GLP-1 Field Guides
Accessible explainers of how the major classes of GLP-1 and obesity drugs work, kept current as the field moves.
The drugs in the GLP-1 family have become the biggest story in obesity and diabetes medicine, and the science behind them is moving fast. New mechanisms, new combinations, and new trial readouts arrive almost every week. These field guides explain how each class works, in accessible language but without dumbing things down, so you can follow what is happening whether or not you have a pharmacology background.
Each guide covers one class of drug, organized by the receptors it targets: GLP-1 on its own, GLP-1 paired with a second hormone like GIP or glucagon, the triple agonists that work three pathways at once, and the GLP-1 plus amylin combinations. For each class you get a similar structure: how the mechanism works, why it matters for weight and metabolic health, which drugs and companies are in the race, and where the open questions still are.
The guides are written for a wide audience, including those who want to understand more than what standard web pages typically cover and want to make sure they're getting the most up-to-date information. Every claim is anchored in primary sources, and each guide runs through a dedicated accuracy and currency pass before it is published or updated. Because the underlying landscape changes, the guides are living documents: each carries a "Last reviewed" date, and guides are revisited when meaningful events happen in their class.
Where to start
Not sure which guide to read first? A few paths through the collection:
- New to GLP-1 drugs? Start with the GLP-1 mono agonists guide. It covers the foundational class, semaglutide and its relatives, and the core mechanism that every other class builds on.
- Came here because of tirzepatide? Read the GLP-1 / GIP dual agonists guide. Tirzepatide is the first dual agonist on the market, and this guide explains what adding the second hormone pathway changes.
- Tracking the cutting edge? The triple agonists and GLP-1 + amylin combinations guides cover the newest approaches, the ones posting the largest weight-loss numbers and the bets the field is still testing.
If you're after the bigger picture on a page, focus on the 'How it works' and 'FAQ' sections.
Track the whole landscape
GLP-1 Observer tracks clinical trials, news, and regulatory milestones across the GLP-1 and obesity-drug landscape, updated daily. See trial timelines, date-change alerts, and weekly roll-ups.