Tirzepatide
Molecular Research Profile ยท Target purity > 99.0% ยท Half-life ~5 days
Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist with high efficacy in glycemic modulation and research-grade body composition optimization.
Tirzepatide Molecular Formula, Structure & Chemical Identity
Reference identifiers researchers use to verify that a vial matches what a vendor claims to have shipped. Cross-check these values against any Certificate of Analysis before accepting a purity figure.
| Molecular Formula | C225H348N48O68 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | 4813.5 g/mol |
| CAS Number | 2023788-19-2 |
| Amino Acid Count | 39 |
| Amino Acid Sequence | Tyr-Aib-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Ile-Aib-Leu-Asp-Lys-Ile-Ala-Gln-Lys-Ala-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser |
| Also Known As | LY3298176, Mounjaro, Zepbound |
| PubChem CID | 166567236 ↗ |
Identifiers verified against the NIH PubChem compound database. Molecular weights independently recalculated from the molecular formula using IUPAC 2021 standard atomic weights.
How to Read a Tirzepatide Certificate of Analysis
A COA is only meaningful if the identifiers on it match the compound you ordered. Four checks, in order.
- 1. Identity โ does the formula match?The COA header should state C225H348N48O68 and a molecular weight near 4813.5 g/mol, with CAS 2023788-19-2. A mismatch means you are not looking at a COA for this compound.
- 2. Purity โ HPLC chromatogram, not just a numberA printed “> 99.0%” with no chromatogram is a marketing claim. Demand the actual HPLC trace: a single dominant peak, labelled retention time, and an integration table. Shoulders or unlabelled side peaks are unreported impurities.
- 3. Mass confirmation โ does MS agree with the formula?Mass spectrometry should report an observed mass consistent with the expected 4813.5 g/mol. Peptides are frequently reported as multiply charged ions, so the raw m/z value will be lower than the neutral mass. An unexplained offset is a red flag.
- 4. Provenance โ who signed it, and for which batch?A valid COA names the testing laboratory, carries a batch or lot number that matches your vial label, and is dated. A vendor-produced PDF with no lab identity and no batch number is not third-party evidence.
Full methodology in ourguide to the 5 COA red flags researchers miss, or verify the reconstitution math with thepeptide reconstitution calculator.
Mechanism of Action
Tirzepatide is a unimolecular dual agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Unlike single-agonist GLp-1 peptides (e.g., semaglutide), tirzepatide engages both incretin pathways simultaneously, producing a synergistic effect on insulin secretion, gastric emptying, and satiety signaling.
The GIP component enhances insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue and promotes lipid buffering, while the GLP-1 component reduces food intake via hypothalamic and hindbrain circuits. This dual mechanism yields greater glycemic control and body-weight reduction than GLP-1 monotherapy at equivalent doses. The ~5-day half-life (engineered via a C20 fatty diacid chain) supports once-weekly research protocols.
Tirzepatide's balanced GIP/GLP-1 potency ratio differentiates it from earlier GIP/GLP-1 co-agonists that were biased toward GIP and showed limited metabolic benefit. The optimized ratio was key to its clinical efficacy.
Research History & Context
Tirzepatide (LY3298176, brand name Mounjaro in clinical contexts) was developed by Eli Lilly. Phase 3 SURPASS and SURMOUNT trials (2021โ2024) demonstrated mean body-weight reductions of up to 22.5% at 72 weeks in participants with obesity, and HbA1c reductions of up to 2.4% in type-2 diabetes populations. It received clinical authorization in 2022 for type-2 diabetes and expanded indications in 2023.
As a research peptide, tirzepatide is among the most extensively characterized GLP-1-family compounds available through independent analytical laboratories, with robust HPLC/MS reference data and well-documented reconstitution protocols.
Storage & Handling
Store lyophilized tirzepatide powder at -20ยฐC, protected from light and moisture. Under these conditions, stability exceeds 18 months. Brief excursions to room temperature during handling (<24 hours) do not significantly degrade the peptide.
Reconstituted tirzepatide in bacteriostatic water should be refrigerated at 2โ8ยฐC and used within 28 days. Avoid agitation โ tirzepatide solutions are more sensitive to aggregation from shaking than some other GLP-1 peptides. If cloudiness or visible particles develop, discard the vial.
Reconstitution & Research Dosing
For Tirzepatide, the standard laboratory reconstitution is 2.0 ml BAC water for 15mg vial. A typical research study window uses 2.5 mg - 7.5 mg / week.
For a 15mg research vial, add 2.0 ml BAC water to achieve 7.5 mg/ml. For lower-concentration protocols (e.g., 2.5 mg/ml for micro-dosing studies), use 6.0 ml BAC water for the same 15mg vial. Always confirm the net peptide weight via third-party HPLC before dosing calculations.
Use the Reconstitution Calculator for exact syringe units →Audited Vendors Stocking Tirzepatide
Each review checks whether the testing lab is named and whether COAs can be verified at the issuing lab.
Related Tirzepatide Research
Tirzepatide FAQ
QWhat is the molecular formula of Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide has the molecular formula C225H348N48O68 and a molecular weight of approximately 4813.5 g/mol. Its CAS registry number is 2023788-19-2. It is a 39-residue peptide with the sequence Tyr-Aib-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Ile-Aib-Leu-Asp-Lys-Ile-Ala-Gln-Lys-Ala-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser.
QHow do you verify a Tirzepatide Certificate of Analysis?
Check four things in order. First, identity: the COA must state C225H348N48O68 and CAS 2023788-19-2. Second, purity: require the actual HPLC chromatogram with retention time and integration table, not just a printed percentage. Third, mass confirmation: the mass spectrometry result must agree with the expected molecular weight of 4813.5 g/mol, allowing for multiply charged ions. Fourth, provenance: the COA must name the testing laboratory and carry a batch number matching your vial label.
QWhat purity should Tirzepatide be?
Research-grade Tirzepatide should meet a purity target of > 99.0%, confirmed by third-party HPLC analysis rather than a vendor self-declaration. A purity claim without an accompanying chromatogram carries no evidential weight.
QWhat is the half-life of Tirzepatide?
The reported half-life of Tirzepatide is ~5 days. Half-life figures come from published research models and vary with species, route and formulation, so treat them as a reference range rather than a fixed value.
QHow much bacteriostatic water do you add to Tirzepatide?
The standard reconstitution for Tirzepatide is 2.0 ml BAC water for 15mg vial. For a 15mg research vial, add 2.0 ml BAC water to achieve 7.5 mg/ml. For lower-concentration protocols (e.g., 2.5 mg/ml for micro-dosing studies), use 6.0 ml BAC water for the same 15mg vial. Always confirm the net peptide weight via third-party HPLC before dosing calculations.
Explore Related Research Compounds
Research Use Only (RUO): Tirzepatide is discussed strictly as an in-vitro laboratory research compound. Nothing on this page constitutes human or clinical administration guidance. Always verify purity through independent third-party HPLC/MS analysis before use.