Tirzepatide
GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist · 39-residue peptide
Identifier graph
Cross-references to canonical chemistry knowledge graphs. Each binding is the same identity used in PubMed-indexed literature.
- CAS Registry Number
- 2023788-19-2 · CAS Common Chemistry
- InChIKey
-
BTSOGEDATSQOAF-MCNPHUAVSA-N - PubChem CID
- CID 166567236
- Wikidata
- Q108324770
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL4297839
- Molecular formula
C225H348N48O68- Molecular weight
- 4813.48 g/mol
- Peptide sequence
Tyr-Aib-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Ile-Aib-Leu-Asp-Lys-Ile-Ala-Gln-Lys-Ala-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser-NH2- IUPAC name
- 20-[[(1S)-4-[2-[2-[2-[2-[2-[2-[[(5S)-5-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3R)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3R)-2-[[2-[[(2S)-2-[[2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-2-methylpropanoyl]amino]-4-carboxybutanoyl]amino]acetyl]amino]-3-hydroxybutanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxybutanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-carboxypropanoyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-2-methylpropanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-carboxypropanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]-6-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S,3S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[2-[[2-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2-[(2S)-2-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-amino-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]carbamoyl]pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl]pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]carbamoyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-6-oxohexyl]amino]-2-oxoethoxy]ethoxy]ethylamino]-2-oxoethoxy]ethoxy]ethylamino]-1-carboxy-4-oxobutyl]amino]-20-oxoicosanoic acid
What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a 39-residue synthetic peptide engineered to activate both the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor — the two principal incretin receptors that regulate post-prandial insulin secretion and glucagon suppression. Developed by Eli Lilly as research code LY3298176, Tirzepatide is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the marketed therapeutic products Mounjaro® (type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound® (chronic weight management).
The peptide includes a C20 fatty-acid moiety (γ-glutamic- acid spacer with an icosanedioic-acid tail) that enables non-covalent albumin binding and extends the plasma half-life to approximately 5 days — supporting once-weekly subcutaneous administration in clinical use.
CAS 2023788-19-2, molecular formula C₂₂₅H₃₄₈N₄₈O₆₈, molecular weight 4813.48 g/mol. Wikidata QID Q108324770, PubChem CID 166567236, ChEMBL ID CHEMBL4297839.
Mechanism of action
Tirzepatide is a balanced dual agonist with higher affinity for the native GIP receptor than for the GLP-1 receptor in cell-based binding assays. Activation of both receptors contributes to (1) glucose-dependent insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells, (2) suppression of glucagon release from α-cells, (3) slowing of gastric emptying, and (4) modulation of central appetite-regulating circuits in the hypothalamus and brainstem.
The dual-agonist design produces metabolic effects greater than those of single-agonist GLP-1 analogues (e.g. semaglutide) in head-to-head comparator studies, an observation attributed to the additive contribution of GIP receptor activation to insulin sensitivity and adipocyte biology.
Research context
Tirzepatide is the most clinically-developed incretin co-agonist to date. Its laboratory reference-standard form is used in preclinical models of obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular outcomes, and metabolic-disease comorbidities. Researchers often investigate Tirzepatide alongside the single-agonist Semaglutide and the tri-agonist Retatrutide in head-to-head receptor-selectivity studies.
Analytical specifications
Every batch of Tirzepatide supplied by NMChem is characterised by reversed-phase HPLC for purity determination and by mass spectrometry for identity confirmation. Certificate of Analysis (COA) documents are issued per batch and made available on request.
Identity is confirmed by electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS); the observed mass falls within ±2 Da of the theoretical monoisotopic mass calculated from the residue sequence. Purity is determined by reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with a trifluoroacetic-acid-modified water/acetonitrile gradient and reported as the area-under-curve percentage of the main peak at 214 nm. NMChem specification is ≥99% main peak. Material ships as lyophilised powder and must be reconstituted in sterile water or bacteriostatic water immediately before use.
UK regulatory status
Supplied as a research-grade reference standard for laboratory use only. Not a licensed medicinal product in the United Kingdom and not approved by the MHRA for human or veterinary administration. Sale is restricted to researchers, institutions and laboratory professionals; the compound must be retained within research premises. End-user compliance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (where applicable) and local institutional biosafety policy is the responsibility of the buyer.
Tirzepatide is the active ingredient of MHRA-licensed prescription medicines (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) when manufactured to pharmaceutical-grade specifications and supplied through licensed prescribers. NMChem's product is a research-grade reference standard and is not a substitute for the prescription product, nor a pharmaceutical-grade preparation. It must not be used for self-administration.
Research literature
Selected peer-reviewed publications from PubMed referencing this compound.
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LY3298176, a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: From discovery to clinical proof of concept.
Coskun T et al. · Molecular metabolism · 2018
PubMed PMID 30473097 -
Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults With Obesity: The SURMOUNT-4 Randomized Clinical Trial.
Aronne LJ et al. · JAMA · 2024
PubMed PMID 38078870 -
Efficacy and safety of LY3298176, a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, placebo-controlled and active comparator-controlled phase 2 trial.
Frias JP et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2018
PubMed PMID 30293770
Related compounds
Other research compounds in adjacent mechanism classes or commonly used alongside Tirzepatide.
Frequently asked questions about Tirzepatide
What is the difference between Tirzepatide and Semaglutide?
Is Tirzepatide the same as Mounjaro?
What is the molecular weight of Tirzepatide?
Get research-grade Tirzepatide from NMChem
UK supplier · HPLC and MS verified · Per-batch Certificate of Analysis · Tracked Royal Mail dispatch.