Glossary
Dual Agonist
A dual agonist is a single peptide designed to activate two receptors at a set potency ratio. Examples, the design rationale and why that ratio is decisive.
A dual agonist is a single molecule designed to switch on two distinct receptors. In the peptide field the phrase nearly always means metabolic peptides derived from the proglucagon-family template, where the sequence similarity of GLP-1, GIP and glucagon allows one chain to engage several class B receptors.
The reasoning behind the design
Hitting two targets is not the real aim — locking in their ratio is. Two peptides in a combined formulation follow two separate pharmacokinetic courses; one dual agonist carries both activities along a single clearance curve, so the balance between receptors does not drift over time. The published in vitro potency ratios are the defining characteristic of these compounds, and they vary considerably from one molecule to the next.
Dual agonists in our range
- Tirzepatide — acts at GIP and GLP-1 receptors, described as GIP-biased
- Survodutide and Mazdutide — act at GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, each with its own balance
Choosing a comparator
The label "dual agonist" is not a specification in itself. The pair of receptors, the potency ratio and the half-life together decide whether two compounds can be compared meaningfully in an experiment.
Related terms
triple agonist · incretin. See Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide.