No Sublingual Tirzepatide-SNAC Formulation Exists
There is currently no sublingual formulation of tirzepatide mixed with SNAC (Sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino] caprylate) approved or described in the medical literature.
Current Tirzepatide Formulations
Tirzepatide is exclusively available as a subcutaneous injection administered once weekly 1, 2. The medication is a synthetic peptide that has been molecularly modified through acylation technology, with a C20 fatty-diacid portion attached that binds to albumin, allowing for its extended half-life of approximately five days 3.
- The FDA approved tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro) in May 2022 for subcutaneous administration only 3
- Dosing begins at 5 mg weekly and can be titrated to 10 mg or 15 mg weekly based on response and tolerability 2
- The acylated peptide structure is specifically engineered for subcutaneous depot injection, not oral or sublingual absorption 3
SNAC Technology Context
SNAC is a permeation enhancer used in oral semaglutide formulations to facilitate absorption across the gastric mucosa, but this technology has not been applied to tirzepatide 2. The evidence shows that:
- Semaglutide exists in both injectable and oral formulations, with the oral version utilizing absorption-enhancing technology 2
- Tirzepatide has only been studied and approved as a subcutaneous injection in all clinical trials (SURPASS 1-5) 4, 5, 6, 7
Why No Sublingual Formulation Exists
The molecular structure of tirzepatide, as a 39 amino acid peptide with albumin-binding modifications, is designed specifically for subcutaneous administration with gradual release from a depot 6, 3. Peptide medications of this size and structure typically cannot be effectively absorbed through sublingual or oral routes without significant technological modifications that have not been developed for tirzepatide.
Any product claiming to be "sublingual tirzepatide with SNAC" would be outside FDA-approved formulations and should be avoided, as it has not undergone safety or efficacy testing.