Average body-weight change in the 15 mg group after 72 weeks in the SURMOUNT-1 obesity trial of the medicine. A published trial result for the molecule, not a Form Labs product claim, and not for human use.
SURMOUNT-1 - New England Journal of Medicine, 2022Plain-English research guideLY3298176
Tirzepatide research guide
Everything worth knowing, without the jargon.
Tirzepatide (research code LY3298176) is a lab-made 39-amino-acid peptide developed by Eli Lilly, studied in large Phase 3 trials for acting on two receptor systems at once - GIP and GLP-1. It's the same molecule as the approved prescription medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound. Form Labs supplies it as laboratory reference material of the molecule - not the medicine, and not for human use.
REV 2026-07 · 7 Aug 20263 peer-reviewed studiesResearch-use-only context
What the papers reportThird-party literature - not product claims
How far HbA1c (a three-month blood-sugar marker) fell at the 15 mg dose over 40 weeks versus semaglutide in the SURPASS-2 diabetes trial. A published trial result for the molecule, not a Form Labs product claim, and not for human use.
SURPASS-2 - New England Journal of Medicine, 2021Receptor systems the molecule acts on in the studies: GIP (meal response) and GLP-1 (fullness) - a dual agonist, or 'twincretin'. An identity fact, not a product claim.
Dual GIP + GLP-1 agonist - Coskun et al., Molecular Metabolism, 2018Amino acids in the tirzepatide peptide (research code LY3298176, developed by Eli Lilly) - an identity fact, not a product claim.
Published tirzepatide research - Coskun et al., Molecular Metabolism, 2018Why it matters
One molecule, two pathways.
Researchers study appetite and blood-sugar regulation through the body's gut-hormone signalling systems. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) targets one pathway - GLP-1, the fullness pathway. Tirzepatide adds a second: GIP, the meal-and-insulin-response pathway.
Whether switching on two at once does more than one is the question its Phase 3 trials tested. Those are study questions about the molecule in the medicine's trials - not claims about anything Form Labs sells.
How it works
One molecule, two gut signals.
A plain-English look at each pathway, kept at a summary level.
Fullness
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is the pathway researchers link to feeling full and to the stomach emptying more slowly. It's the pathway semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) acts on. Research framing, not a product-effect claim.
Meal & insulin response
GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) is involved in the insulin response and in how the body handles nutrients after a meal. Tirzepatide acts on GIP alongside GLP-1.
Dual agonist ('twincretin')
Because one molecule switches on two receptor systems, researchers call tirzepatide a dual agonist, or 'twincretin'. Retatrutide goes further still, adding a third pathway (glucagon). All three are described here only as research molecules.
Pharmacology at a glance
- Research code
- LY3298176
- Class
- Dual agonist - one molecule designed to switch on two receptor systems at once: GIP and GLP-1.
- Molecule
- A 39-amino-acid lab-made peptide (a short amino-acid chain) - the same molecule as the approved prescription medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound.
- Route studied
- In the medicine's clinical trials it was given as a once-weekly injection under the skin, under clinician supervision. That's the trial record of the medicine, not use guidance for this material.
- Reported half-life
- Described in published pharmacokinetic reports of the medicine as long enough to support once-weekly dosing. This guide quotes no specific half-life figure. (Half-life means the time for the amount in the blood to fall by half.)
- Originator
- Developed by Eli Lilly
- Approval status
- The molecule is approved as a prescription medicine - Mounjaro (the US FDA and Australia's TGA) and Zepbound (the FDA only; Zepbound is not TGA-approved). The material Form Labs supplies is NOT that medicine: it is research-use-only reference material of the tirzepatide molecule, for laboratory research, not for human or animal use, with no dosing or medical guidance.
What it has been studied for
Study areas from the published literature.
Body weight / obesity
Body-weight change in adults with obesity - the SURMOUNT-1 trial behind the -20.9% figure (a trial of the medicine, not a Form Labs result).
SURMOUNT-1 - New England Journal of Medicine, 2022Type 2 diabetes
Blood-sugar control (HbA1c) and body weight, compared head-to-head with semaglutide - the SURPASS-2 trial behind the -2.30-point figure.
