Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a long-acting analogue of human GLP-1 and has a half-life of approximately one week [1].
The chemical structure of semaglutide is a 34-amino acid peptide with a molecular weight of 4117.8 g/mol [2]. It is a modified version of human GLP-1, where the amino acid alanine at position 8 has been replaced with a fatty acid side chain, which increases its half-life and allows for once-weekly dosing [3].
Semaglutide is administered subcutaneously and is available as a solution in a pre-filled pen [1]. It works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor, which stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, and slows gastric emptying, resulting in improved glycemic control [3].
In conclusion, semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes. It has a molecular weight of 4117.8 g/mol and a modified structure of human GLP-1 with a fatty acid side chain at position 8. It is administered subcutaneously and works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor.
Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch. (2021). Semaglutide. Retrieved from https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/SEMAGLUTIDE
[2] PubChem. (2021). Semaglutide. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Semaglutide
[3] Wikipedia. (2021). Semaglutide. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaglutide