From Concept to Medicine - A Comprehensive Drug Development Journey

20 Liraglutide (S24E20)


Listen Later

In this expansive episode of The Deep Dive, we explore the full lifecycle of liraglutide, a first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonist that helped redefine how we treat both type 2 diabetes and obesity. From the early 20th-century discovery of incretin hormones to the molecular engineering breakthroughs that enabled liraglutide’s once-daily dosing, the episode traces the drug’s scientific and clinical journey in vivid detail. We break down its mechanism of action—including glucose-dependent insulin secretion and appetite regulation through central satiety pathways—as well as its pharmacokinetic properties, such as albumin binding and extended half-life. Clinical trials are explored in depth, with attention to both its glycemic benefits and its weight loss efficacy in diverse populations, including those with prediabetes, sleep apnea, and post-bariatric weight regain. Listeners will also hear about real-world considerations like dosing schedules, combination regimens, and discontinuation benchmarks.

Beyond the clinic, the episode examines liraglutide’s high-tech peptide manufacturing process, its regulatory milestones and REMS-mandated safety messaging, and the legal controversies that culminated in a $58 million U.S. federal settlement. We evaluate its economic footprint in the diabetes and obesity markets, including the implications of the first generic approval in 2024. Cultural impacts are explored as well, from shifting societal attitudes toward obesity treatment to access inequities and emerging stigma against pharmacologic weight loss. We conclude with an honest look at newer competitors like semaglutide and what the future might hold for liraglutide as part of a changing treatment paradigm. This episode offers a rare 360-degree view into one of the most influential metabolic therapies of the 21st century.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

From Concept to Medicine - A Comprehensive Drug Development JourneyBy Jim Mitchell

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

4 ratings


More shows like From Concept to Medicine - A Comprehensive Drug Development Journey

View all
The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,917 Listeners

The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

The Peter Attia Drive

7,967 Listeners

BioCentury This Week by BioCentury

BioCentury This Week

29 Listeners

The BioCentury Show by BioCentury

The BioCentury Show

11 Listeners