A potent agonist of the GLP-1 receptor; increases cAMP accumulation in CHO cell expressing the human GLP-1 receptor (EC50 = 61 pM); inhibits cytokine- and free fatty acid-induced apoptosis of primary neonatal rat pancreatic β-cells in vitro by greater than 95 and 50%, respectively at 100-1,000 nM; decreases calorie intake, shifts food preference to a higher ratio of chow to candy, reverses weight and fat gains, and increases insulin sensitivity in a rat model of diet-induced obesity at 0.2 mg/kg, s.c., twice per day