Dulaglutide vs Teduglutide
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
GLP-1 / Weight Loss Agonists
DulaglutideRecovery & Repair
Teduglutide- Summary
- Dulaglutide (brand name Trulicity) is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction. It consists of two GLP-1 analog chains fused to a modified IgG4 Fc fragment, extending its half-life to approximately 5 days. While primarily a diabetes medication, it produces meaningful weight loss and has established cardiovascular outcomes data from the REWIND trial.
- Teduglutide is a GLP-2 (glucagon-like peptide-2) analog with enhanced stability. Unlike GLP-1, GLP-2 specifically acts on the intestinal epithelium to increase intestinal length, villus height, and absorption surface area. FDA-approved as Gattex for short bowel syndrome, it is also being investigated for IBD, leaky gut, and mucosal healing.
- Half-Life
- ~5 days
- ~2 hours; once-daily dosing due to gut-specific residence
- Admin Route
- SubQ
- SubQ
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 0.75 mg → 1.5 mg
- 0.05 mg/kg/day
- Frequency
- Once weekly
- Once daily
- Key Benefits
- FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes
- Once-weekly subcutaneous dosing via auto-injector pen
- Reduces HbA1c by approximately 1.1–1.6%
- Modest weight loss of 1.5–3 kg at approved doses
- Demonstrated cardiovascular risk reduction (REWIND trial)
- Established long-term safety profile
- Renal protective effects in CKD
- Increases intestinal villus height and absorption surface area
- Reduces intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
- FDA-approved for short bowel syndrome
- Reduces parenteral nutrition dependence in SBS patients
- Promotes intestinal mucosal healing in IBD
- Increases tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin
- Side Effects
- Nausea (most common, typically transient)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- +3 more
- Injection site reactions
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Nausea
- Risk of intestinal polyp growth (requires colonoscopy surveillance)
- +1 more
- Stacks With
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