SURPASS-2 - New England Journal of Medicine, 2021Dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonism
How one peptide can switch on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptor systems - the mechanism the molecule was designed around.
Coskun et al., Molecular Metabolism, 2018Approved-medicine context
The same molecule is the approved medicine Mounjaro (TGA and FDA) and Zepbound (FDA only). Those are doctor-prescribed medicines; this page covers reference material of the molecule, not those medicines.
Regulatory approvals (FDA; TGA)The studies
The evidence, study by study.
Open any study for a plain summary, what it measured, the finding, and a link to the paper.
This was the first detailed characterisation of LY3298176, showing one peptide could switch on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptor systems - the basis for the 'dual agonist' idea.
- Studied in
- Lab cell tests and animals.
- Design
- A preclinical characterisation study - an early check of how the molecule behaved.
- Measured
- How strongly the molecule bound each receptor, plus body weight and blood sugar in animals.
The team described LY3298176 as one peptide active at both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, and in animals it affected body weight and blood sugar. A preclinical result about the molecule, not a Form Labs product result.
DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.09.009Over 40 weeks this trial compared the medicine against semaglutide 1 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes, tracking blood sugar (HbA1c) and body weight.
- Studied in
- Adults with type 2 diabetes.
- Design
- A 40-week randomised trial with an active comparator (semaglutide 1 mg).
- Measured
- HbA1c (a three-month blood-sugar marker) and body-weight change.
At the 15 mg dose, HbA1c fell by 2.30 points, versus 1.86 points with semaglutide; body weight also differed, by about 5.5 kg at 15 mg versus semaglutide. These are published trial results for the molecule, not a Form Labs product claim, and not for human use.
DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2107519Over 72 weeks, average body weight fell by 20.9% in the 15 mg group, versus 3.1% on placebo (the inactive look-alike).
- Studied in
- Adults with obesity.
- Design
- A 72-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Measured
- Percent body-weight change.
Average body weight fell by 20.9% at 72 weeks in the 15 mg group, versus 3.1% on placebo. Across the dose groups, the published averages were -15.0% at 5 mg, -19.5% at 10 mg, and -20.9% at 15 mg - a trial-record dose ladder, not a dosing instruction. This is a published trial result for the molecule, not a Form Labs product claim, and not for human use.
DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038Compare
Placed beside familiar research names.
This table describes literature and approval status only.
| Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy) | Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) | Retatrutide (LY3437943) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 (fullness pathway) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GIP (meal & insulin-response pathway) | - | Yes | Yes |
| Glucagon (energy & liver pathway) | - | - | Yes |
| Receptor systems acted on | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Approval status | Approved medicine | Approved medicine | Investigational - in Phase 3 trials |
Comparison is for context from published records. It is not product-use guidance.
Risks recorded in studies
The side effects the trials reported.
Stomach & bowel effects
Most common in the trialsNausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation were the most common side effects in the medicine's Phase 3 trials - mostly mild to moderate and more frequent at higher doses. That's the trial record of the medicine, not a statement about the Form Labs vial.
Reduced appetite
Reported in the trialsLower appetite and feeling full sooner were reported as part of how the molecule works in the medicine's trials. These describe the medicine, not anything Form Labs sells.
Injection-site reactions
UncommonMild reactions where the injection was given were reported occasionally in the trials. That's the trial record of the medicine, not use guidance.
Cautions on the medicine's label
Class- and label-levelApproved GLP-1 and dual-agonist medicines carry label warnings about pancreas inflammation, gallbladder problems, thyroid tumours seen in rodent studies, and low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas (a diabetes drug group). Those apply to the prescribed medicine, not to research-use-only reference material.
Serious & long-term risks
Per the medicine's labelLong-term outcomes for the medicine are tracked in its trial programme and regulatory label. None of that describes the Form Labs vial, which is not the medicine and is not for human use.
This section summarizes third-party trial records. It is not a complete safety profile or advice.
Where evidence stops
Groups and questions not established.
- The Form Labs vial, specifically: it isn't the medicine and isn't for use, so it has no 'results'. Every number on this page is from the medicine's published trials.
