What it means
An agonist switches a receptor on. A dual agonist is designed to switch on two receptors with one molecule, hoping to combine their benefits or allow lower doses of each.
Tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 dual agonist, is the approved example. Pipeline examples include survodutide and mazdutide, which pair glucagon with GLP-1, and amycretin, which pairs amylin with GLP-1.
A combination product is different. CagriSema puts two separate molecules, cagrilintide and semaglutide, in one injection. Each drug has its own half-life and dose. A molecule can also mix actions. MariTide activates the GLP-1 receptor while blocking the GIP receptor, so it is not a dual agonist in the strict sense.
More receptors do not automatically mean better results. Each target can add its own side effects, and the balance between them depends on the molecule and the dose. Head-to-head trials are the only fair way to compare.
Why it matters
Knowing which receptors a drug hits explains why results and side effects differ between medicines that sound alike.
Related terms
Sources
Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error