A once-weekly GLP-1 drug from Eli Lilly (Trulicity) approved for type 2 diabetes and heart risk reduction, not for weight loss.
Also called Trulicity, Trulicity pen
When Dulaglutide's status or evidence changes, it's in the next morning's email.
Dulaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that Eli Lilly sells as Trulicity, a once-weekly pen for type 2 diabetes. It is built differently from semaglutide and liraglutide: two copies of a modified GLP-1 are fused to part of a human antibody (the IgG4 Fc region). The result is a large protein of about 63 kDa with a half-life of about 5 days, so one injection a week is enough.
Its key trial is REWIND, which followed 9,901 people with type 2 diabetes for a median 5.4 years. Heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death occurred in 12.0% on dulaglutide 1.5 mg vs 13.4% on placebo, a 12% cut. Unusually for a heart outcome trial, only about a third of participants had established heart disease. The AWARD trials showed it lowers HbA1c about as much as daily liraglutide (AWARD-6) and more than sitagliptin (AWARD-5).
Dulaglutide is not approved for weight loss. People with diabetes do lose some weight: 4.7 kg on average at the top 4.5 mg dose over 36 weeks in AWARD-11, against 3.1 kg on 1.5 mg. That is much less than semaglutide or tirzepatide. Side effects are mostly nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. FDA lists the past dulaglutide shortage as resolved.
What it binds to, and what happens inside the body after that, step by step.
Dulaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor on pancreatic beta cells, in the stomach and in the brain. It raises insulin and lowers glucagon when blood sugar is high and slows stomach emptying. The antibody Fc part keeps it in the blood for about 5 days.
Human results and animal results are kept apart below. A result in rats tells you a mechanism is plausible. It does not tell you what happens in a person.
Dulaglutide is backed by the AWARD phase 3 program and the REWIND outcome trial. It lowers HbA1c by roughly 1 to 1.9 points depending on dose and baseline, cuts major cardiovascular events by about 12% in type 2 diabetes, and causes modest weight loss of about 3 to 5 kg. It has not been tested as an obesity drug in people without diabetes.
9,901 adults aged 50 or older with type 2 diabetes and heart disease or risk factors
Heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death occurred in 12.0% on dulaglutide 1.5 mg vs 13.4% on placebo over a median 5.4 years (hazard ratio 0.88); death from any cause did not differ significantly.
Read the study1,842 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin
At 36 weeks HbA1c fell 1.77 points on 4.5 mg vs 1.54 on 1.5 mg, and weight fell 4.6 kg vs 3.0 kg.
Read the study599 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin
HbA1c fell 1.42 points on dulaglutide 1.5 mg vs 1.36 on liraglutide 1.8 mg at 26 weeks, meeting non-inferiority.
Read the study1,098 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin
HbA1c fell 1.10 points on dulaglutide 1.5 mg vs 0.39 on sitagliptin at 52 weeks; weight fell 3.0 kg vs 1.5 kg.
Read the study154 young people aged 10 to 17 with type 2 diabetes
At 26 weeks HbA1c fell 0.9 points on 1.5 mg and rose 0.6 on placebo; 51% on dulaglutide reached HbA1c under 7% vs 14%; BMI did not change.
Read the studyNo preclinical studies are listed as key studies here. The human data above carries the evidence.
When a new Dulaglutide study in people is published, the daily email covers it.
These are questions the published research has not answered.
Prescription-only. Not on the WADA Prohibited List and not in WADA's Monitoring Program, which names only semaglutide and tirzepatide. Trulicity is sold in four strengths (0.75, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 mg). The EU shortage was declared resolved in February 2026. Not approved for weight management anywhere we checked.
When the FDA or WADA changes Dulaglutide's status, it's in the next morning's email.
How much of Dulaglutide is left after a single dose
Simple first-order model from the published half-life. Real clearance varies with dose, route, kidney and liver function and formulation. This is not a dosing schedule.
This table records the doses that trials and approved labels used, with the source for each row. It is a record of research, not a recommendation, and it is open to free members.
Which symptoms are expected and which mean stop and get help: side effects and red flags.
Tap a claim to see what the studies found.
It is approved only for type 2 diabetes and heart risk in type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes lose some weight on it, about 3 to 5 kg in the AWARD trials, but it has never been tested or approved for obesity.
For blood sugar it is in the same class as daily liraglutide (AWARD-6). It produces less weight loss than semaglutide or tirzepatide. Heart protection is shown for both dulaglutide (REWIND) and semaglutide (SUSTAIN-6, SELECT).
Only 31.5% of REWIND participants had established heart disease; about two thirds had risk factors but no established heart disease, and the label covers adults with type 2 diabetes and either established heart disease or multiple risk factors.
It caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, which is why it carries a boxed warning and is not used by people with a personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2. Human relevance has not been determined.
These pairings come up often. Almost none have been tested together in a trial, and the evidence note on each says so plainly.
A common type 2 diabetes regimen when one drug is not enough; the GLP-1 drug limits post-meal spikes and weight gain from insulin.
EvidenceStudied in the AWARD program and covered by the label, which warns that insulin doses may need lowering to avoid low blood sugar.
Sometimes proposed online to add weight loss.
EvidenceNever studied together. They act on the same receptor, so side effects stack with no shown benefit.
Not applicable: dulaglutide is supplied as a ready-to-use solution in single-dose pens.
Refrigerate at 36 to 46 F (2 to 8 C) and do not freeze. Each pen can be kept at room temperature, not above 86 F (30 C), for a total of 14 days.
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