Diabetes &
Metabolism
Research Assays
Validated ELISA kits spanning insulin signalling, GLP-1 drug PK, SGLT2, DPP4, AMPK and novel metabolic targets — the most comprehensive diabetes assay portfolio available. Includes the world's first commercial Tirzepatide ELISA.
Why metabolic disease demands specialist assay tools
Select Your Research Area
Each area covers disease biology context, drug and biomarker targets, and validated Krishgen ELISA kits for drug PK quantification, ADA immunogenicity detection, and endogenous biomarker measurement.
Browse by Assay Category
Metabolic disease research spans distinct assay formats. Drug PK ELISA use a competitive format; ADA/immunogenicity ELISA use indirect or bridging formats; biomarker ELISA use sandwich format. Match your objective to the right kit.
Competitive immunoassay for quantitative measurement of GLP-1 agonist drug levels in serum and plasma. Species-independent. Covers Tirzepatide (world-first, KOD1027), Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Exenatide, Lixisenatide.
View GLP-1 drug ELISA →Competitive ELISA specific to engineered insulin analogs — does not cross-react with endogenous human insulin. Glargine (KBI2001), Aspart (KBI2002), Lispro (KBI2003), Degludec (KBI2005).
View insulin analog ELISA →Neutralising antibody ELISA for GLP-1 agonists. Bridging, drug-tolerant format to detect patient antibodies against Semaglutide (KBI9030), Liraglutide (KBN5020), and other agents.
View nAb ELISA →Qualitative indirect enzyme immunoassay for anti-drug antibodies against insulin analogs (Anti-Glargine KBI9001, Anti-Aspart KBI9002, Anti-Lispro KBI9003). Drug-coated plate captures patient IgG; signal directly proportional to ADA.
View insulin ADA ELISA →ELISA for SGLT2 (KBH1954) and DPP4 (KBH0912) — key targets of the two largest modern antidiabetic drug classes. SGLT2 inhibitors are the second largest group in clinical trials (12%) after incretins. Drug PK ELISA for canagliflozin, empagliflozin, sitagliptin, saxagliptin coming soon.
View SGLT2 / DPP4 assays →Adiponectin, Leptin, Resistin, Visfatin — core adipose-derived hormones regulating insulin sensitivity, energy balance, and metabolic inflammation. Validated in human, rat, and mouse. Essential for obesity mechanism studies and drug response monitoring.
View adipokine ELISA →ALT, AST, Albumin for standard DILI monitoring. CK-18, TGF-β1, FGF-21 for NAFLD/NASH staging. TNF-α and IL-6 (NIBSC/WHO-calibrated) for hepatic inflammation. Human, rat, and mouse validated.
View hepatotoxicity ELISA →Metabolism Assay Reference Table
All validated Krishgen ELISA kits for metabolic disease research. CV <15%, recovery 85–115%. Datasheets and CoAs available on request.
