Dulaglutide
A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, with proven cardiovascular benefits and moderate weight loss effects.
What is Dulaglutide?
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. It consists of a GLP-1 analog fused to a modified IgG4 Fc fragment, which extends its half-life to approximately 5 days. It was the most prescribed GLP-1 agonist worldwide before semaglutide's rise. The REWIND trial demonstrated cardiovascular benefits even in patients without established cardiovascular disease, a distinction from other GLP-1 agonists.
Why People Talk About It
Type 2 diabetes management (HbA1c reduction)
StrongCardiovascular risk reduction (REWIND trial)
StrongModerate weight loss (3-5% body weight)
StrongRenal protective effects
ModerateHow It Works
Dulaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. It tells your pancreas to release more insulin when blood sugar is high, slows stomach emptying so you feel full longer, and reduces appetite signals in the brain.
Common Questions
Safety Information
Common Side Effects
Cautions
- • Thyroid C-cell tumor warning (boxed warning)
- • Pancreatitis risk
- • Gallbladder disease
- • Contraindicated in personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2
What We Don't Know
Well-characterized safety profile with extensive post-marketing data since 2014 approval.
Published Research
12 studiesDulaglutide treatment effect across baseline body mass index in adults with type 2 diabetes: A post hoc analysis of the REWIND trial
Comparative efficacy and safety of once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Effects of dulaglutide on kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes: Analysis of the REWIND randomised clinical trial
REWIND renal sub-analysis showing dulaglutide reduced composite renal outcome by 15%, with significant reduction in new macroalbuminuria.
Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial
Landmark REWIND trial (n=9,901) demonstrating 12% reduction in MACE events with dulaglutide over median 5.4 years, notably in a population with mostly no established cardiovascular disease.
Dulaglutide versus insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease (AWARD-7): a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial
Dulaglutide as add-on therapy to SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes (AWARD-10): a 24-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Contextual reference comparing cardiovascular outcomes across GLP-1 agonist trials including SUSTAIN-6 and REWIND.
Dulaglutide: an evidence-based review of its potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes
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
Head-to-head comparison showing dulaglutide 1.5mg was non-inferior to liraglutide 1.8mg for HbA1c reduction, with comparable safety.
Efficacy and safety of dulaglutide versus insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes (AWARD-2)
Superior efficacy of dulaglutide versus exenatide (AWARD-1): a randomized controlled trial in type 2 diabetes
Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide Added to Pioglitazone and Metformin versus Exenatide Added to Pioglitazone and Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: The AWARD-1 Trial
Related Peptides
Semaglutide
StrongBeginnerA GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, one of the most widely prescribed peptide drugs.
Liraglutide
StrongBeginnerA GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda), the predecessor to semaglutide.
Tirzepatide
StrongBeginnerA dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for diabetes and weight management, producing the largest weight loss seen in clinical trials.
Exenatide
StrongBeginnerThe first GLP-1 receptor agonist, originally derived from Gila monster venom, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.
Quick Facts
- Class
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
- Evidence
- Strong
- Safety
- Well-Studied
- Updated
- Apr 2026
- Citations
- 12PubMed
Also known as
Tags
Related Goals
Evidence Score
Clinical Trials
View Clinical TrialsLinks to ClinicalTrials.gov for reference. Listing does not imply endorsement.