Page data last changed: . Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.
Insulin's counterpart — and the 'third receptor' behind multi-agonist metabolic peptides.
Part of the Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides cluster
Overview
Glucagon is a 29-amino-acid peptide hormone from pancreatic alpha cells that raises blood glucose, opposing insulin. It is the archetypal counter-regulatory hormone and, more recently, the glucagon receptor has become a deliberate target in triple-agonist peptides such as retatrutide.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Pancreatic alpha cells
Primary research or clinical context: Endogenous hormone; approved emergency medicine and a receptor target in dual/triple agonist research
Physiology
When blood glucose falls, alpha cells release glucagon, which signals the liver to break down glycogen and generate new glucose. It shares a common ancestral gene family with GLP-1, GIP and secretin, and all of these act through related class-B G-protein-coupled receptors — a tidy illustration of peptide-hormone evolution.
Why it appears in modern peptide research
For decades glucagon was viewed only as insulin's opposite. Newer engineered peptides intentionally add glucagon-receptor activity to incretin agonism, aiming to influence energy expenditure alongside glucose and appetite signaling. This is why glucagon biology now appears throughout discussions of dual and triple agonists.
Sequence of the selected reference form
Sequence backbone for the reference form: Human glucagon(1-29), unmodified free-acid mature peptide. Termini, stereochemistry and modifications are described below.
HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLMNT
Residues plotted ~100° apart around an α-helix — clustering of one color reveals an amphipathic face.
Structure & chemistry
Molecular identity & reference confidence
Source-supported reference
Select the mature 29-residue unmodified human glucagon chain. Both former CIDs have the same independently verified InChIKey and fully defined stereochemistry, so the differing identifiers are duplicate molecular records.
- Molecular form
- Human glucagon(1-29), unmodified free-acid mature peptide
- Species
- Homo sapiens
- Termini (N / C)
- Free alpha-amino group of L-histidine / Free L-threonine carboxylic acid (-COOH)
Average reference mass · Molecular identity assessment: 2026-10-05
Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05
- Molecular formula
- C153H225N43O49S
- Average reference mass
- ≈ 3,482.7
- Backbone
- Human glucagon(1-29), unmodified free-acid mature peptide
- C-terminus
- Free L-threonine carboxylic acid (-COOH)
- PubChem CID: 16132283
Chemistry values: curated profile, PubChem.
Clinical development snapshot
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 1,511 registered studies with “Glucagon” as an intervention (snapshot 2026-10-01). A registry footprint is not evidence of efficacy or approval.
| NCT | Title | Phase | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07249554 | Combination Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder | Phase 2 | not yet recruiting | 2026-10-01 |
| NCT05254314 | Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in the Treatment of Adult, Obesity-related, Symptomatic Asthma (GATA- | Phase 2 | active not recruiting | 2026-10-01 |
| NCT07793929 | A Study to Evaluate the Impact of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Ribupatide | Phase 1 | recruiting | 2026-10-01 |
| NCT07734792 | Tirzepatide in Thrombectomy-Treated Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Trial | Phase 3 | not yet recruiting | 2026-10-01 |
| NCT06854614 | Sequential Therapy Anti-obesitY Medication With Muscle Preservation for Weight Loss and MaintEnance: A PragmAt | Phase 4 | active not recruiting | 2026-09-30 |
| NCT06603571 | A Study to Investigate Weight Management With LY3841136 and Tirzepatide (LY3298176), Alone or in Combination, | Phase 2 | completed | 2026-09-29 |
Glucagon — reconstitution calculator
Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
Reference form: Human glucagon(1-29), unmodified free-acid mature peptideAverage reference mass: 3,482.7 Da
Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.
Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.
Change log
Dated observations from the data pipeline (registry flags, trial footprints, identifiers) and editorial reviews of this profile.
- Trials19 registered studies added on ClinicalTrials.gov (now 1511).
FAQ about Glucagon
What is Glucagon?+
Glucagon is a 29-amino-acid peptide hormone from pancreatic alpha cells that raises blood glucose, opposing insulin. It is the archetypal counter-regulatory hormone and, more recently, the glucagon receptor has become a deliberate target in triple-agonist peptides such as retatrutide.
What Canadian product status is recorded for Glucagon?+
Health Canada lists BAQSIMI (DIN 02492415) as marketed (verified 2026-10-05). This status applies to those specific products and does not extend to every reagent, formulation or use of Glucagon.
What is the length of the selected reference form for Glucagon?+
The selected reference form (Human glucagon(1-29), unmodified free-acid mature peptide) has 29 residues or residue-derived units in its backbone. Other forms in this family may have a different length.
Related peptides
References & further reading
- 1.Kajani et al. (2024). Hepatic glucagon action: beyond glucose mobilization. Physiol Rev
- 2.Wewer Albrechtsen et al. (2023). 100 years of glucagon and 100 more. Diabetologia
- 3.Capozzi et al. (2022). The past, present, and future physiology and pharmacology of glucagon. Cell Metab
- 4.Authier et al. (2008). Glucagon receptors. Cell Mol Life Sci
- 5.Kronfol et al. (2024). Clinical Pharmacology of Glucagon. Clin Pharmacol Ther
- 6.Lund et al. (2019). Extrapancreatic glucagon: Present status. Diabetes Res Clin Pract
- 7.Neumann et al. (2023). Glucagon and Its Receptors in the Mammalian Heart. Int J Mol Sci
- 8.Janah et al. (2019). Glucagon Receptor Signaling and Glucagon Resistance. Int J Mol Sci
- 9.PubChem — compound summary for Glucagon (CID 16132283)
- 10.Wikipedia — Glucagon