efinopegdutide

Efinopegdutide is an investigational peptide-based biopharmaceutical designed as a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and the glucagon receptor (GCGR). It is being developed primarily for the treatment of metabolic liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The drug’s mechanism—simultaneous activation of both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors—is hypothesized to provide superior efficacy in reducing liver fat content and inflammation compared to agents targeting only one pathway. Efinopegdutide is administered via once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Clinical trials have demonstrated that it significantly reduces liver fat content in patients with NAFLD/NASH, outperforming semaglutide in this regard, though with similar effects on body weight reduction. Its safety profile is characterized mainly by gastrointestinal adverse events such as nausea and diarrhea. Efinopegdutide was originally developed by Hanmi Pharmaceutical before being licensed globally to Merck for further development and commercialization[1][2][5][6].

Other names

LAPS GLP/GCGLAPS-GCG/GLP-1LAPS-OXMOxyntomodulin immunoglobulin conjugate