One Injection of Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Could Last Over 6 Weeks With New Hydrogel Technology

A single injection of hydrogel-based depot formulations of either semaglutide or tirzepatide maintained therapeutic drug levels for over 6 weeks in a rat diabetes model. These single-dose formulations were equally effective at controlling blood glucose and body weight as daily injections of the same drugs in standard formulations. The hydrogel depot technology is easy to manufacture, injectable, and biocompatible, potentially enabling months-long treatment intervals.

Researchers developed injectable hydrogel depots loaded with semaglutide or tirzepatide. The formulations were tested in a rat model of diabetes. Drug levels were measured over 6+ weeks after a single injection. Blood glucose regulation and body weight were compared between single hydrogel depot injections and daily standard injections of the same drugs.

Current GLP-1 drugs require weekly injections, which many patients find burdensome and leads to poor adherence. A single injection lasting 6+ weeks — or potentially months — could dramatically improve patient compliance and outcomes. For the millions of people who need these peptide drugs but struggle with regular injections, this technology could be transformative.

As GLP-1 drugs become standard treatment for millions with diabetes and obesity, improving convenience is a major priority. This hydrogel technology could be as significant as the transition from daily to weekly dosing that made semaglutide a blockbuster. Monthly or bi-monthly formulations would further reduce injection burden, improve adherence, and potentially enable clinic-administered treatments that ensure compliance.

This is a preprint (bioRxiv) that has not yet undergone peer review. The study used a rat model; pharmacokinetics in larger animals and humans may differ significantly. The 6-week release window, while impressive, has not been confirmed in primates or humans. Manufacturing scale-up and regulatory pathway for a hydrogel depot GLP-1 formulation would be complex. Whether steady-state drug levels from a depot formulation produce the same clinical effects as pulsed weekly dosing is unknown.