Brenipatide vs Semaglutide
Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor alone. Brenipatide (LY3537031) activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors and has a longer reported half-life. The two meet in an unexpected place: both have been tested in alcohol use disorder, semaglutide in a small published trial and brenipatide in a large phase 3 trial that is still recruiting. This page compares them as research compounds.
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| Brenipatide | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Development code | LY3537031 | NN9535 |
| Receptor targets | GIP and GLP-1 (dual) | GLP-1 only |
| Reported half-life | 9 to 12 days (phase 1) | About 1 week |
| Alcohol use disorder evidence | Phase 3 trial recruiting (RENEW-ALC-1, about 1,100 participants) | Phase 2 trial in 48 adults, published 2025 |
| Published efficacy data | None yet | STEP 1: 14.9% at 68 weeks (placebo 2.4%) |
| Status | Phase 3 (alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder) | Approved in the UK, EU and US |
| Peptx availability | Not stocked, waitlist on this page | UK single vials and Factory Direct kits |
- Development code
- LY3537031NN9535
- Receptor targets
- GIP and GLP-1 (dual)GLP-1 only
- Reported half-life
- 9 to 12 days (phase 1)About 1 week
- Alcohol use disorder evidence
- Phase 3 trial recruiting (RENEW-ALC-1, about 1,100 participants)Phase 2 trial in 48 adults, published 2025
- Published efficacy data
- None yetSTEP 1: 14.9% at 68 weeks (placebo 2.4%)
- Status
- Phase 3 (alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder)Approved in the UK, EU and US
- Peptx availability
- Not stocked, waitlist on this pageUK single vials and Factory Direct kits
One receptor or two
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist: it acts on appetite, stomach emptying and glucose-dependent insulin release through one receptor. Brenipatide adds the GIP receptor, the second incretin receptor, as tirzepatide does.
Brenipatide also lasts longer. Phase 1 data presented at Psych Congress 2026 reported a half-life of 9 to 12 days, against about one week for semaglutide.
What the alcohol use trials show
Semaglutide is the GLP-1 drug with the most direct evidence in alcohol use disorder. In a 9-week phase 2 trial of 48 adults, published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2025, it reduced the amount of alcohol drunk in a laboratory session, drinks per drinking day and craving, but did not change the number of drinking days. In a subgroup who smoked, cigarettes per day fell more than on placebo.
Brenipatide's RENEW-ALC-1 trial is far larger, about 1,100 participants over up to 56 weeks, and measures change in drinking patterns. It has not reported. Brenipatide is also in a phase 2 trial of relapse to smoking after quitting, the outcome hinted at in the semaglutide subgroup.
What is not known
No trial compares the two. Whether adding GIP receptor activity changes the effect on drinking, mood or smoking is an open question, and brenipatide has no published efficacy data in any condition.
Bottom line for research labs
Semaglutide is the single-receptor reference with years of metabolic data and the first randomised evidence in alcohol use disorder. Brenipatide adds GIP, lasts longer, and is being tested in far larger addiction and mood trials. Until those trials report, semaglutide is the better documented compound for GLP-1 receptor research.