Bioglutide (NA-931) UK: Quadruple Agonist Research, Mechanism and Study Data

For twenty years, weight research has been about one question: how do you make people eat less? Bioglutide asks a different one. What if you could switch on four of the body’s metabolic signals at once, from a capsule, and lose fat without losing the muscle that usually goes with it?

That is the idea behind NA-931, the compound its developer has branded Bioglutide. It is designed to act on four receptors at the same time: GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and IGF-1. The first three are familiar from the injectable compounds that have dominated the headlines. The fourth is new, and it is the reason researchers are paying attention. In a 13-week phase 2 trial, the top dose produced average weight reductions of up to 14.8%, and the developer reported no loss of muscle. This guide explains what Bioglutide is, how a four-signal design is supposed to work, what each stage of the research has found so far, and how it compares with the compounds that came before it. Bioglutide is an investigational compound that has not been approved as a medicine anywhere, and everything below is written for readers interested in the science.

What Is Bioglutide, and Why Is Everyone Suddenly Asking About It?

Bioglutide is the brand name for NA-931, an experimental compound developed by Biomed Industries, a biotechnology company based in San Jose, California. Biomed describes it as the first oral quadruple receptor agonist: a single compound that switches on four different hormone receptors involved in appetite, blood sugar, energy use and tissue growth.

The reason people are suddenly asking about it is timing. GLP-1 compounds such as semaglutide proved that hormone-based approaches to weight could work at scale. Then came tirzepatide, which added a second signal, and retatrutide, which added a third. Each step produced bigger results in trials. Bioglutide is the first compound to publicly claim a fourth, and it does so in capsule form rather than as a weekly injection. For anyone following metabolic research, that is a combination that is hard to ignore.

Where did the name Bioglutide come from?

NA-931 is the research code. Bioglutide is the trademarked name Biomed has started using in its announcements, clearly chosen to sit alongside the “-glutide” names people already recognise, such as semaglutide and liraglutide. You will see both names used for the same compound, and searches for “Bioglutide”, “BioGlutide” and “NA-931” all refer to the same thing.

Interestingly, when Biomed first unveiled the compound in March 2024, it described it as a triple agonist acting on IGF-1, GLP-1 and GIP. By the time the phase 1 and phase 2 trials were registered, the glucagon receptor had been added to the description, making it a quadruple agonist. That shift tells you something about how quickly this area is moving.

Is Bioglutide a peptide or a small molecule?

This is one of the most interesting open questions about it. The phase 2 trial registration on ClinicalTrials.gov describes NA-931 as a peptide quadruple agonist. Several trade publications describe it as an oral small molecule. Biomed has also described NA-931 as part of a family of compounds derived from IGF-1 metabolites, alongside close relatives coded NA-932 and NA-933.

One explanation that fits all three descriptions is a short, modified peptide fragment: small enough to behave like a small molecule and survive the gut, but built from amino acids. Biomed has not yet published the full chemical structure, so for now the honest answer is that it sits somewhere on the border between the two categories. We come back to why that matters later in the guide.

From One Signal to Four: How Metabolic Research Got Here

To understand why a fourth receptor is such a big deal, it helps to see how the field built up one signal at a time.

GLP-1: the signal that started it all

GLP-1 is a hormone released by the gut after a meal. It tells the brain you are full, slows down how quickly the stomach empties and helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises. Long-acting GLP-1 compounds turned that natural signal into a powerful research tool. In the STEP 1 trial, weekly semaglutide produced an average weight reduction of 14.9% over 68 weeks (PMID: 33567185). If you want the background on how that changed the field, our article is Ozempic a peptide? is a good place to start.

Adding GIP: the second signal

GIP is GLP-1’s lesser-known partner, another gut hormone released after eating. In 2013, researchers showed that a single molecule acting on both receptors could outperform either signal alone in rodents, monkeys and humans (PMID: 24174709). That idea became tirzepatide, which produced average reductions of up to 20.9% over 72 weeks in the SURMOUNT-1 trial (PMID: 35658024). Our tirzepatide guide covers that story in full.

Adding glucagon: the third signal

Glucagon is usually thought of as the hormone that raises blood sugar, which made it a surprising addition. But glucagon also increases energy expenditure and helps the liver burn fat. In 2015, a team showed that a single peptide acting on GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors together beat every dual agonist and single agonist they tested in obese rodents (PMID: 25485909). The best-known triple agonist, retatrutide, went on to produce average reductions of up to 24.2% over 48 weeks in its phase 2 trial (PMID: 37366315). Our retatrutide guide explains how it works.

