GLP-1 Drug Comparison Tool

Compare GLP-1 and incretin-based weight loss drugs side by side. Select 2-3 drugs to see how they differ on mechanism, weight loss, cost, and availability.

GLP-1 Drug Comparison Tool

Select 2-3 drugs to compare side by side. Click a drug to add or remove it.

Max Weight Loss

RetatrutideTRIUMPH-4

-28.7%

Tirzepatide(Mounjaro, Zepbound)SURMOUNT-1

-22.5%

Semaglutide(Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)STEP 1

-14.9%

Feature	Retatrutide	Tirzepatide	Semaglutide
Type	Triple	Dual	Single
Brand Names	Not yet named	Mounjaro, Zepbound	Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
Manufacturer	Eli Lilly	Eli Lilly	Novo Nordisk
Mechanism	GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon triple receptor agonist	GLP-1 + GIP dual receptor agonist	GLP-1 receptor agonist
Receptors	GLP-1, GIP, Glucagon	GLP-1, GIP	GLP-1
FDA Status	Pipeline	FDA Approved	FDA Approved
Max Weight Loss	-28.7% (68 weeks)	-22.5% (72 weeks)	-14.9% (68 weeks)
Key Trial	TRIUMPH-4	SURMOUNT-1	STEP 1
Dosing	Once weekly (injection)	Once weekly (injection)	Once weekly (injection) or daily (oral)
Oral Option	No	No	Yes
Monthly Cost	Not yet priced	$1,059 (list) / ~$550 (LillyDirect)	$1,349 (list) / ~$500 (savings program)
Key Advantage	Largest weight loss in any trial + liver fat reduction	Largest weight loss of any approved drug	Proven cardiovascular protection (SELECT trial)

Disclaimer: Weight loss results are from separate clinical trials with different populations and cannot be directly compared. Only head-to-head trials (like SURMOUNT-5) provide definitive comparisons. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Understanding the Drug Classes

GLP-1 and incretin-based drugs fall into distinct categories based on how many receptors they target:

Type	Receptors	Drugs	Max Weight Loss
Single agonist	GLP-1	Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), Orforglipron	-14.9% (STEP 1)
Dual agonist	GLP-1 + GIP	Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound)	-22.5% (SURMOUNT-1)
Triple agonist	GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon	Retatrutide	-28.7% (TRIUMPH-4)
Combination	Amylin + GLP-1	CagriSema	-22.7% (REDEFINE 1)

Each generation has produced progressively more weight loss, though the drugs differ on other important factors including safety data, cardiovascular outcomes, oral availability, and cost.

Head-to-Head Trials

Only head-to-head trials can definitively compare drugs. Cross-trial comparisons (different patient populations, entry criteria, and trial lengths) are inherently limited.

Trial	Drug A	Drug B	Result
SURMOUNT-5	Tirzepatide: -20.2%	Semaglutide: -13.7%	Tirzepatide superior
SURPASS-2 (T2D)	Tirzepatide: -12.4 kg	Semaglutide 1 mg: -6.2 kg	Tirzepatide superior
TRIUMPH-5	Retatrutide	Tirzepatide	Results pending
REDEFINE 4	CagriSema	Tirzepatide	Results pending

Detailed Comparison Articles

For in-depth comparisons between specific drugs:

GLP-1 vs GLP-1 Comparisons

Zepbound vs Wegovy — the two leading weight loss drugs head-to-head
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide — the generic comparison with full clinical data
Mounjaro vs Ozempic — brand-focused practical comparison
Ozempic vs Wegovy — same drug, different purpose

Retatrutide Comparisons

Retatrutide vs Tirzepatide — triple vs dual agonist
Retatrutide vs Wegovy — triple agonist vs GLP-1
Retatrutide vs Zepbound — next-gen vs current best
Retatrutide vs CagriSema — triple agonist vs amylin combo
Retatrutide vs Orforglipron — injectable vs oral

Overview

Which GLP-1 Is Best for Weight Loss? — decision framework by patient priority

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GLP-1 drug produces the most weight loss?

Among approved drugs, tirzepatide (Zepbound) produces the most weight loss at -22.5% in SURMOUNT-1. Among pipeline drugs, retatrutide has produced -28.7% in TRIUMPH-4. These results come from different trials and cannot be directly compared — only head-to-head trials provide definitive comparisons.

Can you compare drugs from different clinical trials?

Cross-trial comparisons are limited because trials have different patient populations, entry criteria, durations, and endpoints. The SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial between tirzepatide and semaglutide is the gold standard for comparing these two drugs. Other drug combinations lack head-to-head data.

What is a triple agonist?

A triple agonist activates three hormone receptors simultaneously. Retatrutide targets GLP-1 (appetite reduction), GIP (insulin and fat metabolism), and glucagon (energy expenditure and liver fat reduction). This is the most targets of any anti-obesity drug in development.

Is there an oral GLP-1 for weight loss?

Yes. Oral Wegovy (semaglutide tablets, 50 mg daily) was FDA-approved in 2025 for weight loss. Orforglipron, a daily oral non-peptide GLP-1 agonist from Eli Lilly, is in Phase 3 trials with FDA filing expected in 2025-2026.

Sources

Jastreboff, A.M., et al. (2022). SURMOUNT-1 (tirzepatide for obesity). NEJM. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
Wilding, J.P.H., et al. (2021). STEP 1 (semaglutide for obesity). NEJM. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
Eli Lilly. (2025). TRIUMPH-4 Results. Press release.
Aronne, L.J., et al. (2025). REDEFINE 1 (CagriSema). NEJM. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502081

How we keep this honest

What this is: Educational information, not medical advice. It reports published research — it doesn’t recommend that you use, obtain, or supply anything.
Regulatory status: Retatrutide and similar peptides are investigational — not approved by the FDA or any regulator. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription-only medicines, available only through a licensed prescriber.
Our standard: Every claim traces to a primary source. We label the strength of evidence and flag estimates as estimates — never as clinical fact.
No commercial ties: We don’t sell, supply, or link to suppliers of any medicine, and aren’t affiliated with any manufacturer.

Do not make decisions about your health without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. For trial enrolment, see ClinicalTrials.gov. More on how we review.

Sources