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Byetta for healthcare professionals
Clinical reference for Byetta (exenatide) — mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, key drug interactions, NDC codes, and FDA approval history.
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Mechanism of action
Pharmacology class
GLP-1 receptor agonist (exendin-4 analogue)
Exenatide is a synthetic version of exendin-4, a peptide isolated from Gila monster saliva that shares ~53% homology with human GLP-1 and activates the GLP-1 receptor with longer duration of action than native GLP-1.
Pharmacokinetics
- Half-life
- ~2.4 hours
- T-max
- 2.1 hours
- Metabolism
- Glomerular filtration with proteolytic degradation
- Excretion
- Renal
- Bioavailability
- ~75% (subcutaneous)
Contraindications
- Severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease
- Severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g. gastroparesis)
- Known serious hypersensitivity to exenatide
Key drug interactions
Not exhaustive. See the FDA label for the full interaction list.
| Interacting drug | Severity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfonylureas | major | Hypoglycemia risk — consider sulfonylurea dose reduction. |
| Warfarin | moderate | Monitor INR — case reports of increased INR. |
| Oral medications (general) | moderate | Delayed gastric emptying; administer oral antibiotics or rapidly absorbed drugs at least 1 hour before exenatide. |
| Oral contraceptives | moderate | Administer ≥1 hour before exenatide to ensure absorption. |
NDC codes & AWP
Representative NDC codes
- 0310-6520-60 (5 mcg pen)
- 0310-6510-60 (10 mcg pen)
AWP per month (US, 2026 estimate)
~$880 AWP
FDA approval history
2005
Initial FDA approval — first GLP-1 receptor agonist ever approved for type 2 diabetes.
References
Sourcing Byetta for your patients
Compare US telehealth and pharmacy partners that dispense Byetta — useful when a patient asks about cash-pay options outside of their insurance formulary.
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