| Catalog # | Target / Analyte | Brand / Application | Type | Format | Species | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOD1027 | Tirzepatide Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist — world first commercial ELISA | MOUNJARO® • ZEPBOUND® | World FirstDrug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI5030 | Semaglutide GLP-1 receptor agonist | OZEMPIC® • WEGOVY® • RYBELSUS® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI9030 | Anti-Semaglutide nAb Neutralising antibody / immunogenicity | Immunogenicity screening | nAb / ADA | Bridging | Human | View → |
| KBI5020 | Liraglutide GLP-1 receptor agonist | VICTOZA® • SAXENDA® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBN5020 | Anti-Liraglutide nAb Neutralising antibody / immunogenicity | Immunogenicity screening | nAb / ADA | Bridging | Human | View → |
| KBI5013 | Exenatide GLP-1 receptor agonist | BYETTA® • BYDUREON® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI5021 | Lixisenatide GLP-1 receptor agonist | ADLYXIN® • LYXUMIA® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI2001 | Insulin Glargine Long-acting basal analog | LANTUS® • TOUJEO® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI9001 | Anti-Glargine ADA Anti-drug antibody • immunogenicity | ADA screening | ADA ELISA | Qualitative indirect | Human | View → |
| KBI2002 | Insulin Aspart Fast-acting mealtime analog | NOVOLOG® • NOVORAPID® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI9002 | Anti-Aspart ADA †verify catalog number | ADA screening | ADA ELISA | Qualitative indirect | Human | View → |
| KBI2003 | Insulin Lispro Fast-acting mealtime analog | HUMALOG® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| KBI9003 | Anti-Lispro ADA †verify catalog number | ADA screening | ADA ELISA | Qualitative indirect | Human | View → |
| KBI2005 | Insulin Degludec Ultra-long-acting basal analog | TRESIBA® | Drug PK | Competitive | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| — | Adiponectin Adipokine • insulin sensitivity | Metabolic syndrome / NAFLD | Biomarker | Sandwich ELISA | Human / Rat / Mouse | Search → |
| — | Leptin Adipokine • energy homeostasis | Obesity / leptin resistance | Biomarker | Sandwich ELISA | Human / Rat / Mouse | Search → |
| — | ALT (Alanine Transaminase) Liver injury • DILI marker | Hepatotoxicity monitoring | Biomarker | Sandwich ELISA | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| — | AST (Aspartate Transaminase) Liver injury • DILI marker | Hepatotoxicity monitoring | Biomarker | Sandwich ELISA | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
| — | CK-18 (Cytokeratin-18) Hepatocyte apoptosis • NASH staging | NAFLD vs NASH differentiation | Biomarker | Sandwich ELISA | Human / Rat / Mouse | View → |
The Insulin Signalling Pathway
The insulin signalling pathway plays a pivotal role in maintaining glucose homeostasis and regulating metabolic processes within the body — spanning glucose storage and uptake, protein synthesis, lipid regulation, and mitogenic responses.
Glucose Storage and Uptake
Insulin signalling primarily involves the regulation of glucose transporters (GLUTs) to facilitate glucose uptake into cells. In response to insulin, GLUT4 translocates from intracellular vesicles to the plasma membrane, increasing glucose uptake. Insulin also promotes glycogen synthesis through glycogen synthase activation and inhibits glycogen breakdown via glycogen phosphorylase inactivation.
Protein Synthesis
Insulin stimulates protein synthesis by activating the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling pathway. mTOR regulates translation initiation, ribosome biogenesis, and protein synthesis, leading to increased cellular growth and repair. Key intermediates include eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and eIF4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs).
Regulation of Lipid Synthesis
Insulin signalling controls lipid metabolism by promoting fatty acid synthesis and inhibiting lipolysis in adipose tissue. It activates sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), which transcriptionally enhance expression of lipogenic genes. Insulin also suppresses hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activity, reducing breakdown of stored triglycerides.
Mitogenic Responses
Mitogenic responses induced by insulin involve cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation via activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway and the PI3K/Akt pathway. These pathways modulate transcription factors, growth factor receptors, and intracellular mediators, ultimately promoting cell cycle progression.
Drug Classes & Krishgen Assays
Click any drug class to expand the full drug list with available Krishgen ELISA catalog numbers.
