For healthcare professionals
Bydureon BCise for healthcare professionals
Clinical reference for Bydureon BCise (exenatide extended-release) — mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, key drug interactions, NDC codes, and FDA approval history.
This page is for clinical reference. Patient-friendly version →
Mechanism of action
Pharmacology class
GLP-1 receptor agonist (extended-release exendin-4 analogue)
Extended-release exenatide formulated in biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. After subcutaneous injection, the microspheres slowly degrade and release exenatide over weeks, producing a sustained GLP-1 receptor agonism profile from a single weekly injection.
Pharmacokinetics
- Half-life
- ~2 weeks (apparent, due to formulation-controlled release)
- T-max
- Bimodal — initial peak at 2 weeks, second peak at 6–7 weeks
- Metabolism
- Glomerular filtration with proteolytic degradation
- Excretion
- Renal
- Bioavailability
- Formulation-dependent (microsphere release rate)
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- Severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min)
- Severe gastrointestinal disease
Key drug interactions
Not exhaustive. See the FDA label for the full interaction list.
| Interacting drug | Severity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfonylureas | major | Hypoglycemia risk. |
| Warfarin | moderate | Monitor INR. |
| Oral medications (general) | moderate | Delayed gastric emptying — administer oral medications requiring rapid absorption 1 hour before injection. |
NDC codes & AWP
Representative NDC codes
- 0310-6540-04 (single-dose autoinjector, 4-pack)
AWP per month (US, 2026 estimate)
~$880 AWP
FDA approval history
2012
Initial FDA approval as Bydureon (single-dose tray formulation).
2017
BCise autoinjector formulation FDA-approved — simplified administration.
2021
Pediatric extension for adolescents 10+ with T2D.
References
Sourcing Bydureon BCise for your patients
Compare US telehealth and pharmacy partners that dispense Bydureon BCise — useful when a patient asks about cash-pay options outside of their insurance formulary.
Compare GLP-1 telehealth providers
SponsoredRanked by our editorial score. Visit a partner to check current pricing and eligibility — we compare providers, we never sell medications.
Advertising disclosure: we may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you — it never affects our rankings. How we make money