Dulaglutide vs NA-931
Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, side effects, and research
Also: Trulicity
Dulaglutide (brand name Trulicity) is a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist made by fusing a modified GLP-1 peptide to a fragment of a human antibody, which is what lets it last a full week between shots. It is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and, notably, to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with diabetes. The once-weekly dosing made it a major convenience step up from earlier daily and twice-daily agents.
Also: Bioglutide, cyclic glycine-proline
NA-931 (Bioglutide) is cyclic glycine-proline, a two-amino-acid ring that occurs naturally as a breakdown product of IGF-1. Its developer, Biomed Industries, describes it as an oral once-daily agonist at four receptors at once - IGF-1, GLP-1, GIP and glucagon - and has reported 13 to 15 percent weight loss in a 126-person Phase 2 trial. Those numbers have only ever appeared in conference abstracts, never in a peer-reviewed paper, and no trial results have been filed to ClinicalTrials.gov. The same molecule is already sold as a consumer brain-health supplement and as a Sigma-Aldrich catalogue chemical, which makes it unusually cheap to source and unusually hard to verify.
Key Comparison Insights
- Dulaglutide is FDA approved, while NA-931 remains in research stages.
- Both peptides belong to the Weight Loss category, suggesting similar primary applications.
- Dulaglutide has stronger research evidence (FDA Approved) compared to NA-931 (Phase II Completed, Unpublished).
Detailed Comparison
| Attribute | Dulaglutide | NA-931 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Weight Loss | Weight Loss |
| FDA Status | FDA Approved | Not FDA Approved |
| Clinical Status | Pre I II III IV FDA | Pre I II III IV FDA |
| Mechanism of Action | Dulaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor, mimicking the natural incretin hormone your gut releases after eating. It prompts glucose-dependent insulin release, suppresses glucagon, and slows gastric emptying, so blood sugar drops after meals without driving dangerous lows. The antibody (Fc) portion bolted onto the peptide makes the molecule too large for the kidneys to quickly clear and shields it from the DPP-4 enzyme that destroys natural GLP-1 within minutes. That engineering is the entire reason a once-weekly schedule works. The appetite and modest weight effects come from the same GLP-1 signaling in brain regions that regulate hunger. | Cyclic glycine-proline is a diketopiperazine: glycine and proline joined into a small ring, 154 daltons, roughly a thirtieth the size of tirzepatide or retatrutide. The independent literature, mostly from Jian Guan's group in Auckland, describes a single mechanism: cGP competes with IGF-1 for binding to IGFBP-3, which frees up IGF-1 that was otherwise bound and inactive. That is a bioavailability effect, studied for stroke recovery, Parkinson's and blood pressure rather than for weight. Biomed's own patent filing (WO2025160184A1) goes much further, claiming the same molecule is a 'quadruple receptor agonist' at IGF-1, GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. That claim is worth understanding properly, because it is the entire basis of the weight-loss story. GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors are class B GPCRs, the kind that normally need a thirty-plus residue peptide wrapping into the receptor's binding groove to switch on. A 154-dalton ring activating all three would be a genuinely significant pharmacological finding. No independent group has reported it. Searching PubMed for cyclic glycine-proline alongside GLP-1 returns nothing at all. |
| Common Dosing | 1.5-4.5 mg weekly Once weekly | 120 mg daily, oral Once daily |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection weekly | Oral capsule or tablet, once daily |
| Typical Duration | Long-term / chronic use | 28 days in Phase 1, 13 weeks in Phase 2 |
| Best Time to Take | Before bed or morning (fasted) | Consistent daily timing |
Possible Side Effects May vary by individual |
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| Research Summary | Dulaglutide is backed by extensive human trials, not animal models. The AWARD program established its glucose-lowering efficacy across many type 2 diabetes settings. The landmark REWIND trial, published in The Lancet in 2019, followed over 9,900 patients for a median of more than five years and was unusual because most participants (about 69%) had no prior cardiovascular disease. It found dulaglutide reduced major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke) versus placebo, 12.0% vs 13.4%, a hazard ratio of 0.88. That made it one of the first GLP-1 agents with evidence supporting both primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. The typical downsides are gastrointestinal (nausea, diarrhea), and like others in the class it carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent data. | There are no peer-reviewed publications on NA-931. Not one. Everything in circulation is a conference abstract, and the abstracts carrying the efficacy numbers list Biomed's CEO as sole author with conflicts declared as 'None'. Two trials have completed, both run entirely in Australia: a 74-person Phase 1 (NCT06615700, completed September 2024) and a 126-person Phase 2 (NCT06564753, completed April 2025). Neither has results posted. A third trial (NCT06732245) would run in the US, Australia and New Zealand, but has not started recruiting. The reported weight loss is where this gets difficult. The same 126-person Phase 2 has been presented three times with three different numbers: 14.8 percent at ADA in June 2025, 13.8 percent at ENDO in July, and 13.8 percent with a different placebo-adjusted figure in a September press release. Enrolment is given as 125 in the abstracts against 126 on the registry. A result that moves between presentations is not yet a result. The company's website states NA-931 is in Phase 3. No Phase 3 trial for NA-931 is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The announcement traces to a single paid newswire release in January 2026, syndicated into around twenty local newspaper press-release sections, which reads like broad coverage but is one purchased placement. |
Frequently Asked Questions: Dulaglutide vs NA-931
What is the difference between Dulaglutide and NA-931?
Dulaglutide is a weight loss peptide that dulaglutide (brand name trulicity) is a once-weekly injectable glp-1 receptor agonist made by fusing a modified glp-1 peptide to a fragment of a human antibody, which is what lets it last a full week between shots. it is fda-approved for type 2 diabetes and, notably, to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with diabetes. the once-weekly dosing made it a major convenience step up from earlier daily and twice-daily agents. NA-931 is a weight loss peptide that na-931 (bioglutide) is cyclic glycine-proline, a two-amino-acid ring that occurs naturally as a breakdown product of igf-1. its developer, biomed industries, describes it as an oral once-daily agonist at four receptors at once - igf-1, glp-1, gip and glucagon - and has reported 13 to 15 percent weight loss in a 126-person phase 2 trial. those numbers have only ever appeared in conference abstracts, never in a peer-reviewed paper, and no trial results have been filed to clinicaltrials.gov. the same molecule is already sold as a consumer brain-health supplement and as a sigma-aldrich catalogue chemical, which makes it unusually cheap to source and unusually hard to verify. The main differences lie in their mechanisms of action and clinical applications.
Which is better, Dulaglutide or NA-931?
Neither is universally "better" - the choice depends on your specific goals. Dulaglutide is typically used for weight loss purposes, while NA-931 is used for weight loss. Always consult with a healthcare provider to determine which may be appropriate for your situation.
Can Dulaglutide and NA-931 be used together?
Some peptide protocols combine multiple compounds for synergistic effects. However, using Dulaglutide and NA-931 together should only be considered under medical supervision, as both compounds have their own side effect profiles and potential interactions. Research on their combined use may be limited.