1. Insulin Analogs
Rapid-acting • Basal • Ultra-long-acting +Recombinant insulin analogues have been developed to act in several different ways. Rapid-acting analogs (lispro, aspart, glulisine) supply bolus insulin at mealtimes. Longer-acting analogs (detemir, glargine, degludec) provide basal insulin throughout the day and night. Insulin plus GLP-1 receptor agonist combinations are also now approved.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Drug PK Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin Lispro Rapid-acting • prandial | Humalog — Lilly | KBI2003 — Lispro ELISA |
| Insulin Aspart Rapid-acting • prandial | Novolog/Novofill — Novo Nordisk | KBI2002 — Aspart ELISA |
| Insulin Glulisine Rapid-acting • prandial | Apidra — Sanofi | Coming soon |
| Insulin Detemir Long-acting • basal | Levemir FlexPen — Novo Nordisk | Coming soon |
| Insulin Glargine Long-acting • basal | Lantus/Toujeo — Sanofi • Aventis | KBI2001 — Glargine ELISA |
| Insulin Degludec Ultra-long-acting • basal | Ryzodeg/Tresiba — Novo Nordisk | KBI5034 |
2. Sulfonylureas (SU)
Insulin secretagogues • KATP channel +Until metformin approval, sulfonylureas were the only approved insulin competitors and were extensively used to treat T2DM. Currently three SU drugs are available by prescription: glyburide, glipizide, and glimepiride. They increase insulin secretion by blocking ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels on pancreatic beta cells.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Glyburide | Diabeta, Glucovance, Glynase | KBH6464 — SUR1 ELISA |
| Glipizide | Glucotrol | KBH6464 — SUR1 ELISA |
| Glimepiride | Amaryl, Duetact, Tandemact | KBH6464 — SUR1 ELISA |
3. Biguanides
Metformin • AMPK activation +The biguanide metformin (FDA-approved 1995) is the only FDA-approved antihyperglycemic agent in this class and remains first-line T2DM therapy. Metformin selectively inhibits mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, indirectly activates AMPK, and reduces cytosolic dihydroxyacetone phosphate while raising the cytosolic NADH/NAD ratio.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Metformin | Glucophage — Merck Serono | KBH0746 — Phospho-AMPK ELISA |
4. Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose • Miglitol • Intestinal enzyme inhibition +Acarbose (FDA-approved 1995) and miglitol (1996) inhibit alpha-glucosidase, a widely expressed enzyme that cleaves glucosidic bonds. Inhibition prevents digestion of complex carbohydrates to monosaccharides in the small intestine, reducing postprandial glucose spikes.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Acarbose | Glucobay, Precose — Bayer | KBH0857 — Alpha-Glucosidase ELISA |
| Miglitol | Glyset — Lupin | KBH4333- GENLISA Human Alpha-Glucosidase (AGLU) ELISA KLR3863- GENLISA Rat Glucosidase Alpha, Acid (GAA) ELISA KLM0159- GENLISA Mouse Glucosidase Alpha, Acid (GAA) ELISA |
5. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)
PPAR-γ agonists • Insulin sensitisers +TZDs act as insulin sensitisers by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). The first TZD, troglitazone, was approved in 1997 but discontinued in 1999 due to severe hepatotoxicity. Two marketed TZDs remain: rosiglitazone and pioglitazone (both FDA-approved 1999). PPAR-γ ELISA (KBH1511) supports TZD mechanism of action research.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Rosiglitazone | Avandamet, Avandia — GlaxoSmithKline | KBH1511 — PPAR-γ ELISA |
| Pioglitazone | Actoplus Met, Actos — Watson | KBH1511 — PPAR-γ ELISA |
6. Incretin-Dependent Therapies — GLP-1 Agonists & DPP4 Inhibitors
GLP-1R agonists • DPP4 inhibitors • Drug PK ELISA available +First approved in 2005–2006, incretin-dependent therapies are now the most prescribed T2DM agents. Six injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists are approved: exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, albiglutide, lixisenatide, and semaglutide. Tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1) was approved in 2022. Four DPP4 inhibitors are FDA-approved plus seven others approved by other agencies.
