Tirzepatide is a synthetic peptide built from a chain of 39 amino acids. It is an active subject in laboratory research and is also used in licensed medicine. If you are sourcing it as a research peptide, it comes as a white lyophilised powder — freeze-dried — in vials of 5 mg or 10 mg.
What Is Tirzepatide Made Of
Tirzepatide is a single-chain peptide: 39 amino acids arranged in a specific sequence. The sequence is designed to interact with two receptors — GIP and GLP-1 — rather than one. GIP stands for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. Both are naturally occurring gut peptides.
The molecule also carries a fatty acid chain attached to one of its amino acids. That attachment allows the peptide to bind loosely to albumin, a protein found in blood, which slows how quickly the body clears it. This structural feature is what distinguishes tirzepatide from single-receptor peptides such as semaglutide or liraglutide.
Tirzepatide Peptide Class
Tirzepatide belongs to a class called dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists. "Agonist" means it engages the receptor, much as the natural hormone would. It is a medium-sized peptide by research standards — 39 residues puts it well above short peptides like BPC-157 (15 amino acids) but in the same general size range as other incretin-based compounds.
Because it is a peptide, it breaks down in the digestive tract if swallowed, which is relevant to how research samples are handled and administered in laboratory settings.
Supplied Form and Vial Sizes
Research tirzepatide is most commonly sold as lyophilised powder in 5 mg or 10 mg vials. Lyophilised means the peptide has been dissolved, frozen, and then had the water removed under vacuum — a process that leaves a dry, stable powder that travels and stores well.
A 10 mg vial provides more working material per vial, which suits longer research runs.
Storage:
- Lyophilised powder: store at -20 °C, stable for 24 months or more when kept dry and frozen
- Reconstituted solution: refrigerate at 2–8 °C
- Keep away from light at all stages
- Avoid freezing a reconstituted vial — ice crystals can damage the peptide structure
A single freeze-thaw cycle on the dry powder is generally acceptable. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles on reconstituted solution degrade it quickly.
Tirzepatide COA: What to Check
A COA — certificate of analysis — is the document that records which analytical tests were run on a specific batch and what the results were. For a peptide like tirzepatide, a useful COA covers three things.
Purity. Measured by HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography — a method that separates the peptide from impurities and measures each fraction). A well-made research peptide should show purity above 98%.
Molecular identity. Confirmed by mass spectrometry, which checks that the measured molecular weight matches the expected weight for tirzepatide (approximately 4813 Da). This confirms the correct molecule is present rather than a related compound.
Batch number. The COA should carry a batch or lot number that matches the number printed on the vial. If those do not match, the COA does not correspond to the product in your hand.
Some COAs also include water content (by Karl Fischer titration) and sterility or endotoxin data. Those are worth having but are less common at the research tier.
The COA should be specific to the batch, not a generic document applied across all stock. If the date of analysis predates the batch number, ask for clarification.
Tirzepatide is a 39-amino-acid dual-receptor peptide supplied as freeze-dried powder, most commonly in 10 mg vials. Store the dry powder frozen, refrigerate the solution once prepared, and when reviewing the COA check that purity is above 98%, mass spectrometry confirms identity, and the batch number matches your vial.
NXT Labs products are sold strictly as research chemicals for in vitro research, laboratory testing and analytical purposes only, and are not intended for use in any human or animal application.
NXT Labs supplies research peptides for laboratory use. Browse the full range or view current Certificates of Analysis.
