GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists are one of the most active areas of metabolic research today. This overview covers the basic mechanisms researchers are studying and how the newer multi-agonist compounds differ from first-generation ones.

Single-receptor agonists

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist studied for its effects on insulin secretion, gastric emptying, and appetite regulation pathways in preclinical models.

Multi-receptor agonists

Newer research compounds target multiple incretin receptors simultaneously:

• Retatrutide is studied as a triple agonist across GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors, with research interest in whether hitting multiple pathways produces a larger metabolic effect than single-receptor agonism.
• GLP2T is studied as a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, examining synergistic effects of incretin mimetics on insulin secretion and gastric emptying rates.

Amylin analogs

Cagrilintide is an amylin receptor agonist rather than a GLP-1 compound, and is frequently studied in combination with GLP-1 agonists to examine whether the two pathways produce complementary effects on appetite-regulation research models.

All compounds discussed are sold strictly for laboratory research use.