Overview
Identity note (12 September 2026): the product Purgo Labs lists as "GLP-2 T" is tirzepatide. Purgo's own listing describes it as an "acylated 39-amino-acid dual-pathway receptor agonist", its certificates carry the lot prefix PL-TR, and it is sold in 10mg and 20mg vials — none of which fits teduglutide, the GLP-2 analog an earlier version of this page described. This profile has been corrected to tirzepatide.
Tirzepatide is a 39-amino-acid synthetic peptide built on the GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) backbone and engineered to activate both the GIP receptor and the GLP-1 receptor. A C20 fatty diacid attached through a linker binds albumin and extends the half-life to about five days, which is what allows once-weekly dosing of the approved products.
It is FDA-approved as Mounjaro® (type 2 diabetes, 2022) and Zepbound® (chronic weight management, 2023; obstructive sleep apnoea in obesity, 2024). Research-grade tirzepatide sold as a lyophilised powder is not the approved product and is supplied for laboratory use only.
Mechanism of Action
Tirzepatide is an agonist at two incretin receptors. At the GLP-1 receptor it behaves like other GLP-1 agonists — glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon, slowed gastric emptying and reduced appetite through hypothalamic and hindbrain GLP-1 receptors. At the GIP receptor it adds a second incretin signal: GIP potentiates insulin secretion, acts on adipose tissue, and in the brain appears to contribute to reduced food intake and to blunting of GLP-1-related nausea.
Tirzepatide has an imbalanced profile — its affinity for the GIP receptor is comparable to native GIP while its GLP-1 receptor potency is roughly five-fold lower than native GLP-1, and it shows biased signalling at GLP-1R (favouring cAMP generation over β-arrestin recruitment, which reduces receptor internalisation). Whether the GIP component explains the larger weight loss seen versus semaglutide is still debated; the head-to-head trial evidence is in the references below.
Research Evidence
- FDA-approved as Mounjaro® (type 2 diabetes, 2022) and Zepbound® (chronic weight management, 2023)
- SURMOUNT-1 (n=2,539, 72 weeks): mean weight change −15.0%, −19.5% and −20.9% at 5, 10 and 15 mg vs −3.1% placebo
- SURPASS-2: superior HbA1c and weight reduction versus semaglutide 1 mg in type 2 diabetes
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonism with a C20 fatty-diacid albumin anchor (half-life ≈5 days)
- Most common adverse effects in trials were gastrointestinal (nausea, diarrhoea, constipation), dose-related and mostly transient
- Research-grade product is not the approved formulation; identity and net content should be confirmed on the lot certificate
Bottom line: Strong human evidence for the approved drug; none for any research vial. Research-grade tirzepatide is for laboratory use only. Check the lot certificate for identity and measured net content before drawing any conclusion from it.
Evidence & References
The full compound profile lists the evidence level, the studies behind each claim with PubMed links, and the adverse-effect record. Compound Review does not publish dosing protocols.
Sourcing & Quality
GLP-2 T is available from Purgo Labs with third-party COA verification and research-grade purity standards. View GLP-2 T at Purgo Labs.