.
- GI side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) are the dominant reason people quit during titration — same pattern as other incretins. Slowing the dose ramp helps but doesn't eliminate it.
+ 4 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching Mazdutide.
- Body weight and composition (lean mass vs fat mass)
- Resting heart rate — glucagon component raises it
- HbA1c if you're using it for glucose control
- Lipid panel (LDL, triglycerides)
- Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) — glucagon hits the liver hard
- Gallbladder symptoms during rapid weight loss
Frequently asked questions
What is Mazdutide?
Long-acting dual GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist. Mazdutide is a dual GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist — think of it as tirzepatide's cousin, but instead of hitting GIP it hits glucagon. Weekly subcutaneous injection. The combination is counterintuitive: GLP-1 slows digestion and suppresses appetite (the familiar satiety signal), while glucagon normally tells your liver to dump glucose and ramp up energy expenditure. Together, the two arms seem to drive weight loss through appetite suppression plus a modest metabolic rate boost.
How is Mazdutide administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically weekly.
What is the half-life of Mazdutide?
~6–7 days — Engineered for once-weekly dosing with IgG4 Fc fusion protein structure.
Is Mazdutide approved for human use?
Mazdutide is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for Mazdutide?
Evidence tier: Human clinical trials. Phase 2 trial (Guan 2022, n=178, 48 weeks): 9 mg weekly mazdutide produced -14.7% mean body weight loss vs -2.5% on placebo. That's good but trails tirzepatide's -20.9% at a comparable timepoint.
What is commonly monitored when researching Mazdutide?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: Body weight and composition (lean mass vs fat mass), Resting heart rate — glucagon component raises it, HbA1c if you're using it for glucose control, Lipid panel (LDL, triglycerides), Liver enzymes (ALT, AST) — glucagon hits the liver hard, Gallbladder symptoms during rapid weight loss.
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.