What Is the Adlyxin Starter Kit? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

The Adlyxin Starter Kit was a specially packaged prescription product for adults starting lixisenatide — a once-daily injectable medication used to help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. While Adlyxin was permanently discontinued in the United States in January 2023, many patients and providers still search for information about it. This guide covers what it was, how it worked, and what has replaced it.

What Was the Adlyxin Starter Kit?

The Adlyxin Starter Kit was a two-pen initiation package for patients beginning lixisenatide therapy. It contained:

One green starter pen: 50 mcg/mL concentration; delivered 14 doses of 10 mcg each; used for the first 14 days of therapy

One burgundy maintenance pen: 100 mcg/mL concentration; delivered 14 doses of 20 mcg each; used for the second 14 days

Together, the starter kit provided a full 28-day supply (equivalent to one month of treatment) and was the standard way to introduce a patient to lixisenatide before transitioning to the ongoing maintenance pack (which contained two burgundy pens for the 20 mcg maintenance dose). The two-pen titration approach helped reduce nausea and GI side effects during the critical first few weeks of therapy.

What Was Adlyxin (Lixisenatide) Used For?

Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) was FDA-approved in July 2016 as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was not approved for type 1 diabetes, weight loss, or any other indication. It worked best when added to existing oral diabetes medications like metformin, or in combination with basal insulin through Soliqua 100/33.

How Did the Adlyxin Starter Kit Work?

Lixisenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). It worked through three primary mechanisms:

Increased insulin release: It stimulated the pancreas to release more insulin, but only when blood glucose was elevated — reducing hypoglycemia risk on its own

Decreased glucagon secretion: It suppressed glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar, particularly after meals

Slowed gastric emptying: It delayed how quickly food left the stomach, blunting the rise in blood sugar after meals — lixisenatide's most distinctive mechanism compared to longer-acting GLP-1 agents

How Was the Adlyxin Starter Kit Administered?

Route: Subcutaneous injection (under the skin) in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm

Timing: Once daily with the first meal of the day (within 1 hour before the meal)

Starting dose: 10 mcg once daily for the first 14 days (green starter pen)

Maintenance dose: 20 mcg once daily (burgundy maintenance pen) from day 15 onward

Storage: Refrigerate before first use (36–46°F); after first use, store at room temperature up to 86°F for up to 14 days; do not freeze

How Effective Was Lixisenatide?

In the GetGoal clinical program, lixisenatide at 20 mcg once daily reduced HbA1c by approximately 0.79% from baseline compared to placebo. This is meaningful blood sugar control, though less than the 1.0–1.8% reductions seen with semaglutide (Ozempic) or the 1.8–2.4% reductions with tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Lixisenatide was particularly effective at reducing postprandial (after-meal) glucose spikes due to its potent gastric emptying inhibition.

Why Was Adlyxin Discontinued?

Sanofi discontinued Adlyxin in the US effective January 1, 2023 due to competition from once-weekly GLP-1 agents with superior efficacy and convenience, and due to weak financial performance of the standalone product. The drug was not withdrawn due to safety concerns.

What Is Available Now?

Soliqua 100/33 (lixisenatide + insulin glargine) still contains lixisenatide and is available in the US. For standalone GLP-1 therapy, alternatives include Ozempic (semaglutide, once weekly), Trulicity (dulaglutide, once weekly), and Victoza (liraglutide, once daily). See our full guide to Adlyxin alternatives for more details. Once your doctor prescribes a replacement, medfinder can help you locate it in stock at pharmacies near you.