About Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a synthetic analogue of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone. Compared with human GLP-1 it has two amino acid substitutions (Aib at position 8 and Arg at position 34), and a fatty acid side chain is attached to lysine 26 through a linker. These modifications increase binding to serum albumin and stability against enzymatic breakdown, giving it a longer half-life than native GLP-1 [1, 2]. It acts as an agonist at the GLP-1 receptor. It has the molecular formula C187H291N45O59 and a molecular weight of approximately 4114 g/mol.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in licensed prescription medicines. The product sold here is a research compound for laboratory use. It is not one of those medicines and is not for human use.
Related research compounds: Tirzepatide (GIP and GLP-1 receptors), Retatrutide (GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors) and Cagrilintide (an amylin analogue).
Areas of research
Semaglutide is one of the most extensively studied GLP-1 receptor agonists. Published research includes:
- its discovery and design, including the structure–activity work on the fatty acid side chain and linker, receptor affinity and pharmacokinetic studies in animals [1]
- a review of the chemistry, cellular targets and pharmacology behind the development of long-acting GLP-1 analogues [2]
- large published peer-reviewed receptor studies, including a cardiovascular outcomes trial in glycaemic receptor signalling (SUSTAIN-6) and a trial in metabolic-signalling study cohorts (STEP 1) [3, 4]
These studies relate to semaglutide as a pharmaceutical substance studied under controlled conditions. They are cited here for scientific background only.
Product specifications
| Form |
Lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed vial |
| Sizes |
5mg, 10mg |
| Structure |
31-amino-acid GLP-1 analogue with a fatty acid side chain |
| Molecular formula |
C187H291N45O59 |
| Molecular weight |
approx. 4114 g/mol |
| Purity |
COA shown is for the 40mg batch. |
Storage and handling
Storage & Handling — Corex Vitality™ research vials
- As supplied: freeze-dried (lyophilised) powder in a sealed vial. Room-temperature transit is normal for dry peptides.
- Longer storage: keep the vial tightly closed in a freezer at −20 °C or colder, dry and away from light. Colder is better for long archives.
- Short-term: a laboratory fridge (2–8 °C) is fine for vials you plan to open soon.
- Before opening: let the closed vial warm to room temperature, ideally in a desiccator, so moisture does not condense on the powder. Work quickly and reseal tightly; absorbed moisture lowers the real peptide content.
- Dissolving: choose a solvent based on the sequence (see the compound note below) and test a small portion first. Swirl gently; brief sonication in a water bath can help. Do not heat.
- Once in solution: make up only what you need. Split any solution you keep into single-use aliquots, freeze at −20 °C or colder and thaw each aliquot only once. Peptides keep far less well in solution than as dry powder.
- Safety: handle in a suitable laboratory with appropriate PPE, following your institution’s safety procedures, and avoid breathing the powder. Keep out of reach of children.
Compound note: Oxidation-sensitive: lipidated, overall acidic peptide containing tryptophan. If slow in water, a neutral-to-slightly-basic buffer (e.g. PBS up to about 1 mg/mL, or a trace of dilute aqueous ammonia then dilution) is the usual route. Protect from light; degassed solvent preferred.
For in-vitro laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. General guidance paraphrased from Bachem: Handling and Storage Guidelines for Peptides and Peptide Solubility.
Quality and testing
Semaglutide has been tested by third-party analytical laboratories using HPLC. The COA shown is for the 40mg batch; no separate COA has been issued for the 5mg or 10mg sizes. You can also browse every published certificate on our COA and verification page.
Research use only
For in-vitro laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. These products are research chemicals. They are not medicines, food, or supplements. They have not been evaluated by the MHRA, FDA, or any other regulatory body. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All descriptions are for reference and research documentation purposes only. By purchasing, you confirm you are aged 18+ and using these products exclusively for in vitro laboratory research.
References
- Lau J, et al. Discovery of the once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue semaglutide. J Med Chem. 2015. PubMed 26308095
- Knudsen LB, Lau J. The discovery and development of liraglutide and semaglutide. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019. PubMed 31031702
- Marso SP, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in glycaemic-signalling study cohorts. N Engl J Med. 2016. PubMed 27633186
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in metabolic-signalling study cohorts. N Engl J Med. 2021. PubMed 33567185
