GLP-1
Glucagon-like peptide-1, an incretin hormone released by intestinal cells after eating that stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite.
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring gut hormone with a very short half-life of approximately 2 minutes due to rapid degradation by the enzyme DPP-4. Pharmaceutical GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and liraglutide are engineered analogs with extended half-lives — from hours to a week — that amplify GLP-1’s effects for blood sugar control and weight management.
The GLP-1 class has become one of the most clinically significant peptide drug categories, with FDA-approved medications for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The commercial success of GLP-1 agonists has also driven significant interest in the broader peptide therapeutics space, highlighting how endogenous peptide sequences can be optimized into powerful pharmaceutical agents.