The missing piece: what happens to muscle

Here is the part most people miss. When the body loses weight quickly, it does not only lose fat. Some of what goes is lean tissue, which includes muscle. A recent meta-analysis of randomised trials found that lean mass made up about 28% of the total weight lost with GLP-1 based compounds and a related drug class (Jobanputra et al., Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews). A 2024 review in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism describes the reported figures as varying widely between studies and calls for better ways to protect muscle during weight loss (PMID: 38937282).

That is the gap Bioglutide is aiming at. Instead of simply adding more appetite signals, its developer added a growth signal.

Four Signals, One Compound: How Bioglutide Is Designed to Work

The idea behind Bioglutide is that each of its four targets does a different job, and together they cover more of the body’s energy system than any one signal could. Here is the plain-English version of what each one is thought to contribute.

GLP-1: the fullness signal

Acting on GLP-1 receptors is expected to reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying and support insulin release when blood sugar is high. This is the engine of most modern weight research.

GIP: the balancing signal

GIP works alongside GLP-1 on insulin release and fat tissue. In combination designs, it appears to strengthen the overall effect and may help make the GLP-1 side easier to tolerate.

Glucagon: the energy-burning signal

Glucagon receptor activity is linked to higher energy expenditure and fat breakdown in the liver. It is the ingredient that pushed triple agonists ahead of dual agonists in early research.

IGF-1: the muscle signal

IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1, is one of the body’s main growth signals for muscle. The theory is that adding IGF-1 activity could help hold on to lean tissue while the other three signals drive fat loss. This is the part that makes Bioglutide different from everything else in the class, and it is why its developer’s headline claim is weight loss “without muscle loss”.

What the Research Has Actually Found So Far

Bioglutide’s development record is short but moves fast: a mouse study, a 28-day phase 1 trial and a 13-week phase 2 trial, all within about two years. Here it is in order.

In the lab: diet-induced obese mice

The earliest data came from a 14-day study in diet-induced obese mice with fatty liver disease, a standard model for metabolic research. Biomed reported reductions in body weight of up to 26%, alongside falls in blood glucose of up to 23% and blood triglycerides of up to 34%, and stated that the weight reduction came without muscle loss (Tran et al., Alzheimer’s & Dementia). Fourteen days is very short, but those are striking numbers for a first look.

Phase 1: the first doses in people

The first human study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 74 adults with overweight or obesity, including people with type 2 diabetes (NCT06615700). It tested single and multiple rising doses over 28 days, and also checked whether a high-fat meal changed how much of the compound reached the bloodstream.

Even in four weeks, the effect was measurable. Participants on the top dose of 150mg a day lost up to 6.8% of their body weight, 5.1 percentage points more than placebo. In an open-label extension, where participants knew they were receiving the compound, weight loss continued and reached 12.7%. Mild nausea and diarrhoea were each reported by 8.3% of participants at the highest dose, nausea rose to 16.6% during the longer extension, and no vomiting was seen at any stage (Tran, Alzheimer’s & Dementia). For an appetite-related compound, that is an unusually quiet side-effect profile, and it is a large part of why the phase 2 trial attracted so much interest.

Phase 2: thirteen weeks, 125 participants

The phase 2 trial (NCT06564753) enrolled 125 adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related health condition. Participants took one of four daily oral doses or a placebo for 13 weeks. The main measure was the change in body weight from the start to week 13 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

The results were presented at three major conferences in 2025: the American Diabetes Association, ENDO and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. The headline findings were:

• Weight reduction rose with dose, with the 150mg daily dose producing the largest effect.
• Average weight reduction of up to 14.8% at 150mg, 13.2 percentage points more than placebo, in the EASD presentation.
• Up to 72% of participants on NA-931 lost 12% or more of their body weight, compared with 2% on placebo.
• Diarrhoea in 8.1% of NA-931 participants, against 3.2% on placebo.
• No muscle loss reported.

Those figures come from the EASD report (Pharmaceutical Technology). Biomed’s earlier ENDO announcement gave the top-dose figure as 13.8% (Biomed Industries).

Why are there two headline numbers?

You will see both 13.8% and 14.8% quoted for the same trial. The most likely reason is that the two presentations used slightly different analyses, for example an average across everyone on the top dose versus the peak average at week 13. Either way, both numbers land in the same place: a double-digit reduction in a quarter of a year, from a capsule. The full trial paper, when it is published, will settle the exact figure and show how body composition was measured.

