Definition

A radiopharmaceutical composed of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist exendin-4 linked by the acyclic radiometal chelator N,N’-bis [2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)benzyl] ethylenediamine-N,N’-diacetic acid (HBED-CC) to the positron-emitting radionuclide gallium Ga 68, with potential imaging activity upon positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). Upon administration of gallium Ga 68-HBED-CC-exendin-4, the exendin-4 moiety binds to GLP-1R. The radionuclide moiety can be detected using PET/CT and GLP-1R-expressing tumors can be localized. GLP-1R, located on beta cells, is overexpressed on insulinomas, which are insulin-secreting neuroendocrine tumors.