The commercial and therapeutic importance of GLP-1 drugs is undeniable, particularly since GLP-1 receptor agonists forever transformed weight management and obesity treatment. It is estimated that the global market in 2025 exceeded USD 50 billion. Novo Nordisk, with an estimated 51% share and Eli Lilly with a 28%, are global market leaders, followed by Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, and a long list of competitors.
Generic GLP-1 agonists are available since late 2024 (FDA Approves First Generic of Once-Daily GLP-1 Injection to Lower Blood Sugar in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes). The next wave of formulations is set to target multiple receptors (e.g. Retatrutide from Eli Lilly) and improve oral delivery (like Orforglipron from Viking Therapeutics) (Complete List of All GLP-1 Medications 2026: FDA-Approved & Pipeline Drugs).
This rapidly expanding landscape places great pressure on researchers, manufacturers, and CROs to ensure the purity, authenticity, safety, and quality of GLP-1 drugs. The following is a roundup of our preferred resources for quantitation, characterisation, and lab-scale purification of these complex compounds:
Method Development for Tirzepatide is a detailed study on developing an analytical method for GLP-1 peptides, featuring the significant benefits of inert hardware YMC-Accura Triart Bioinert Columns.
Developing a robust and efficient preparative-scale purification method is just as important as analytical characterisation. Two-step Purification of Tirzepatide demonstrates an effective peptide purification strategy using two complementary reversed phase separations: YMC-Triart Prep Bio200 C8 Column, 20nm, 10um, 250 x 10mm for recovery of the peptide from crude material, followed by final polishing using YMC-Triart Bio C4 Columns.
The poster Purification Method Development for Liraglutide by YMC demonstrates the scale-up and optimisation of a purification protocol for Liraglutide on YMC-Triart C18-S Prep 12 nm, S-10 um, 250 x 10.0 mm columns.
Advanced Materials Technology has developed a range of HALO Bioclass columns optimised for peptide analysis, that perform particularly well with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Characterization of Liraglutide using HALO PCS C18 illustrates a detailed investigation of Liraglutide impurities, including an unexpected cyclisation of the terminal histidine residue attributed to formaldehyde contamination in Tris buffer. The LC-HRMS analysis was performed on a HALO® BioClass PCS C18 column.
Ultrafast Screening Assay for Semaglutide Impurities focuses on screening impurities in low-cost compounded formulations of Semaglutide. This research highlights the improved performance of 2µm superficially porous particles (HALO 90A PCS C18 Column, 2µm, 2.1 x 50mm) compared to a classic HALO 160A PCS C18 Column, 2.7µm, 2.1 x 50mm.
An in-depth investigation of compounded Semaglutide formulations is presented in Impurity Analysis of Compounded Semaglutide. Joshua McBee describes his method optimisation strategy and detailed data interpretation; as well as a practical comparison of PCS (Positively Charged Surface) technology versus HALO® BioClass ES-C18, with HALO 160A PCS C18 Column, 2.7µm, 2.1 x 150mm delivering excellent peak shape and resolution in high pH, low concentration MS-compatible buffers.
In the application note LC-MS of Liraglutide and its Impurities Agilent Technologies present a detailed analysis of this important drug. The remarkable screening of impurities was carried out on an AdvanceBio Peptide Plus 2.1x150mm. 2.7um column, while mass spectral analysis was supported by BioConfirm software.
It has been observed that the conjugation of a hydrophobic lipid chain to GLP-1 peptides can lead to aggregation, in the form of micellar oligomers. Significant research has been devoted to this phenomenon, as self-assembly can have important therapeutic implications.
SEC-LC-UV-QTOF of Liraglutide Oligomeric Forms is a study into Liraglutide self-assembly in different buffer conditions and storage time points. The analysis was performed on a PEEK-lined AdvanceBio SEC 120A 2.1 x 150mm 1.9um column.
Find an extensive collection of analytical methods for GLP-1 peptides in Workflows for GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. This 100-page omnibus covers every facet of GLP-1 work: from large scale purification protocols on Agilent Poroshell SB-C18, Agilent Poroshell HPH-C18, and Agilent PLRP-S prep columns; impurities and degradants characterisation; amino acid sequence confirmation; to quantitation of GLP-1 in plasma with Agilent AdvanceBio Peptide Mapping.