What comes next: combination trials and phase 3

Biomed has registered a 48-week phase 2 study testing NA-931 on its own and on top of tirzepatide (NCT06732245). Its stated aim is to see whether the combination produces bigger effects while reducing side effects and preserving or even increasing muscle. Crucially, it measures lean mass and appendicular lean mass with DEXA scans, the gold-standard body composition method, along with fat mass and waist size (ClinicalTrials.gov). In January 2026, Biomed announced plans to take NA-931 into two global phase 3 trials, one testing it alone and one alongside semaglutide and tirzepatide. At the American Diabetes Association meeting in June 2026, it set out the design of the first, called BIOCOMBO-1: a planned 68-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in about 466 adults with overweight or obesity, testing a once-daily 120mg capsule on its own and alongside oral semaglutide, with weight change at week 52 as the main measure. Biomed said enrolment would begin once regulatory and operational preparations are complete (Biomed Industries).

Bioglutide vs Retatrutide, Tirzepatide and Semaglutide

Everyone wants to know how Bioglutide stacks up against the big names. Comparing across trials is always rough, because the trials differ in who they enrol and how long they run. With that in mind, here is how the published figures line up.

• Semaglutide (GLP-1 only, weekly injection): 14.9% average reduction at 68 weeks in STEP 1.
• Tirzepatide (GLP-1 and GIP, weekly injection): up to 20.9% at 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-1.
• Retatrutide (GLP-1, GIP and glucagon, weekly injection): up to 24.2% at 48 weeks in phase 2.
• Bioglutide (GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and IGF-1, daily capsule): up to 14.8% at 13 weeks in phase 2.

The detail that matters most is the time. Bioglutide’s number comes from 13 weeks, while the others come from trials four to five times longer. In most weight trials the curve is still falling steeply at three months, so a 13-week figure is a snapshot taken early in the race rather than a finishing time. For comparison, retatrutide’s phase 2 trial reported up to 17.5% at 24 weeks on its way to 24.2% at 48. Whether Bioglutide keeps falling at a similar rate is exactly what the longer trials are designed to show. For a closer look at the two injectables it is most often compared with, see retatrutide vs tirzepatide.

The other big difference is the route. Every other compound on that list is injected. Bioglutide was tested as a capsule taken once a day. Its phase 1 trial also measured whether a high-fat meal changes how much reaches the bloodstream, an important question for any oral compound, because the existing oral GLP-1 tablet has to be taken on an empty stomach.

The Muscle Question: Why IGF-1 Changes the Conversation

If Bioglutide’s results hold up, the IGF-1 piece is what people will remember it for.

IGF-1 sits at the top of one of the best-understood muscle growth pathways in biology. When IGF-1 binds its receptor on a muscle fibre, it switches on a protein called Akt. Akt then does two things at once: it turns up protein building through a switch called mTOR, and it turns down protein breakdown by holding back a family of factors called FoxO (PMID: 21798082). In simple terms, it pushes the muscle towards building and away from wasting.

Weight loss tends to push the other way. Eating less lowers the body’s building signals, which is one reason lean tissue goes along with fat. The theory behind Bioglutide is that layering an IGF-1 signal on top of three appetite and energy signals could tip that balance back. So far, the evidence for this comes from the mouse study and Biomed’s trial reports, which say no muscle loss was observed. The 48-week combination trial with DEXA scans will be the first real test of how much lean tissue is preserved, and it is one of the most anticipated readouts in the whole field.

If you are interested in the IGF-1 side of research on its own, our IGF-1 LR3 guide and our roundup of the best peptides for muscle research go much deeper.

Questions the Next Trials Will Answer

Bioglutide is early, and the most exciting compounds are always the ones with the biggest open questions. Here are the ones researchers are watching.

The full paper. The phase 2 results so far come from conference presentations and company announcements. A full peer-reviewed paper will add the detail researchers want: results for every dose, how muscle was measured, and how many participants completed the trial.

The long curve. Thirteen weeks shows the direction of travel. The 48-week trials will show where it ends up, and whether weight stays off over time.

The receptor profile. How strongly NA-931 acts at each of its four receptors has not yet been published. Researchers will want to see whether the four signals are balanced or whether one or two do most of the work.

The combination effect. One of the most interesting ideas is using Bioglutide alongside an existing injectable, so the injectable drives fat loss while Bioglutide protects muscle. The tirzepatide combination study is designed to test exactly that.

The Technical Breakdown: Receptors, Signalling and Chemistry

This section is for readers who want the molecular detail. Everything above makes sense without it.

Three receptors from one family

GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors all belong to the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors. They share a similar shape and all signal mainly through a messenger called cyclic AMP. That shared shape is what makes it possible to design one molecule that fits all three, and it is why GLP-1/GIP and GLP-1/GIP/glucagon co-agonists have been built successfully since the early 2010s (PMID: 25485909).

