Not Approved (US) Metabolic & Weight Loss

Beinaglutide

also known as: Benaglutide, Benefit, rhGLP-1(7-36)

A recombinant native-sequence GLP-1 peptide approved in China (NMPA 2016) for type 2 diabetes and 2023 for obesity — notable as the only marketed GLP-1 RA with the native, unmodified human GLP-1(7-36) sequence, requiring three-times-daily dosing because of its short half-life.

A recombinant human GLP-1(7-36) amide — the native active peptide without sequence modification — produced by Shanghai Benemae and approved by China's NMPA in 2016 for type 2 diabetes and in 2023 for adult obesity; the unmodified backbone gives it a very short half-life (requiring three-times-daily SC injection) but spares it the structural changes that drive immunogenicity and injection-site reactions in other GLP-1 agonists.

Mechanism of action

GLP-1 receptor agonism using the native, unmodified human GLP-1(7-36) amide sequence. Because it lacks the DPP-4-resistance mutations of exenatide, liraglutide, semaglutide and similar analogs, beinaglutide has a plasma half-life of roughly 11 minutes and must be injected before each main meal. The short half-life does, however, mean it is essentially non-immunogenic.

Primary uses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (China)
Obesity / overweight (China — NMPA 2023)

Typical dosing

0.1–0.2 mg three times daily before meals (subcutaneous)

Chinese label dosing: 0.1 mg TID titrated to 0.2 mg TID if tolerated.

Regulatory status

Not FDA-approved. Approved in China by the NMPA in 2016 for type 2 diabetes mellitus and in March 2023 for adult obesity (BMI ≥28 kg/m² or BMI ≥24 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity) — China's first domestically developed anti-obesity GLP-1.

References

[manufacturer] Shanghai Benemae Pharmaceutical. Beinaglutide (Benefit) prescribing information (China).
[pubmed] Zhang F, et al. "A comprehensive review of the efficacy and safety of beinaglutide in the treatment of obesity or overweight with comorbid diseases." Front Endocrinol, 2024;15:1382189.
[pubmed] Li Y, et al. "Efficacy and safety of beinaglutide in obese patients with or without type 2 diabetes: a real-world, prospective study in China." Diabetes Obes Metab, 2023;25:2584-2592.

Related peptides

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.

Semaglutide

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

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.