ApprovedMetabolic healthSubcutaneousEvidence 5/5

Glucagon

Also known as: GlucaGen, Baqsimi, Gvoke

Glucagon binds the hepatic glucagon receptor (GCGR), raising cyclic AMP to stimulate glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, which increases blood glucose as the body's main counter-regulatory hormone opposing insulin.

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Illustrative profileSubcutaneous

Database profileApproved

GlucagonMetabolic health

Drug class: Glucagon receptor (GCGR) agonist; counter-regulatory pancreatic hormone
Primary targets: Glucagon receptor (GCGR)
Dose reference: Reference (label, not a recommendation): 1 mg SC/IM/IV injectable for severe hypoglycemia in adults; Gvoke 0.5 mg pediatric / 1 mg adult SC; Baqsimi 3 mg single intranasal dose; 0.25-2 mg IV/IM as a GI diagnostic aid
Half-life: Short; roughly 8-18 minutes for native glucagon (pharmacokinetic studies)
Developer / origin: Eli Lilly (original glucagon and Baqsimi); Novo Nordisk (GlucaGen); Xeris (Gvoke)
Reference year: 1923
Evidence score: 5/5 - Strong

Evidence 5/5

Strong

Glucagon is an FDA-approved rescue therapy for severe hypoglycemia with decades of label-backed clinical and pharmacokinetic evidence across injectable and intranasal forms.

Approved medication with substantial human clinical evidence.

Evidence basis

FDA-approved prescribing information for GlucaGen, Gvoke and Baqsimi documents indication, dosing and safety
Pharmacokinetic studies establish short half-life and rapid glucose response across IN/IM/IV routes
Registration trials for Baqsimi and Gvoke demonstrated reliable reversal of insulin-induced hypoglycemia

Key references

How to read this entry

Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.

Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.

Glucagon guides

Read the matching guide or adjacent research pages for more context.

Glucagon Peptide: GlucaGen, Baqsimi, Gvoke and Severe Hypoglycemia RescueGlucagon is an approved 29-amino-acid pancreatic hormone and glucagon-receptor agonist used as rescue therapy for severe hypoglycemia, available as injection and nasal powder.Amylin Peptide: IAPP Biology, Satiety Signaling and Drug DevelopmentAmylin is an endogenous beta-cell hormone behind satiety and glucose control, but native amylin aggregates and is a research target rather than a consumer drug.Mazdutide: China Approval, Weight-Loss Evidence and Safety LimitsMazdutide is a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist with Chinese clinical trial data and China approval, but it is not a US-approved obesity drug.Pemvidutide Peptide: MASH, Liver Fat and Weight-Loss EvidencePemvidutide is an investigational GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist peptide with human MASH and liver-fat data. The strongest claim is MASH resolution signal, not proven fibrosis benefit.

Peptide calculators

Use calculators for concentration, unit conversion and repeated-dose accumulation math.

Peptide reconstitution calculatorCalculate concentration, draw volume and syringe units from vial strength and BAC water.Open tool Peptide accumulation calculatorModel repeated dosing schedules with half-life, interval, peak and trough estimates.Open tool Peptide unit converterConvert mg, mcg, optional IU and syringe units from one reconstituted vial setup.Open tool Peptide chemistry calculatorAnalyze sequence length, molecular weight, composition, charge, hydropathy and notation.Open tool

Compare with related peptides

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Amylin

IAPP, islet amyloid polypeptide

3/5

Metabolic healthResearch only

Amylin, co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta-cells, activates brainstem amylin receptors (calcitonin receptor paired with RAMPs) to promote satiation, slow gastric emptying, and suppress postprandial glucagon.

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