Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a 31-amino-acid GLP-1 analogue with an Aib substitution at position 8 and a C18 di-acid side chain that confers albumin binding and an extended half-life. It is the most widely cited GLP-1 reference compound in incretin receptor pharmacology and serves as the standard comparator for dual and triple agonist studies.

Semaglutide binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor — a G protein-coupled receptor expressed on pancreatic beta cells, gut enteroendocrine cells and neurons in appetite-regulating brain regions. Receptor activation initiates cAMP signalling and supports glucose-dependent insulin secretion and suppression of inappropriate glucagon release. GLP-1 receptors expressed in hypothalamic and brainstem circuits are investigated for roles in satiety signalling and food-intake regulation. The Aib substitution at position 8 blocks DPP-4 cleavage, while C18 fatty-acid acylation enables reversible albumin binding, extending plasma half-life to approximately one week. The combination of receptor selectivity, structural stability and long duration distinguishes semaglutide from earlier GLP-1 analogues in the research literature.

One of the most extensively studied metabolic peptides in modern clinical research. Glucose regulation: large controlled trials examining HbA1c, fasting glucose and insulin secretion endpoints in type 2 diabetes models. Body composition: the STEP trial series (six major trials) on weight management outcomes. Cardiovascular outcomes: the SELECT trial demonstrating reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with cardiovascular disease and overweight without diabetes — published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023. Kidney research: FLOW trial published 2024, examining chronic kidney disease progression. Liver research: clinical programmes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Neurological research: emerging investigations of GLP-1 receptor signalling in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration models and reward pathways. The active ingredient is also present in authorised pharmaceutical products (Ozempic, Wegovy); the FAB Research pen is not an approved medicine and is supplied for laboratory research only.

• 2.5 mg per application (one metered dose)
• 4 doses per pen (10 mg total)
• Pre-filled sterile solution — no reconstitution step required
• Widely used as the reference GLP-1 agonist comparator; suitable for standard incretin assay controls

Storage: Store refrigerated at 2–8 °C in the original sealed box. Do not freeze. Protect from light.

• For in-vitro laboratory and preclinical research only — not for human or animal administration
• Most extensively characterised GLP-1 agonist in the literature — recommended positive control for incretin receptor pharmacology studies
• Note: semaglutide is present in approved medicines (Ozempic, Wegovy); the FAB Research pen is a research compound, not a pharmaceutical product
• DPP-4 resistant (Aib at position 8); C18 di-acid chain confers albumin binding — account for these in binding assay designs

• STEP-1 (Wilding et al., NEJM 2021): nausea (44%), diarrhoea (30%), vomiting (24%), constipation (24%) — at therapeutic dose levels
• Headache, fatigue
• Injection site reactions
• Gallbladder events (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis) documented in longer-duration trial data
• Pancreatitis: rare but documented in post-marketing surveillance at clinical doses

Effects listed are observations from published research literature and are not predictions for any specific use. All FAB Research products are for in-vitro laboratory research — not for human or animal administration.