GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
5mg / vial
Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist and arguably the most intensively researched metabolic compound of the past decade. Its effects on appetite regulation, insulin secretion, and body weight have made it the subject of thousands of published studies spanning diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular medicine, and now neurodegeneration.
Semaglutide is a 94% homologous analogue of human GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a 30-amino acid incretin hormone secreted by L-cells of the small intestine in response to food intake. Three structural modifications distinguish it from native GLP-1: substitution of alanine with alpha-aminoisobutyric acid at position 8 (conferring resistance to DPP-IV degradation), substitution of lysine with arginine at position 34, and conjugation of a C-18 fatty diacid chain to the modified lysine at position 26 via a linker. These modifications extend its half-life to approximately 7 days and enhance albumin binding, making it the longest-acting GLP-1 analogue in research use. At 4113.6 g/mol, Semaglutide is the largest and most structurally complex molecule in the Zenic Labs catalogue.
As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, Semaglutide engages multiple overlapping mechanisms. Peripherally, it stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, suppresses glucagon from alpha cells, and slows gastric emptying — collectively improving glycaemic control in metabolic research models. Centrally, it acts on GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus and brainstem to suppress appetite and reduce food intake. More recent research has identified GLP-1 receptor expression in additional brain regions, including the substantia nigra and hippocampus, driving interest in Semaglutide's potential in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration research. Its 7-day half-life makes it practical for research protocols requiring sustained GLP-1 receptor engagement.
Semaglutide has the most extensive published research base of any compound in the Zenic Labs catalogue. Major research programmes include the SUSTAIN and PIONEER trials (glycaemic control), the STEP programme (obesity and weight reduction), and FLOW (renal outcomes). Emerging research areas include NASH/MAFLD (metabolic fatty liver disease), addiction and reward pathways, Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration (driven by GLP-1 receptor expression in the brain), and polycystic ovary syndrome. The breadth of active research makes Semaglutide one of the most versatile compounds available for metabolic and CNS research.
Commonly researched with