| Target | Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Drug PK Assay | Krishgen Target Assay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLP-1R / GIPR | Tirzepatide | Mounjaro, Zepbound — Eli Lilly | KOD1027 — Tirzepatide ELISA ★ World First | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Semaglutide | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus — Novo Nordisk | KBI5030 — Semaglutide ELISA | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Liraglutide | Victoza, Saxenda — Novo Nordisk | KBI5020 — Liraglutide ELISA | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Exenatide | Byetta, Bydureon — Amylin | KBI5013 — Exenatide ELISA | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Lixisenatide | Adlyxin, Lyxumia, Soliqua — Sanofi | KBI5021 — Lixisenatide ELISA | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Dulaglutide | Trulicity — Eli Lilly | KBI5035 | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| GLP-1R | Albiglutide | Eperzan, Tanzeum — GSK | Coming soon | KBH3127 — GLP-1R ELISA |
| DPP4 | Sitagliptin | Januvia, Janumet — Merck | Coming soon | KBH0912 — DPP4 ELISA |
| DPP4 | Saxagliptin | Onglyza, Qtern — AstraZeneca | Coming soon | KBH0912 — DPP4 ELISA |
| DPP4 | Linagliptin | Tradjenta, Glyxambi — Eli Lilly | Coming soon | KBH0912 — DPP4 ELISA |
| DPP4 | Alogliptin | Nesina, Kazano, Oseni — Takeda | Coming soon | KBH0912 — DPP4 ELISA |
7. Meglitinides
Nateglinide • Repaglinide • Beta cell insulin secretion +Two meglitinides are FDA-approved: nateglinide (2009) and repaglinide (2013). They share a similar mechanism to sulfonylureas — increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas by blocking KATP channels — but have shorter duration of action and are typically taken at mealtimes.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Nateglinide | Starlix — Novartis | KBH6464 — SUR1 ELISA |
| Repaglinide | Prandin, NovoNorm — Novo Nordisk | KBH6464 — SUR1 ELISA |
8. SGLT2 Inhibitors
Canagliflozin • Dapagliflozin • Empagliflozin • Ertugliflozin +SGLT2 inhibitors are the most modern approved class. Canagliflozin and dapagliflozin were approved in 2013, empagliflozin in 2014, and ertugliflozin in 2017. They are popular in combination regimens with metformin, DPP4 inhibitors, and TZDs. SGLT2 inhibitors are the second largest antidiabetic group in clinical trials (12%) after incretin therapies, with demonstrated cardiovascular and renal protective benefits.
| Drug | Brand / Company | Krishgen Assay |
|---|---|---|
| Canagliflozin | Invokana, Invokamet — Mitsubishi Tanabe | KBH1954 — Human SGLT2 ELISA |
| Dapagliflozin | Farxiga, Forxiga, Xigduo — AstraZeneca / BMS | KBH1954 — Human SGLT2 ELISA |
| Empagliflozin | Jardiance, Synjardy, Glyxambi — Boehringer | KBH1954 — Human SGLT2 ELISA |
| Ertugliflozin | Steglatro, Segluromet — Merck / Pfizer | KBH1954 — Human SGLT2 ELISA |
9. Novel Drug Targets
Receptors • Kinases • Transporters • Ion Channels +More than 40% of agents in clinical trials target novel therapeutic molecules or target combinations. Receptors and kinases are the largest classes of novel targets, followed by transporters and ion channels.
| Drug Target | Human ELISA | Rat ELISA | Mouse ELISA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dopamine Receptors | KBH1276, KBH1311 | — | — |
| Amylin Receptors | KBH0016 | — | — |
| GCGR (Glucagon Receptor) | KBH5330 | — | — |
| GABA Receptors | KBH1526 | — | — |
| GLP-1 Receptor | KBH3127 | — | — |
| GCK (Glucokinase) | KBH0773 | KLR0918 | KLM1160 |
| AMPK Kinase | KBH0746 | — | — |
| GLUT1 (SLC2A1) | KBH2020 | — | — |
| GLUT4 (SLC2A4) | KBH1397 | — | — |
| GLUT10 (SLC2A10) | KBH2214 | Coming soon | Coming soon |
| GLUT12 (SLC2A12) | KBH2216 | Coming soon | Coming soon |
| KATP Channel | KBH1795 | Coming soon | Coming soon |
Key Topics in Metabolic Research
Tirzepatide: Why a Purpose-Built ELISA Was Necessary
Tirzepatide (MOUNJARO®, ZEPBOUND®) is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist — structurally distinct from all prior GLP-1 drugs. Its unique amino acid sequence means no existing GLP-1 ELISA can detect it, and standard insulin assays are irrelevant. Krishgen's KOD1027 uses recombinant GLP-1R protein (HEK293-expressed, ≥98% purity) as capture antigen, competing with an HRP-conjugated Tirzepatide analog for binding.
Cross-reactivity studies confirm Semaglutide shows no detectable binding — establishing excellent specificity for pharmacokinetic studies, biosimilar comparability testing, and drug monitoring in complex matrices. Range: 31.3–4,000 ng/mL. Validated in serum, EDTA plasma, heparin plasma, and cell culture supernatant.
