Evidence matrix
Metabolic peptides evidence matrix
Filterable matrix of metabolic peptides: UK regulatory category, class, evidence stage and the depth of evidence across cardiovascular, diabetes, obesity, liver and renal outcomes. Static data, no API.
This evidence matrix maps metabolic peptides to their UK regulatory category, drug class and evidence stage across cardiovascular, diabetes, obesity, liver and renal outcomes. MHRA-licensed medicines (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide) have the most mature outcome-trial evidence base; investigational compounds (retatrutide and others) have phase-2 or early phase-3 data only. Cells are editorial summaries — for numerical results consult the underlying trial publications. Cross-trial comparison has limits — see the linked research-methods primer.
21 molecule(s) shown · 20 trials in linked library
| Molecule | Class | Category | UK status | Evidence stage | CV | Diabetes | Obesity | Liver | Renal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide | Dual GLP-1 / GIP agonist | UK prescription medicine | MHRA-licensed prescription-only medicine for type 2 diabetes and for chronic weight management in eligible adults. | Outcome trial evidence | SURPASS-CVOT (non-inferiority); SUMMIT (HFpEF+obesity) | SURPASS programme | SURMOUNT 1-5 | Phase 2 MASLD/MASH | Limited |
| Semaglutide | GLP-1 mono-agonist | UK prescription medicine | MHRA-licensed prescription-only medicine across multiple brands. Ozempic licensed for T2D; Wegovy for chronic weight management; Rybelsus for oral T2D management. | Outcome trial evidence | SELECT (MACE reduction) | SUSTAIN programme | STEP programme | Phase 2/3 NASH (Wegovy) | FLOW (kidney outcome benefit) |
| Liraglutide | GLP-1 mono-agonist | UK prescription medicine | MHRA-licensed prescription-only medicine. Saxenda for weight management; Victoza for T2D. | Outcome trial evidence | LEADER (MACE reduction) | LEAD programme | SCALE | Limited | LEADER renal substudy |
| Dulaglutide | GLP-1 mono-agonist | UK prescription medicine | MHRA-licensed prescription-only medicine for type 2 diabetes. | Outcome trial evidence | REWIND (MACE reduction) | AWARD programme | Limited | Limited | REWIND-CKD substudy |
| Retatrutide | Triple GLP-1 / GIP / glucagon agonist | Investigational | Investigational; not licensed for human therapeutic use in the UK. | Phase 3 in progress | Pending | Phase 2/3 | Phase 2 (large weight reduction) | Phase 2 MASLD | Pending |
| Cagrilintide | Amylin analogue | Investigational | Investigational; not licensed for human therapeutic use in the UK. | Phase 3 in progress | Pending | Pending | Phase 2/3 (in combinations) | Pending | Pending |
| CagriSema | Amylin + GLP-1 combination | Investigational | Investigational; not licensed for human therapeutic use in the UK. | Phase 3 in progress | Pending | Phase 3 | Phase 3 | Pending | Pending |
| Survodutide | Dual GLP-1 / glucagon agonist | Investigational | Investigational; not licensed for human therapeutic use in the UK. | Phase 3 in progress | Pending | Phase 2/3 | Phase 2/3 | Phase 2 MASH (Breakthrough Therapy) | Pending |
| Mazdutide | Dual GLP-1 / glucagon agonist | Investigational | Investigational outside its regional approval pathway; not UK-licensed. | Phase 3 (regional) | Pending | Phase 3 (regional) | Phase 3 (regional) | Phase 2 | Pending |
| Pemvidutide | Dual GLP-1 / glucagon agonist | Investigational | Investigational; not licensed for human therapeutic use in the UK. | Phase 2 | Pending | Pending | Phase 2 | Phase 2 MASH | Pending |
| Cotadutide | Dual GLP-1 / glucagon agonist | Investigational | Investigational; programme status has evolved over time. | Phase 2 | Pending | Phase 2 | Phase 2 | Phase 2 | Phase 2 CKD |
| Tesamorelin | GHRH analogue | UK prescription medicine | Not currently a UK MHRA-licensed product at the time of review. Egrifta is FDA-licensed in the US for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. | Licensed (US) | Limited | Glycaemic monitoring required | HIV-lipodystrophy specific | Phase 2 MASLD | Limited |
| CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin | GHRH analogue + GHS-R1a agonist (research-only) | Research-only | Not MHRA-licensed for any human therapeutic use. | Limited human data | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| AOD-9604 | Lipolytic peptide fragment (research-only) | Research-only | Not MHRA-licensed for any human therapeutic use. | Limited human data | Limited | Limited | Limited human data | Limited | Limited |
| HGH Fragment 176-191 | Lipolytic peptide fragment (research-only) | Research-only | Not MHRA-licensed for any human therapeutic use. | Preclinical / limited human data | Limited | Limited | Preclinical-heavy | Limited | Limited |
| Orforglipron | Oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist (comparator) | Investigational | Investigational oral non-peptide small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist; not currently UK-licensed. | Phase 3 in progress | Pending | Phase 3 | Phase 3 | Pending | Pending |
| Danuglipron | Oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist (comparator) | Investigational | Investigational; programme status has changed since first disclosure. | Programme paused / changed | Pending | Programme changes | Programme changes | Pending | Pending |
| MariTide (AMG 133) | Peptide-antibody conjugate, GIPR antagonist + GLP-1R agonist | Investigational | Investigational; not UK-licensed. | Phase 2 | Pending | Phase 2 | Phase 2 | Pending | Pending |
| Pramlintide | — | UK prescription medicine | Not currently licensed by the MHRA for any human therapeutic indication. Pramlintide does not hold a UK marketing authorisation at the time of review. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Exenatide | — | UK prescription medicine | Exenatide products (Byetta, Bydureon BCise) have historically held MHRA marketing authorisations for type 2 diabetes. UK market availability has evolved through 2026 as newer GLP-1 agents have become dominant in NHS prescribing; clinicians should confirm current active product licences via the MHRA register. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Efpeglenatide | — | Investigational | Investigational at the time of review. Efpeglenatide is not licensed by the MHRA for any human therapeutic indication. | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Source: UK regulatory status hub, trial intelligence hub. Evidence-area cells are editorial summaries and not statistical claims. "Pending" indicates no dedicated outcome trial published at the time of review. Static data only — no API.
What this matrix does not do
- It does not rank molecules by clinical superiority.
- It does not provide individual treatment recommendations.
- Evidence-area cells are editorial summaries, not statistical claims.
- It does not replace reading the underlying trial publications.
Last reviewed 20 May 2026 · evidence matrix · Metabolic Peptides editorial team