For healthcare professionals
Trulicity for healthcare professionals
Clinical reference for Trulicity (dulaglutide) — 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 (Fc fusion)
Dulaglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist comprising two GLP-1 analogue peptides covalently linked to an Fc fragment of human IgG4. The Fc fusion extends half-life dramatically (vs native GLP-1) while preserving incretin agonism.
Pharmacokinetics
- Half-life
- ~5 days
- T-max
- 24–72 hours
- Metabolism
- Catabolism into amino acid components
- Excretion
- Renal (degraded peptides)
- Bioavailability
- ~47–65% (subcutaneous)
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- Serious hypersensitivity to dulaglutide
Key drug interactions
Not exhaustive. See the FDA label for the full interaction list.
| Interacting drug | Severity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin | major | Hypoglycemia risk. |
| Sulfonylureas | major | Hypoglycemia risk. |
| Oral medications | moderate | Delayed gastric emptying. |
NDC codes & AWP
Representative NDC codes
- 0002-1433-80 (0.75 mg)
- 0002-1434-80 (1.5 mg)
- 0002-2476-80 (3 mg)
- 0002-2477-80 (4.5 mg)
AWP per month (US, 2026 estimate)
~$985 AWP
FDA approval history
2014
Initial FDA approval for type 2 diabetes glycemic control.
2019
Supplemental approval for cardiovascular event risk reduction in T2D adults (REWIND trial).
2020
Higher-dose options (3 mg, 4.5 mg) added.
References
Sourcing Trulicity for your patients
Compare US telehealth and pharmacy partners that dispense Trulicity — useful when a patient asks about cash-pay options outside of their insurance formulary.
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