View Tirzepatide ELISA — KOD1027 →Assay Selection Guide
Match your research objective to the correct Krishgen kit format — metabolic disease research requires different assay architectures depending on what you are measuring.
Are you quantifying the drug itself in blood (pharmacokinetics), detecting patient antibodies against the drug (immunogenicity/ADA), or measuring an endogenous disease biomarker such as a liver enzyme or adipokine?
All Krishgen drug ELISA are validated in serum, EDTA plasma, and heparin plasma. Biomarker ELISA additionally cover tissue lysate, urine, and cell culture supernatant. Specify your matrix for validation data.
All Krishgen ELISA are validated for sensitivity (LLOQ), specificity (cross-reactivity panel), precision (CV <15%), accuracy (85–115% spike-recovery), and stability. Certificate of Analysis and validation reports on request.
Understanding Metabolic Disease Assay Design: From Drug Mechanism to Assay Format
Metabolic disease research spans two fundamentally different assay applications that are frequently confused. Drug quantification ELISA — for GLP-1 agonists and insulin analogs — use a competitive immunoassay format in which sample drug competes with an HRP-labelled drug conjugate for binding to a capture antigen. Signal is inversely proportional to drug concentration, and results are quantitative ng/mL values from a standard curve.
Anti-drug antibody (ADA) ELISA — including the insulin analog Anti-Glargine, Anti-Aspart, and Anti-Lispro kits, and GLP-1 neutralising antibody assays — use an indirect or bridging format in which the drug is coated to the plate to capture patient antibodies. Signal is directly proportional to ADA concentration; results are qualitative (positive/negative against a Blankmean + 2×SD cutoff).
For hepatotoxicity research, sandwich ELISA for ALT, AST, Albumin, and CK-18 provide quantitative readouts of liver injury. For NAFLD/NASH staging, add TGF-β1 (fibrogenesis) and FGF-21 (steatosis) — the latter also serving as a metabolic-hepatic crossover marker increasingly relevant to GLP-1 combination therapy studies.
For obesity research, adipokine ELISA (Adiponectin, Leptin, Resistin, Visfatin) measure adipose-derived hormones integrating metabolic, inflammatory, and endocrine signals. Monitoring adiponectin:leptin ratio alongside GLP-1 drug levels provides an integrated readout of both drug exposure and metabolic response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Krishgen KOD1027 is the world's first and only commercial Tirzepatide ELISA. Competitive immunoassay, 31.3–4,000 ng/mL, validated in human serum, plasma, and cell culture supernatant. Tirzepatide's dual GIP/GLP-1 structure means no prior GLP-1 ELISA can detect it.
A drug ELISA (competitive) measures drug concentration for pharmacokinetic studies — signal inversely proportional to drug level. An ADA ELISA (indirect/bridging) detects patient antibodies against the drug for immunogenicity assessment — signal directly proportional to antibody concentration, with qualitative positive/negative result. Both are typically required for regulatory submissions.
No. Krishgen insulin analog drug ELISA are developed against the structural differences in each analog. Cross-reactivity with endogenous human insulin is tested and excluded during validation — essential for measuring exogenous drug in clinical samples where endogenous insulin is present.
The standard DILI panel is ALT, AST, and Albumin. Hy's Law (ALT >3× ULN + Bilirubin >2× ULN) requires both liver injury and function markers. For NAFLD/NASH research, add CK-18 (hepatocyte apoptosis, distinguishes NASH from NAFLD), TGF-β1 (hepatic fibrosis), and FGF-21 (steatosis marker also relevant to GLP-1 therapy response).
Yes. GLP-1 agonist and insulin analog drug ELISA are species-independent — they measure the drug molecule, which is identical regardless of species. The same kit is valid for human clinical samples, rat and mouse preclinical in vivo studies, and cell culture supernatants.
Related Research Areas
Can't Find the Assay You Need?
Our technical team can source or configure custom metabolic disease assays. Contact us with your target, matrix, and research application.
