Apraglutide

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

Apraglutide is a synthetic analog of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), a hormone released by the gut that promotes growth and repair of the intestinal lining. It belongs to the same intestinotrophic class as teduglutide, the first approved GLP-2 analog, but is engineered for a longer half-life that supports once-weekly subcutaneous dosing rather than daily injection — a meaningful practical difference for a chronic condition. The target indication is short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF), a serious condition in which surgical loss of much of the small intestine leaves patients unable to absorb enough nutrients and fluid, often requiring lifelong parenteral (intravenous) nutrition. By stimulating the GLP-2 receptor, apraglutide is intended to increase the absorptive surface and function of the remaining bowel, with the clinical goal of reducing dependence on parenteral support — the amount of intravenous nutrition and fluid a patient needs each week. Apraglutide has advanced through late-stage clinical trials in SBS-IF, including studies in both patients with and without a remaining colon in continuity. As of this writing it is investigational and not yet a broadly approved commercial product across all major markets; regulatory review has been ongoing. This entry is an educational reference on an emerging GLP-2 therapy for a rare, serious condition — not a product available for self-administration, which would in any case be inappropriate given the specialized medical management SBS-IF requires.