What is the difference between Exenatide and Lixisenatide?

Exenatide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist; synthetic exendin-4. Lixisenatide is classified as: Short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exendin-4 based incretin mimetic). Exenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Lixisenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.

Is Exenatide or Lixisenatide approved?

Exenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Lixisenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.

How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Exenatide and Lixisenatide?

Peptide Science Daily tracks 376 registered clinical trials for Exenatide (evidence grade A) and 75 for Lixisenatide (evidence grade A).

Compound comparison

Exenatide vs Lixisenatide

This page sets Exenatide and Lixisenatide side by side using the data recorded on Peptide Science Daily: drug class, mechanism of action, regulatory status by region, the evidence grade assigned here, and the number of clinical trials tracked. It is a neutral, factual comparison and does not rank either compound or recommend one over the other.

Side-by-side comparison

Class: Exenatide
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist; synthetic exendin-4
Lixisenatide
Short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exendin-4 based incretin mimetic)
Mechanism: Exenatide
In plain terms, exenatide mimics a gut-hormone-like peptide that lowers blood sugar and reduces appetite.
Lixisenatide
In plain terms, lixisenatide copies a natural gut hormone that tells the body to release insulin after eating and to slow how fast the stomach empties, which blunts blood-sugar spikes and reduces appetite.
United States (FDA): Exenatide
Approved. Byetta (exenatide twice daily) for type 2 diabetes (2005), the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved, and Bydureon (extended-release, once weekly) (2012).
Lixisenatide
Approved as Adlyxin (NDA 208471) in July 2016 for adults with type 2 diabetes. Sanofi discontinued US sales and the standalone product was withdrawn from the US market in early 2023 for commercial reasons, not safety. The fixed-ratio insulin glargine combination Soliqua remains marketed.
European Union (EMA): Exenatide
Authorized: Byetta (2006) and Bydureon (2011) for type 2 diabetes.
Lixisenatide
Authorised as Lyxumia on 1 February 2013 for type 2 diabetes. The marketing authorisation was withdrawn on 18 December 2025 at Sanofi's request for commercial reasons. The insulin glargine combination Suliqua remains authorised.
Australia (TGA): Exenatide
Registered on the ARTG for type 2 diabetes, available on prescription.
Lixisenatide
Registered on the ARTG as Lyxumia in 2013 as a prescription-only medicine. Sanofi cancelled the standalone Lyxumia ARTG entry in February 2021.
WADA: Exenatide
Not prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists are not on the WADA Prohibited List and are not banned substances.
Lixisenatide
Not listed as a prohibited substance on the WADA Prohibited List (2026). GLP-1 receptor agonists are not classified as prohibited in or out of competition.
Evidence grade: Exenatide
A
Lixisenatide
A
Tracked clinical trials: Exenatide
376
Lixisenatide
75
Full profile: Exenatide
Exenatide profile
Lixisenatide
Lixisenatide profile

Comparison of Exenatide and Lixisenatide by class, mechanism, regulatory status by region, evidence grade, and number of tracked clinical trials.
Attribute	Exenatide	Lixisenatide
Class	Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist; synthetic exendin-4	Short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exendin-4 based incretin mimetic)
Mechanism	In plain terms, exenatide mimics a gut-hormone-like peptide that lowers blood sugar and reduces appetite.	In plain terms, lixisenatide copies a natural gut hormone that tells the body to release insulin after eating and to slow how fast the stomach empties, which blunts blood-sugar spikes and reduces appetite.
United States (FDA)	Approved. Byetta (exenatide twice daily) for type 2 diabetes (2005), the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved, and Bydureon (extended-release, once weekly) (2012).	Approved as Adlyxin (NDA 208471) in July 2016 for adults with type 2 diabetes. Sanofi discontinued US sales and the standalone product was withdrawn from the US market in early 2023 for commercial reasons, not safety. The fixed-ratio insulin glargine combination Soliqua remains marketed.
European Union (EMA)	Authorized: Byetta (2006) and Bydureon (2011) for type 2 diabetes.	Authorised as Lyxumia on 1 February 2013 for type 2 diabetes. The marketing authorisation was withdrawn on 18 December 2025 at Sanofi's request for commercial reasons. The insulin glargine combination Suliqua remains authorised.
Australia (TGA)	Registered on the ARTG for type 2 diabetes, available on prescription.	Registered on the ARTG as Lyxumia in 2013 as a prescription-only medicine. Sanofi cancelled the standalone Lyxumia ARTG entry in February 2021.
WADA	Not prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists are not on the WADA Prohibited List and are not banned substances.	Not listed as a prohibited substance on the WADA Prohibited List (2026). GLP-1 receptor agonists are not classified as prohibited in or out of competition.
Evidence grade	A	A
Tracked clinical trials	376	75
Full profile	Exenatide profile	Lixisenatide profile

Common questions

What is the difference between Exenatide and Lixisenatide?: Exenatide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist; synthetic exendin-4. Lixisenatide is classified as: Short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exendin-4 based incretin mimetic). Exenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Lixisenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.
Is Exenatide or Lixisenatide approved?: Exenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Lixisenatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.
How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Exenatide and Lixisenatide?: Peptide Science Daily tracks 376 registered clinical trials for Exenatide (evidence grade A) and 75 for Lixisenatide (evidence grade A).