Dulaglutide

Overview

Dulaglutide is a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist built as a GLP-1 analog fused to an antibody (IgG4-Fc) fragment, which extends its half-life to about five days. It is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and is supported by the large AWARD Phase 3 program plus the REWIND cardiovascular outcomes trial, which showed a statistically significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. It is marketed by Eli Lilly as Trulicity. Approval is indication-specific; it is not approved as a stand-alone obesity drug, and weight loss with dulaglutide is generally more modest than with newer agents. It is a true peptide-based biologic.

Commonly Reported Uses

These are uses commonly discussed or marketed by users and vendors — not a list of proven or approved benefits, and not a recommendation.

• Type 2 diabetes glycemic control (FDA-approved indication)
• Reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes with CV disease or risk factors (FDA-approved indication)
• Weight reduction as a secondary effect (not an FDA-approved obesity indication; effect is typically modest)

What to Track

Data points you and your clinician might monitor. For observation only — not a diagnostic protocol.

• Labs — HbA1c and fasting glucose for glycemic response
• Smart scale — weight and body-fat % trend
• Labs — lipid panel and blood pressure if a clinician is tracking cardiovascular risk
• MyFitnessPal — calories and protein g/kg
• Subjective — daily nausea, appetite, and GI tolerability check-ins

Sources & References

1. [1]Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND) — The Lancet
2. [2]Trulicity (Dulaglutide): A New GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Type 2 Diabetes — PMC
3. [3]FDA grants dulaglutide CV indication for diabetes with or without established CVD — Healio