One receptor from a completely different family

The IGF-1 receptor is a different kind of receptor altogether: a receptor tyrosine kinase, closely related to the insulin receptor. Rather than using cyclic AMP, it signals through the IRS, PI3K and Akt chain described above (PMID: 21798082). Designing one compound that engages both a class B receptor family and a tyrosine kinase receptor is chemically unusual, which is part of why the structure of NA-931 is so keenly awaited.

The IGF-1 metabolite connection

Biomed describes NA-931 as belonging to a family of compounds derived from IGF-1 metabolites, with analogues NA-932 and NA-933 (BioWorld). It also describes NA-931 as an analogue of NA-831, its own neurology compound (Tran, Alzheimer’s & Dementia). When the full IGF-1 protein is broken down in the body, it releases short fragments, and some of those fragments have biological activity of their own. A compound built from that kind of fragment would explain why NA-931 is described as both a peptide and a small molecule, and why it can be given by mouth.

Amounts tested in the trials

The clinical trials used once-daily oral doses, with 150mg as the highest dose in both phase 1 and phase 2. Those figures are useful context for understanding the pharmacology. They are not guidance for laboratory work, where concentrations depend entirely on the experiment. Our understanding quantities guide explains how milligram figures relate to research solutions.

Why Verified Testing Matters Even More for a Brand-New Compound

Whenever a compound makes headlines before it is fully published, a familiar thing happens: vials with its name on start appearing for sale. With Bioglutide, that deserves extra care. Its full structure has not been published, which means the only way to know what is in a vial is independent analytical testing that confirms its identity and measures its purity. A label is not proof. A certificate of analysis tied to the exact batch is.

That is the standard every compound at Crown Peptides is held to, and it is the standard Bioglutide will be held to if it joins our range.

What every Crown Peptides batch comes with

Every batch we sell is tested before it goes on sale. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) separates the target compound from anything else in the vial and measures purity. Mass spectrometry weighs the molecule itself to confirm its identity. The results are published as a batch-specific certificate of analysis on our Lab Reports page, and the batch number is printed on the vial you receive, so you can match one to the other. If you have never read one before, our guide on how to read a peptide certificate of analysis walks through every section, and how to tell if peptides are real covers the warning signs when buying a new compound.

Stored, packed and dispatched properly

Our compounds are supplied as lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder, which is the most stable form for storage and transport. Vials are kept cold, sealed and away from light and moisture, as set out on our storage information page. Orders placed before 2pm on a weekday are dispatched the same day from the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £100.

A UK company you can actually talk to

Crown Peptides is a UK company, and our team replies to enquiries within 24 hours on business days, with WhatsApp for quicker answers. If you have a question about a certificate, a batch or a compound we have not stocked yet, you can get in touch.

Related Compounds Worth Knowing About

Bioglutide sits where appetite research meets muscle research. These compounds cover parts of the same ground, and many are studied alongside the metabolic hormones it targets. Most sit in our metabolic research peptides category, alongside the other compounds used in weight research.

IGF-1 LR3

IGF-1 LR3 is a long-acting version of IGF-1 itself, modified so that it escapes the binding proteins that normally hold IGF-1 in check. It is the most direct way to study the IGF-1 receptor pathway that makes Bioglutide unique.

Eloralintide

Eloralintide is a once-weekly amylin analogue that reached up to about 20% weight reduction in its 48-week phase 2 trial. It works on a completely different hormone system from Bioglutide. Our Eloralintide guide explains the amylin story.

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA and studied for how muscle cells handle glucose and energy. Where Bioglutide works on the signals that control energy coming in, MOTS-c is studied for how cells use it.

5-Amino-1MQ

5-Amino-1MQ blocks NNMT, an enzyme active in fat cells, and works inside fat tissue rather than through hormone receptors. Our article on the enzyme that tells fat cells to store explains how.

AOD-9604 and L-Carnitine

AOD-9604 is a fragment of growth hormone studied for fat breakdown without growth effects, and L-Carnitine (LC216) carries fatty acids into mitochondria to be burned. Both are often used in studies that follow what happens to fat once it is released.

For an overview of the wider field, see best peptides for weight loss research, or browse our metabolic research peptides.

Common Questions About Bioglutide

What is Bioglutide?

Bioglutide is the brand name for NA-931, an experimental quadruple receptor agonist developed by Biomed Industries. It is designed to act on GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and IGF-1 receptors at the same time and was tested as a once-daily oral capsule.

Is Bioglutide the same as NA-931?

Yes. NA-931 is the research code and Bioglutide is the trademarked name. Both refer to the same compound.

What does quadruple agonist mean?

