Biologic
RCSB PDB 4APD
Liraglutide
Victoza
- Mechanism of action
- GLP-1 receptor agonist (peptide analog)
- In plain language
- A lab-made copy of a natural gut hormone that tells your pancreas to release more insulin after meals and helps you feel full sooner.
- How it works
- Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with substantial amino-acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1, engineered for extended half-life via fatty-acid acylation and albumin binding. It binds and activates GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic beta cells, stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion, meaning the insulin-releasing effect scales with ambient glucose and diminishes as levels normalize. It concurrently suppresses glucagon secretion, reducing hepatic glucose output, and slows gastric emptying, blunting postprandial glucose excursions.
- Therapeutic applications
- Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
- Class
- Peptide analog
- Therapeutic area
- Metabolic / Diabetes
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