What Is Mazdutide?

1. What Is Mazdutide?

Mazdutide is a once-weekly dual receptor agonist developed by Innovent Biologics under a China license agreement with Eli Lilly. In clinical-trial records, it also appears as IBI362. Innovent describes it as a mammalian oxyntomodulin analogue designed to activate both glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, receptors and glucagon receptors.

That receptor pairing is the main reason mazdutide gets discussed alongside semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide, survodutide, and pemvidutide. They all sit within the broader incretin and metabolic-medicine category.

Common terminology includes:

For nearby explainers, see What Is Semaglutide?, What Is Tirzepatide?, and What Is Retatrutide?.

2. Is Mazdutide Approved?

Yes in China, for specific uses. No in the U.S.

Innovent announced on June 27, 2025 that China’s National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA, approved mazdutide for chronic weight management in Chinese adults with obesity or overweight. Innovent then announced on September 19, 2025 that NMPA approved mazdutide for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

3. How Does Mazdutide Work?

Mazdutide is designed to activate GLP-1 receptors and glucagon receptors. GLP-1 receptor activation is associated with glucose-dependent insulin secretion, delayed gastric emptying, appetite effects, and lower glucagon secretion in many GLP-1 drug labels. Glucagon receptor activation is a different pathway, often discussed in relation to energy expenditure and liver metabolism.

That second receptor is what makes mazdutide different from a single GLP-1 receptor agonist. It also makes the molecule different from a GIP and GLP-1 dual agonist such as tirzepatide.

Key receptor mechanisms:

4. What Was GLORY-1?

GLORY-1 was a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of mazdutide in Chinese adults with obesity or overweight. ClinicalTrials.gov lists the trial as NCT05607680, with 610 actual participants.

The trial compared once-weekly subcutaneous mazdutide 4 mg, mazdutide 6 mg, and placebo. The primary outcomes focused on percent change in body weight at Week 32 and the share of participants who reached at least 5% body-weight reduction at Week 32.

Innovent noted that the China chronic weight-management approval was mainly based on GLORY-1. In its approval notice, Innovent reported the following Week 48 results under the efficacy estimand:

The New England Journal of Medicine published the GLORY-1 paper in 2025 under the title “Once-Weekly Mazdutide in Chinese Adults with Obesity or Overweight.”

5. What Were DREAMS-1 and DREAMS-2?

DREAMS-1 and DREAMS-2 were Phase 3 type 2 diabetes trials in China. Innovent stated its September 2025 NMPA glycemic-control approval was based on these two trials.

ClinicalTrials.gov lists DREAMS-1 as NCT05628311. It studied mazdutide monotherapy in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes whose glycemic control remained poor with diet and exercise alone. The trial enrolled 319 participants and compared once-weekly mazdutide 4 mg, mazdutide 6 mg, and placebo.

ClinicalTrials.gov lists DREAMS-2 as NCT05606913. It studied mazdutide as add-on therapy in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes who were already using oral diabetes medicines. The trial enrolled 731 participants and compared once-weekly mazdutide 4 mg, mazdutide 6 mg, and dulaglutide 1.5 mg.

Nature published the DREAMS-2 paper online on December 17, 2025. The paper states that both mazdutide doses met non-inferiority and superiority criteria versus dulaglutide 1.5 mg for mean A1C change at Week 28. It also reported greater body-weight reductions with mazdutide than dulaglutide and noted the most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

6. What Is DREAMS-3?

DREAMS-3 is another Phase 3 mazdutide trial in China, listed as NCT06184568. It compares mazdutide 6 mg once weekly with semaglutide 1 mg once weekly in adults with early type 2 diabetes and obesity.

ClinicalTrials.gov lists DREAMS-3 as active, not recruiting, with 349 actual participants. The record was last updated in February 2026, with study completion estimated for June 30, 2026.

The main outcome is a composite endpoint at Week 32: A1C less than 7.0% and at least 10% body-weight loss. This endpoint evaluates glycemic control and weight loss concurrently.

7. Mazdutide vs Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retatrutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. Retatrutide is an investigational triple GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist. Mazdutide targets GLP-1 and glucagon receptors.

8. Mazdutide Safety Profile

Mazdutide’s safety profile is documented within the GLORY-1 and DREAMS clinical trial programs.

Across GLP-1 and glucagon receptor research, gastrointestinal adverse events are frequently reported. The Nature DREAMS-2 paper named diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting as the most common treatment-emergent adverse events during the trial.

9. Mazdutide Fact Summary

Key details summarizing the current clinical and regulatory status of mazdutide:

10. Bottom Line

Mazdutide is a dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, also known by the development code IBI362. Innovent announced China NMPA approvals in 2025 for chronic weight management and for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The most significant public data comes from the GLORY-1 trial for obesity or overweight, and the DREAMS trial program for type 2 diabetes.

11. What Is Mazdutide FAQ

• What is mazdutide in simple terms?

  Mazdutide, also called IBI362, is a once-weekly dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist developed by Innovent with Lilly. It is approved in China for chronic weight management and for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

• Is mazdutide FDA-approved?

  No. Mazdutide currently holds China NMPA approval, but it is not approved by the U.S. FDA.

• Why is mazdutide called a dual agonist?

  It is called a dual agonist because it activates GLP-1 receptors and glucagon receptors. That differs from semaglutide, which is described in U.S. labels as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and from tirzepatide, which is described as a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist.

• What was GLORY-1?

  GLORY-1 was a Phase 3 trial in China that randomized 610 adults with obesity or overweight to once-weekly mazdutide 4 mg, mazdutide 6 mg, or placebo. Innovent said the trial supported the China weight-management approval.

• What were the DREAMS trials?

  DREAMS-1 and DREAMS-2 were Phase 3 type 2 diabetes trials in China. Innovent said the China glycemic-control approval was based on these two trials. DREAMS-3 is a separate Phase 3 comparison with semaglutide in adults with early type 2 diabetes and obesity.

12. Sources