An agonist is a compound that switches a receptor on. A quadruple agonist switches on four different receptors. Semaglutide acts on one, tirzepatide on two and retatrutide on three. Bioglutide is designed to act on four.

How much weight was lost in the Bioglutide trials?

In phase 1, the 150mg daily dose produced up to 6.8% weight reduction in 28 days. In the 13-week phase 2 trial, the 150mg dose produced average reductions reported at 13.8% to 14.8%, with up to 72% of participants losing 12% or more.

Does Bioglutide preserve muscle?

That is its main claim. Biomed reported no muscle loss in its mouse study and its phase 2 trial, and the IGF-1 part of its design is intended to support muscle. The 48-week combination study measuring lean mass with DEXA scans is designed to confirm how much muscle is preserved.

Is Bioglutide approved?

No. Bioglutide has completed phase 1 and phase 2 trials, and in January 2026 its developer announced plans for two global phase 3 trials, one testing it alone and one alongside existing injectables. The design of the first was published in June 2026, with enrolment still to begin. It is still an investigational compound.

Is Bioglutide legal in the UK?

Bioglutide is not listed as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and compounds that are not approved medicines can be bought in the UK for laboratory research. Our article are peptides legal in the UK explains how UK law treats research compounds.

Can I buy Bioglutide in the UK?

Bioglutide is not in the Crown Peptides range yet. If it joins, it will appear in our metabolic research peptides category with a published certificate of analysis for every batch. Wherever you look, check for a batch-specific certificate showing identity by mass spectrometry before buying.

The Post-GLP-1 Race Has a New Runner

The story of metabolic research over the last decade has been one of addition. One signal became two, two became three, and each step pushed the results further. Bioglutide is the boldest step yet: four signals in one compound, the first to add a muscle-building pathway to the mix, and the first to try it all in a capsule.

The early results follow a clear line. A 26% weight reduction in mice in two weeks. Up to 6.8% in people in four weeks with almost no stomach upset. Up to 14.8% in thirteen weeks, with 72% of participants losing 12% or more and no muscle loss reported. The questions that remain are the right ones to have at this stage: how far the curve goes, how much muscle is truly protected, and what happens when Bioglutide is paired with the injectables that came before it. The next two years of trials will answer them.

Until then, the compounds behind every step of this story are open to research today. Explore our metabolic research peptides, every batch HPLC and MS verified, with its certificate published in full and dispatched from the UK.

References

• Tran L, Tran ZV, Vu F. Associations between Alzheimer’s disease and obesity: clinical trials of NA-831 for AD and NA-931 for obesity. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2025 (conference abstract). PMC11712949
• Tran L. Neuro-metabolic association in Alzheimer’s disease and obesity: clinical evaluation of NA-831 and NA-931. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2025;21(Suppl 7):e108265 (conference abstract). PMC12725039
• Biomed Industries. Phase 2 trial of NA-931 in subjects who are obese with at least one weight-related comorbid condition. NCT06564753
• Biomed Industries. Phase 1 study of NA-931 in overweight/obese participants and patients with type 2 diabetes. NCT06615700
• Biomed Industries. Oral NA-931 alone or in addition to tirzepatide in overweight or obese adults. NCT06732245
• Wilding JPH, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002. PMID: 33567185
• Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205-216. PMID: 35658024
• Jastreboff AM, et al. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity: a phase 2 trial. N Engl J Med. 2023;389:514-526. PMID: 37366315
• Finan B, et al. Unimolecular dual incretins maximize metabolic benefits in rodents, monkeys, and humans. Sci Transl Med. 2013;5:209ra151. PMID: 24174709
• Finan B, et al. A rationally designed monomeric peptide triagonist corrects obesity and diabetes in rodents. Nat Med. 2015;21:27-36. PMID: 25485909
• Schiaffino S, Mammucari C. Regulation of skeletal muscle growth by the IGF1-Akt/PKB pathway: insights from genetic models. Skelet Muscle. 2011;1:4. PMID: 21798082
• Neeland IJ, Linge J, Birkenfeld AL. Changes in lean body mass with glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies and mitigation strategies. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024;26(Suppl 4):16-27. PMID: 38937282
• Jobanputra R, et al. The effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors on lean body mass in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. doi:10.1002/dmrr.70194
• Pharmaceutical Technology. EASD 2025: NA-931 phase 2 results in obese patients. Report
• Biomed Industries. Phase 2 results of NA-931 presented at ENDO 2025. Press release
• Biomed Industries. Phase 3 programs of NA-931 alone and combining with oral semaglutide for obesity presented at ADA 2026. June 2026. Press release
• BioWorld. NA-931 reduces body weight and improves metabolic profile in obese mice. Article