Albiglutide

also known as: Tanzeum, Eperzan, GSK716155

An FDA- and EMA-approved once-weekly GLP-1 agonist (Tanzeum / Eperzan, GSK) withdrawn from the market in 2018 for commercial rather than safety reasons after failing to differentiate commercially against dulaglutide and semaglutide.

A recombinant albumin-fusion GLP-1 agonist (two tandem modified GLP-1 sequences linked to human serum albumin) approved by the FDA (2014) and EMA (2014) as once-weekly subcutaneous therapy for type 2 diabetes, voluntarily withdrawn by GSK in 2018 for commercial reasons; HARMONY-Outcomes demonstrated cardiovascular benefit comparable to other GLP-1 RAs before withdrawal.

Mechanism of action

GLP-1 receptor agonism with pharmacokinetics dominated by the albumin-fusion scaffold, which slows clearance and enables once-weekly administration. The GLP-1 moieties produce the canonical glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and central appetite suppression.

Primary uses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (historical — FDA-approved 2014–2018)

Typical dosing

30–50 mg once weekly (subcutaneous)

Labeled dose was 30 mg SC once weekly, uptitrated to 50 mg if needed.

Regulatory status

FDA-approved April 2014 as Tanzeum (GlaxoSmithKline) for type 2 diabetes; EMA-approved 2014 as Eperzan. GSK announced voluntary worldwide withdrawal in July 2017, completed in 2018, citing limited prescribing and commercial performance — not safety.

References

[fda-pi] FDA. Tanzeum (albiglutide) prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline, 2014.
[pubmed] Hernandez AF, et al. "Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial." Lancet, 2018;392:1519-1529.
[manufacturer] GlaxoSmithKline. Press release: withdrawal of Tanzeum/Eperzan, July 2017.

Related peptides

Dulaglutide

A weekly GLP-1 agonist for type 2 diabetes, delivered as a GLP-1/IgG4 fusion protein in a single-use auto-injector.

Semaglutide

A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.

Liraglutide

The first once-daily GLP-1 analog to be FDA-approved for both type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and chronic weight management (Saxenda).

Exenatide

The first GLP-1 receptor agonist to reach market (2005), available in both twice-daily and weekly extended-release formulations.

Disclaimer

This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.