Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist


Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists or incretin mimetics, are agonists of the GLP-1 receptor. This class of medications is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. One of their advantages over older insulin secretagogues, such as sulfonylureas or meglitinides, is that they have a lower risk of causing hypoglycemia. GLP-1 as has a short duration of action, so to overcome this limitation several modifications either in the drug or the formulations are being developed.
There is some dispute over the safety profile of these drugs due to proliferative effects in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with both acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. While some recent studies have not found that these drugs can cause either pancreatitis or cancer, a 2017 study found that recent prescription of incretins was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer over non-insulin anti diabetic drugs.

Health effects

As of 2017 it was unclear if they affect a person's risk of death. A JAMA article meta-analysis in 2018 showed GLP-1 agonists were associated with lower stroke risk than controls.

Approved

These agents work by activating the GLP-1R, rather than inhibiting the breakdown of GLP-1 as do DPP-4 inhibitors, and are generally considered more potent.