- Dosing, preparation, and administration: not covered here. Form Labs gives no such guidance, and the trial doses named above are trial record only.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the medicine's label carries caveats. The research-use-only material is not for human use under any circumstances.
- Anything beyond the published trials: this guide sticks to the locked trial figures and doesn't extrapolate or add unsourced numbers.
Development and status
Where the research record sits.
Coskun and colleagues report the discovery and characterisation of LY3298176, a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist (Molecular Metabolism).
SURPASS-2 reports Phase 3 type-2-diabetes results against semaglutide (New England Journal of Medicine).
SURMOUNT-1 reports Phase 3 body-weight results - the -20.9% figure (NEJM). The FDA approves Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes; the TGA follows in December 2022.
The FDA approves Zepbound for weight management. (Zepbound is not TGA-approved for sale in Australia.)
The TGA adds a weight-management indication to Mounjaro in Australia.
Approval status: The molecule is approved as a prescription medicine - Mounjaro (the US FDA and Australia's TGA) and Zepbound (the FDA only; Zepbound is not TGA-approved). The material Form Labs supplies is NOT that medicine: it is research-use-only reference material of the tirzepatide molecule, for laboratory research, not for human or animal use, with no dosing or medical guidance.Whatever the molecule’s status elsewhere, what Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material - for laboratory work, not for people or animals.
Evidence and limitations
What this means, and what it does not.
The results come from the medicine's trials
The body-weight and blood-sugar figures on this page are published results from the medicine's Phase 3 trials - not Form Labs product results, and not a promise about anything Form Labs sells.
This is reference material, not the medicine
The molecule is the approved medicine Mounjaro (and Zepbound in some markets). What Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material of the same molecule - not those medicines, not a pharmacy or prescription product, and not for human or animal use.
There were side effects in the trials
Stomach and bowel effects were the most common in the medicine's trials, and they hit higher-dose groups harder. Those describe the medicine, not the Form Labs vial.
The maker ran the trials
The Phase 3 programme was run by Eli Lilly, the company that developed the drug. That's normal at this stage and is worth noting alongside the results.
Where Form Labs fits
This guide is a plain-English summary of published research that Form Labs did not run. It's not medical advice, not a product claim, and not use guidance. Form Labs supplies tirzepatide strictly as reference material of the molecule, with a batch number you can match to its lab report, for laboratory research.
Lab handling
Reference-material handling context.
Research-use boundary
Tirzepatide is supplied strictly for laboratory research. It is not for human consumption, veterinary, medical, or cosmetic use, and no directions for use are given.
Storage
Supplied freeze-dried. Keep it at 2-8 C (fridge-cold) and out of light, following the vial label, the matching lab report for the batch, and the receiving lab's own written procedures.
Reconstitution
Reconstitution means mixing the dry powder back into liquid for handling. This guide doesn't set a method - that's down to the receiving lab's written protocol and the batch paperwork.
Stability
How long a freeze-dried peptide stays within spec depends on how it's stored, and is tracked through the batch paperwork. Any working window after it's been mixed belongs in the lab's own protocol, not this guide.
Lab report (COA)
The certificate of analysis (COA) for the batch is delivered to your account after purchase, with a batch number you can match to the vial. It's the authority for identity, purity, and release - not something shipped in the box.
Perth dispatch
Available to Perth researchers as RUO reference material with lot-matched paperwork, dispatched from Perth via Australia Post. For laboratory research use only.
Glossary
Plain-English definitions.
- Agonist
- A molecule that switches a receptor on.
- Dual agonist
- One molecule that switches on two different receptor systems at once.
- GLP-1
- A gut-hormone pathway tied to feeling full and to the stomach emptying more slowly.
- GIP
- A pathway involved in the insulin response and in handling nutrients after a meal.
- Incretin
- The gut-hormone family (including GLP-1 and GIP) studied for insulin and appetite signals.
- Twincretin
- An informal research term for a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist, because it acts on the two incretin receptors.
- HbA1c
- A blood marker of average blood sugar over about three months, used to track diabetes.
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids.
- Phase 3
- The large, late-stage human trial stage used to support regulatory approval of a medicine.
