Semaglutide
Also known as: Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus
Profile at a glance
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Novo Nordisk |
| Mechanism | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Administration | Once-weekly subcutaneous injection (Wegovy/Ozempic); once-daily oral tablet (Rybelsus; Wegovy pill approved Dec 2025) |
| Peak weight loss | ~15–17% at 68 weeks (STEP program) |
| Status | FDA-approved |
Semaglutide compared
Every head-to-head we've published involving Semaglutide.
Retatrutide vs Mounjaro vs Ozempic
How the three generations of weight loss drugs compare — single, dual, and triple agonists.
Updated February 2026
Retatrutide vs Wegovy: Triple Agonist vs GLP-1
Retatrutide produces nearly double the weight loss of Wegovy, but Wegovy is available now with proven cardiovascular protection.
Updated February 2026
Zepbound vs Wegovy: Which Weight Loss Drug Is Better?
Zepbound produced -20.2% vs Wegovy's -13.7% weight loss in the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial. Full comparison of cost, side effects, and CV data.
Updated February 2026
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide: Complete Comparison (2026 Data)
Tirzepatide vs semaglutide with SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head data: -20.2% vs -13.7% weight loss. Full comparison of efficacy, side effects, and access.
Updated February 2026
Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which Is Better for Weight Loss and Diabetes?
Mounjaro produced twice the weight loss of Ozempic in head-to-head trials. Practical comparison of cost, insurance, and prescribing differences.
Updated February 2026
Ozempic vs Wegovy: Same Drug, Different Purpose
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide. The difference: indication (diabetes vs weight loss), max dose (2.0 vs 2.4 mg), and insurance coverage.
Updated February 2026
Peptides for Weight Loss vs GLP-1 Drugs: What the Evidence Says
GLP-1 drugs have Phase 3 trials and FDA approval. Research peptides have failed trials and animal data. The full evidence comparison.
Updated March 2026
Orforglipron vs Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide): Two Oral GLP-1 Pills Compared
Orforglipron has no food restrictions and beat Rybelsus on weight loss in ACHIEVE-3. Rybelsus requires fasting but is available now.
Updated March 2026
Related articles
Safety, mechanism, and context pieces that reference Semaglutide.
GLP-1 vs GLP-2 vs GLP-3: What's the Difference?
GLP-1 and GLP-2 are real hormones. "GLP-3" is not — it's slang for retatrutide. Here's what each term actually means.
Updated February 2026
Switching to Retatrutide from Tirzepatide or Semaglutide
Retatrutide is not yet available, but here is what we know about switching between GLP-1 drugs and how to access clinical trials.
Updated February 2026
What Is CagriSema? Novo Nordisk's Amylin + GLP-1 Weight Loss Combination
Novo Nordisk's amylin + GLP-1 combination — 20.4% weight loss in REDEFINE 1, NDA filed December 2025.
Updated February 2026
See all drug profiles in the drug profiles hub or compare drugs head-to-head in the comparisons hub.