Independent · non-commercial · publishes on a quarterly cycle|Current cycle 2026 Q3
Compound Evidence InstituteEvidence synthesis · established 2023Graded assessments of compounds, trials, methods and supply
Document set current to 30 July 2026
Compound monograph · Incretin receptor agonists

Exenatide — compound monograph

GLP-1 receptor agonist (exendin-based, short- and extended-release). Approved. The Institute assesses 4 outcomes for this compound and grades the strongest at high certainty.

Document identifier
CEI-MN-009
Series
Compound monograph
Version
3.2
Published
17 Dec 2024
Last reviewed
17 Apr 2026
Next review
17 Apr 2028
Identifier
10.71829/cei.mono.9
Certainty
High
Cycle
2024 Q4

§1Identification and status

§1.1Nomenclature

Preferred name
Exenatide
Compound class
GLP-1 receptor agonist (exendin-based, short- and extended-release)
Assessment series
Incretin receptor agonists
Synonyms and codes
AC2993 · exendin-4 · synthetic exendin-4 · Byetta (trade) · Bydureon (trade)
Route as evaluated
Subcutaneous twice daily (immediate release) or once weekly (poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microsphere extended release)

§1.2Chemistry

Chemical identifiers are reproduced where they are public. Where a structure has not been published the monograph records not disclosed rather than constructing one.[1]

CAS registry number
141758-74-9
Molecular formula
C184H282N50O60S
Average mass
4186.57
Monoisotopic mass
4184.63
ATC classification
A10BJ01

§1.3Sequence and structural notes

H-HGEGTFTSDLSKQMEEEAVRLFIEWLKNGGPSSGAPPPS-NH₂

A 39-residue peptide identical to exendin-4, isolated originally from the venom of Heloderma suspectum. It shares 53 % identity with human GLP-1 and is naturally resistant to DPP-4 because of a glycine at position 2. The C-terminal Pro-Ser-rich tail contributes to receptor binding and to stability.

§1.4Assessment status

The Institute assesses Exenatide across 4 indications and grades the strongest of them at high certainty. Holds a marketing authorisation for at least one indication in at least one jurisdiction.

Distribution of certainty ratingsShare of assessed outcomes at each certainty level.4assessed outcomes
HighModerateLowVery low
Figure 1. Distribution of certainty ratings across the 4 outcomes the Institute assesses for Exenatide. A rating attaches to a specific population, comparator and outcome and does not transfer between them.

Table 1. Assessed outcomes for Exenatide, ordered by certainty. Each row links to the per-indication evidence extract.

IndicationEffect as recordedCertaintyTrials
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk reductionMACE hazard ratio 0.91 — non-inferior to placebo but not superiorHigh1
Type 2 diabetes mellitus−0.8 to −1.9 % HbA1c depending on presentation and background therapyHigh3
Delayed gastric emptying and gastrointestinal motility effectsMarked acute delay in gastric emptying that shows partial tachyphylaxis with continued twice-daily dosingModerate1
Obesity and overweight in adults−2.3 to −3.6 kgModerate1
Effects are reproduced as the contributing trials reported them. Where a confidence interval is held it appears on the per-indication extract rather than in this summary table.

References cited on this page

References are numbered in order of first citation in this document. Each superscript in the text links to its entry below.

  1. International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Biotechnological/Biological Products. ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline 1999;Step 4 version. identifier not held by the Institute

Identifiers are reproduced only where the Institute holds them. Where a digital object identifier or PubMed identifier is not shown, the Institute has recorded the journal and year and has not constructed an identifier.

Nothing published by the Institute is medical advice, a diagnosis, a prescription, a treatment recommendation or a purchasing recommendation. Compounds supplied for research use are not approved for human or veterinary use in any jurisdiction, and a favourable analytical assessment of a supplier is not a statement that any product is safe or effective. The Institute publishes certainty ratings and never recommendations. No telephone number, messaging handle or ordering channel appears anywhere on this site.