- Placebo
- An inactive look-alike used as a comparison in a trial.
- RCT
- Randomised controlled trial - people are assigned by chance and compared with another group, often a placebo.
- Research use only
- A lab-only boundary - not for human consumption, veterinary use, medical use, or cosmetic use.
FAQ
Questions answered plainly.
Tirzepatide's research code is LY3298176, a lab-made 39-amino-acid peptide developed by Eli Lilly. Published studies describe it acting on two receptor systems at once - GIP and GLP-1 - which is why researchers call it a dual agonist. Form Labs supplies it as reference material of the molecule for laboratory research only.
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist: one molecule that switches on two receptor systems - GIP and GLP-1 - at the same time. Researchers informally call that 'twincretin', because both are incretin (gut-hormone) pathways. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), by contrast, acts on only one, GLP-1.
Tirzepatide is studied in two large Phase 3 programmes of the medicine: SURPASS, in type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-2 compared it head-to-head with semaglutide), and SURMOUNT, in obesity and overweight (SURMOUNT-1 reported the -20.9% body-weight figure). These are trials of the medicine, not of anything Form Labs sells.
Tirzepatide sits in the middle of a one-two-three ladder. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) acts on one receptor system, GLP-1; tirzepatide acts on two, GLP-1 and GIP; retatrutide adds a third, glucagon. All three are described here only as research molecules - the first two are approved medicines, while retatrutide is still investigational.
Tirzepatide is the same molecule as the approved prescription medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound. Mounjaro is approved by the US FDA and Australia's TGA; Zepbound is FDA-approved but not TGA-approved for Australia. Those are doctor-prescribed medicines. What Form Labs supplies is research-use-only reference material of the tirzepatide molecule - not those medicines, not a pharmacy or prescription product, and not for human use.
Tirzepatide is not supplied here for weight loss. The body-weight and blood-sugar results on this page come from clinical trials of the medicine, not from anything Form Labs sells. This product is reference material of the molecule for laboratory research only - it is not a medicine, not a weight-loss product, and not for people or animals to take.
Tirzepatide supplied by Form Labs is not Mounjaro and is not a way to buy Mounjaro. It is research-use-only reference material of the same molecule - not the approved medicine, not a prescription product, and not for human use. Mounjaro is a Schedule 4 prescription medicine in Australia, available only through a doctor.
Tirzepatide is supplied here strictly as reference material for laboratory research - not a medicine, supplement, or food, and not for people or animals to take. The research described on this page concerns the tirzepatide molecule in published studies, not a Form Labs product. Form Labs did not run those studies.
References
Every figure, sourced.
Educational references to third-party literature. Form Labs is unaffiliated with the study authors.
Discovery and characterisation of LY3298176 as a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (preclinical). Coskun T, et al. Molecular Metabolism, 2018.
DOISURPASS-2: tirzepatide versus semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes, 40 weeks. New England Journal of Medicine, 2021.
DOISURMOUNT-1: tirzepatide for obesity, 72 weeks (the -20.9% body-weight result). Jastreboff AM, et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 2022.
DOICitations are provided for education only. No therapeutic, weight-loss, or efficacy claims are made.
How we produce these guides
- Who writes them
- These guides are written and maintained in-house by the Form Laboratories research team. They are not authored by a named clinician, and nothing in them is medical advice. Where a guide is short, that is because the published research is thin - we would rather say so than fill the space.
- What they are built from
- Each guide summarises published, peer-reviewed literature. Every study we describe is listed in full at the bottom of the page with a link to the original paper, so you can open it and check what it actually says. Form Laboratories did not run any of the cited studies.
- What they deliberately leave out
- These guides describe how the biology works and what the published research measured. They do not contain dosing, preparation, reconstitution or administration instructions, and they make no claim about what any compound would do for a person. Everything we supply is research-use-only reference material.
- How we handle uncertainty
- Where the evidence is limited to cell cultures or animals, we say so in the study entry rather than implying a human result. Where a compound has no completed human trial, the guide states that plainly.
The product
Form Laboratories - Tirzepatide
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Reference material for laboratory research only.
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