GLP-3 RT (also written GLP-3RT, GLP 3 RT, GLP-3R or GLP-RT) is a synthetic research peptide studied as a triple agonist: a single molecule designed to activate three metabolic hormone receptors at once, the GLP-1 receptor, the GIP receptor and the glucagon receptor. Most earlier incretin research focused on one receptor, or on two. Adding glucagon receptor activity is what sets this compound apart, and it is the main reason it has drawn so much research attention. This overview covers its structure, what the published research has measured, what that research does not show, and its regulatory status.
GLP-3 RT is sold for laboratory research use only. This page summarizes published research and is not guidance for human or veterinary use.
At a glance
- Class: Synthetic peptide; triple agonist at the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors
- Origin: Developed by a pharmaceutical research group; preclinical and first clinical data published in 2022 (Coskun et al., 2022)
- Structure: 39-amino-acid peptide with a fatty-acid side chain that binds albumin and extends its half-life; about 4.7 kDa
- Main research areas: Body weight and energy balance, glycemic control, liver fat, receptor pharmacology
- Regulatory status: Investigational; not approved by the FDA or any other regulator
Structure and origin
GLP-3 RT is a single peptide chain engineered to act at the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. A fatty-acid chain attached through a linker lets the molecule bind albumin in blood, which slows its clearance. In the first human study, its half-life was about six days, which supported once-weekly administration in later clinical trials (Urva et al., 2022).
The original characterization found that the molecule is not equally active at all three receptors. In cell assays it showed more activity at the GIP receptor than at the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, with GLP-1 and glucagon receptor activity roughly balanced against each other (Coskun et al., 2022).
Mechanism: what the research shows
Each of the three receptors does something different in metabolic research:
- GLP-1 receptor: studied for glucose-dependent insulin release, slowed gastric emptying and reduced food intake.
- GIP receptor: the other main incretin receptor, studied for insulin release and effects on fat tissue and appetite.
- Glucagon receptor: studied for effects on energy expenditure and liver fat metabolism.
In obese mice, the preclinical work reported that weight loss came from two sources: reduced calorie intake, driven by GIP and GLP-1 receptor activity, and increased energy expenditure, attributed to glucagon receptor activity (Coskun et al., 2022). That combination is the central hypothesis behind triple agonists.
Key areas of study
Early human pharmacology
A 12-week phase 1b trial in 72 adults with type 2 diabetes reported dose-proportional exposure, a half-life of about six days, and reductions in glucose, HbA1c and body weight at the higher dose levels. Gastrointestinal events were the most common adverse events (Urva et al., 2022).
Body weight in a phase 2 trial
A 48-week phase 2 trial enrolled 338 adults with obesity or overweight. Mean weight change at 48 weeks ranged from -8.7% in the lowest dose group to -24.2% in the highest, compared with -2.1% with placebo. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal and were mostly mild to moderate (Jastreboff et al., 2023).
Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes
A 36-week phase 2 trial in adults with type 2 diabetes compared the compound with placebo and with an approved GLP-1 receptor agonist. Higher doses lowered HbA1c more than either comparator and reduced body weight in a dose-dependent way (Rosenstock et al., 2023).
Liver fat
A substudy of the obesity trial measured liver fat by MRI in 98 participants with fatty liver disease. At 24 weeks, mean relative liver fat reduction reached about 82% in the highest dose groups, and up to 86% of participants in those groups reached normal liver fat levels, compared with none on placebo. Liver fat reductions tracked with changes in body weight and abdominal fat (Sanyal et al., 2024).
Phase 3 program
The compound is now in a phase 3 clinical program. Its developer reported positive results from two phase 3 obesity trials in July 2026 and has said it plans to seek regulatory approval. Full phase 3 results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
What the evidence does not show
- No triple agonist is approved anywhere yet, so there is no long-term safety record outside clinical trials.
- The phase 2 trials were 36 to 48 weeks long. Longer-term outcomes, such as cardiovascular events, are still being studied in phase 3.
- It is not yet clear how much of the effect comes from glucagon receptor activity versus GIP and GLP-1 receptor activity in humans.
- All published human data come from controlled clinical trials of a pharmaceutical-grade product. They say nothing about research-grade material made outside those programs.
Regulatory status
GLP-3 RT is an investigational compound. It is not approved by the FDA or any other regulator for any use. Rogue Compounds sells it as a research chemical for laboratory use only. It is not for human or veterinary use.
Handling and storage in the lab
Keep the lyophilized peptide sealed and refrigerated at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), protected from light.
Sourcing and documentation
GLP-3 RT is made in small batches for Rogue Compounds. Every vial carries a batch number and a QR code that opens the independent U.S. testing lab’s own report for that batch, and the same COA is posted on the product page and in the COA Library. Our guide on how to read a peptide COA explains what to check.
Comparing GLP-3 RT and GLP-2 TZ? See GLP-3 RT vs GLP-2 TZ for a side-by-side comparison, or the GLP-2 TZ research overview.
View GLP-3 RT on Rogue Compounds
Frequently asked questions
What is GLP-3 RT?
GLP-3 RT is a synthetic research peptide studied as a triple agonist at the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. It is sold for laboratory research use only.
How is GLP-3 RT different from GLP-2 TZ?
GLP-2 TZ acts at two receptors, GLP-1 and GIP. GLP-3 RT adds a third, the glucagon receptor, which research links to energy expenditure and liver fat metabolism.
Is GLP-3 RT FDA approved?
No. It is investigational and has not been approved by any regulator. Its developer has reported phase 3 results and plans to seek approval.
What does the research on GLP-3 RT measure?
Published studies measure body weight, glycemic markers such as HbA1c, liver fat and receptor activity, in mice and in clinical trials of up to 48 weeks.
How should GLP-3 RT be stored?
Store the lyophilized peptide sealed, refrigerated at 2–8 °C and protected from light.
References
- Coskun T, et al. Cell Metab. 2022;34(9):1234-1247.e9. PMID 35985340
- Urva S, et al. Lancet. 2022;400(10366):1869-1881. PMID 36354040
- Jastreboff AM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2023;389:514-526. PMID 37366315
- Rosenstock J, et al. Lancet. 2023;402:529-544. PMID 37385280
- Sanyal AJ, et al. Nat Med. 2024;30(7):2037-2048. PMID 38858523
Research use only. Rogue Compounds products are sold strictly for laboratory research. They are not for human or veterinary use, and nothing in this article is medical advice. The studies cited here describe published research, not this product or any use of it.