At a glance
- Mechanism of action
- Mazdutide is a peptide drug and an analogue of the gut hormone oxyntomodulin (OXM). It simultaneously activates the GLP-1 receptor (satiety, slowed gastric emptying, insulin secretion) and the glucagon receptor (energy expenditure, hepatic fat oxidation). OXM-typical fatty-acid acylation extends its half-life to roughly 6-7 days, enabling once-weekly subcutaneous dosing.
- Benefits & use
- In Phase 3, mazdutide produced weight loss in adults with obesity that was comparable to tirzepatide. In type 2 diabetes it lowered HbA1c and body weight together. Secondary benefits included reductions in waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, liver fat and serum uric acid.
- Study status
- GLORY-1 (Phase 3, China, NEJM 2025, n=610) showed -13.0 % at week 48 with 4 mg; 81.6 % and 71.6 % of participants on 4 mg and 6 mg achieved >=5 % weight loss, and 49.5 % on 6 mg achieved >=15 %. GLORY-2 (JAMA 2026) reported up to 20.1 % weight loss with 9 mg. DREAMS-1 (Phase 3 in T2D) was published in Nature. A 2024 network meta-analysis places mazdutide alongside tirzepatide and retatrutide. No FDA or EMA approval exists as of 2026.
- Dosing note
- The Chinese clinical program uses once-weekly subcutaneous dosing with a simple titration (e.g. 2-4-6 mg, or escalation to 9 mg). This is an informational study summary, not a dosing instruction. Half-life is approximately 6-7 days.
Use in the injection calculator
Mazdutide is a peptide drug and dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist from the oxyntomodulin family (development codes OXM3, IBI362, LY3305677). It was originally developed by Eli Lilly and brought to approval in China by Innovent Biologics. In the Phase 3 program GLORY-1 (NEJM 2025) and GLORY-2 (JAMA 2026) mazdutide achieved weight loss of up to 20 % in adults with obesity - on par with tirzepatide and with an additional glucagon-driven boost in energy expenditure. NMPA approval for weight management followed in June 2025 and for type 2 diabetes in September 2025.
How does mazdutide work?
Mazdutide mimics the natural gut hormone oxyntomodulin (OXM) and engages two receptors at the same time:
- GLP-1 receptor: suppresses hypothalamic hunger signalling, slows gastric emptying and promotes glucose-dependent insulin secretion.
- Glucagon receptor (GCGR): raises resting energy expenditure, stimulates lipolysis and reduces hepatic fat storage - the mechanism that separates mazdutide from pure GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide.
Fatty-acid acylation extends its half-life to roughly 6-7 days, supporting once-weekly subcutaneous dosing.
What do the Phase 3 trials show?
GLORY-1 (obesity, NEJM 2025)
Randomised Phase 3 trial in 610 Chinese adults with BMI >=28 or >=24 plus a weight-related comorbidity, without diabetes. Primary endpoint was percent change in body weight at 48 weeks:
- Mazdutide 4 mg: -11.3 % at week 32 and -13.0 % at week 48 (treatment-policy estimand).
- 81.6 % on 4 mg and 71.6 % on 6 mg reached >=5 % weight loss.
- 49.5 % in the 6 mg arm reached >=15 % weight loss.
GLORY-2 (BMI >=30 without diabetes, JAMA 2026)
With the 9 mg dose, Innovent reported up to 20.1 % weight loss - comparable to tirzepatide in SURMOUNT-1.
DREAMS-1 (type 2 diabetes, published in Nature)
In T2D, mazdutide at 24 weeks improved both glycaemia and body weight: -5.50 % (4 mg), -7.34 % (6 mg) vs. -1.15 % on placebo. 48.8 % (4 mg) and 64.0 % (6 mg) achieved >=5 % weight loss.
How is mazdutide dosed?
The Chinese clinical scheme uses step-wise titration (e.g. 2-4-6 mg weekly, with escalation to 9 mg). For handling pens and switching strengths, the Peptipedia guides and the reverse dose calculator are useful starting points. These notes summarise trial protocols only and are not a dosing instruction.
What side effects are typical?
The safety profile mirrors the GLP-1 class: mainly gastrointestinal events (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea), concentrated during dose escalation. Severe hypoglycaemia was rare without concomitant insulin. Because of the glucagon component, effects on heart rate and lipid profile continue to be monitored.
How does mazdutide compare to tirzepatide and retatrutide?
Mazdutide sits in the second generation of poly-agonists and is positioned between established incretin mimetics:
- Unlike semaglutide (GLP-1 only) and tirzepatide (GLP-1/GIP), mazdutide activates GLP-1 plus glucagon.
- Compared with the triple agonist retatrutide (GLP-1/GIP/glucagon), the GIP component is missing, but mazdutide already has completed Phase 3 and regulatory approval.
A 2024 network meta-analysis ranks mazdutide alongside tirzepatide and retatrutide, with comparable weight reduction at the respective top doses.
Current status and outlook
As of 2026, mazdutide is approved only in China (NMPA, brand name Mashiduode). An FDA or EMA approval is pending; trial data in Western populations have not yet been published. Mazdutide is therefore not a prescribable drug outside China. Related background reading is available via the Peptipedia tools overview.
Related peptides
Sources
- Ji L et al. Once-Weekly Mazdutide in Chinese Adults with Obesity or Overweight. N Engl J Med 2025.
- Gao L et al. Treatment With 9-mg Mazdutide for Weight Reduction in Chinese Adults With Obesity: The GLORY-2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2026.
- Ji L et al. A phase 2 randomised controlled trial of mazdutide in Chinese overweight adults or adults with obesity. Nat Commun 2023.
- Jiang H et al. A phase 1b RCT of a GLP-1 and glucagon receptor dual agonist IBI362 (LY3305677) in Chinese patients with T2D. Nat Commun 2022.
- Xie Z et al. Seven GLP-1 receptor agonists and polyagonists for weight loss: a network meta-analysis. Metabolism 2024.
- Deng B et al. Safety and efficacy of GLP-1 and glucagon receptor dual agonist for T2D and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrine 2024.