Dulaglutide, a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist, effectively lowers blood sugar, promotes weight loss, and improves cardiovascular markers in type 2 diabetes with similar efficacy and safety to other drugs in its class.
Once-weekly dosingDulaglutide offers the convenience of a single weekly injection while delivering consistent blood sugar control, weight loss, and cardiovascular risk factor improvements
What the researchers found
Dulaglutide demonstrated efficacy across multiple clinical scenarios: as first-line, second-line, and third-line therapy for type 2 diabetes. Key benefits included reductions in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and postprandial glucose levels, along with weight loss.
Additional benefits included improved β-cell function and cardiovascular risk factor improvements (lower blood pressure, improved lipid levels). The drug had a low hypoglycemia risk and an adverse effect profile similar to other GLP-1 RAs, primarily transient gastrointestinal symptoms with a potential risk for pancreatitis.
Why it matters
The GLP-1 receptor agonist class has become one of the most important treatment options for type 2 diabetes. Dulaglutide's once-weekly dosing offers a practical advantage for patients who prefer less frequent injections, potentially improving adherence to treatment and long-term diabetes management.
How the study worked
Evidence-based narrative review examining clinical trial data on dulaglutide's efficacy and safety in type 2 diabetes. The review covers data from the AWARD (Assessment of Weekly Administration of LY2189265 in Diabetes) clinical trial program and other available evidence at the time of publication.
What this study cannot tell us
This review was published in 2015, relatively early in dulaglutide's clinical use. Long-term safety and efficacy data, including the REWIND cardiovascular outcomes trial results, were not yet available. The review does not compare dulaglutide to newer agents like semaglutide or tirzepatide. Head-to-head comparisons with all other GLP-1 RAs were limited.
How to read the evidence
This is an evidence-based narrative review summarizing data from multiple randomized controlled trials in the AWARD clinical trial program. While it provides a comprehensive overview of the available evidence, it is a review rather than a primary research study or meta-analysis.
When this study was published
Published in 2015, this was an early comprehensive review of dulaglutide. Since then, substantial additional evidence has emerged, including the REWIND cardiovascular outcomes trial showing cardiovascular benefits in a broad type 2 diabetes population.
The bigger picture
Dulaglutide was one of the earlier once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists, helping establish the convenience paradigm that has since been extended by semaglutide and tirzepatide. While newer agents have shown greater weight loss and cardiovascular benefits, dulaglutide (and its REWIND cardiovascular outcome trial) contributed important evidence that GLP-1 drugs provide cardiovascular protection in type 2 diabetes.
Questions still open
- How does dulaglutide's cardiovascular protection compare to semaglutide and tirzepatide based on subsequent trial data?
- Is dulaglutide's once-weekly dosing convenience sufficient to compete with oral semaglutide for patient preference?
- What role does dulaglutide play in current treatment guidelines given the availability of newer GLP-1-based therapies?
Common questions
How does dulaglutide compare to other GLP-1 drugs?
What are the main side effects of dulaglutide?
Read the original research
Dulaglutide: an evidence-based review of its potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Core evidence, 10, 11-21
Citation
Edwards, Krystal L; Minze, Molly G. (2015). Dulaglutide: an evidence-based review of its potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.. Core evidence, 10, 11-21. https://doi.org/10.2147/CE.S55944