The Peptide Directory

FDA-approvedGLP-1 receptor agonistWeight lossType 2 diabetes

Semaglutide

FDA-approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus); higher-dose Wegovy HD 7.2 mg approved March 19, 2026.

Last reviewed by The Peptide Directory Editorial Team

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide, made by Novo Nordisk, that is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Rybelsus) and for chronic weight management (Wegovy).

Key takeaways

  1. Once-weekly injection (Ozempic, Wegovy) or daily tablet (Rybelsus).
  2. In the STEP 1 trial, adults without diabetes lost a mean 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks on 2.4 mg, versus 2.4% on placebo.
  3. FDA approved Wegovy HD (7.2 mg weekly) on March 19, 2026 for certain adults after tolerating 2.4 mg.
  4. Carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent findings.

What makes Semaglutide different?

Semaglutide was engineered with a fatty-acid side chain that binds albumin, which stretches its half-life to about a week. That is why it can be given once weekly, while earlier GLP-1 drugs such as liraglutide are daily.

How does Semaglutide work?

It mimics the gut hormone GLP-1: it boosts glucose-dependent insulin release, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying and acts on appetite centers in the brain. The weight effect is mainly from eating less.

What the clinical evidence actually shows

  • STEP 1 (NEJM, 2021): 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight; mean body-weight change −14.9% with semaglutide 2.4 mg vs −2.4% with placebo at 68 weeks.
  • The FDA approved the 7.2 mg Wegovy HD dose in 2026 on data showing extra average weight reduction over earlier doses, with a safety profile consistent with semaglutide; altered skin sensation was reported more often at the higher dose.

How much research exists on Semaglutide?

PubMed indexes 5,707 papers mentioning Semaglutide in the title or abstract, 5,279 of them from the last five years and 341 tagged as clinical trials (search run October 19, 2026; repeat the search).

Most relevant recent papers

Registered clinical studies

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 788 studies with Semaglutide as an intervention (see all). Most recent:

Side effects

The label lists nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain as the most common reactions. Serious warnings include possible thyroid C-cell tumors (boxed), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury from dehydration and hypoglycemia when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.

Regulatory & access status

  • Prescription-only, FDA-approved brand products: Ozempic, Wegovy (including Wegovy HD 7.2 mg) and Rybelsus.
  • Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved; Novo Nordisk's own pharmacy page states this explicitly.

Sourcing & safety

The legal route is a prescription filled with an FDA-approved product, through a pharmacy, a telehealth service or the manufacturer's NovoCare Pharmacy. "Research" semaglutide sold online is not intended for human use and is not quality-controlled to drug standards.

Doses in labels and trials

Reference only — copied from the FDA label or published research. Not a recommendation.

SourceWhat it says
Wegovy label (weight)Escalation 0.25 → 0.5 → 1 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg once weekly, each step 4 weeks; 2.4 mg maintenance (1.7 mg if needed).
Wegovy HD (label, 2026)7.2 mg once weekly, only after at least 4 weeks at 2.4 mg when more weight loss is clinically indicated.
STEP 1 trial2.4 mg once weekly for 68 weeks.

What the evidence does not show

  • That compounded or "research" semaglutide matches the brand product in purity or dose.
  • Long-term outcomes beyond the published trial periods for the 7.2 mg dose.
  • That weight lost is maintained after stopping the drug.

Semaglutide FAQ

Is semaglutide FDA-approved?

Yes. Semaglutide is FDA-approved as Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and as Wegovy for chronic weight management; Wegovy HD 7.2 mg was approved on March 19, 2026.

How much weight did people lose on semaglutide in trials?

In STEP 1, adults on 2.4 mg weekly lost an average of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo.

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy?

No. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and is not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality the way Wegovy is.

What is the highest approved semaglutide dose?

For weight management, Wegovy HD at 7.2 mg once weekly, approved in 2026 for adults who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks.

Related peptides & comparisons

TirzepatideRetatrutideTesamorelin Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide Weight Loss

References

  1. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, N Engl J Med (2021), PMID 33567185
  2. WEGOVY (semaglutide) prescribing information, FDA (2026)
  3. FDA Approves Fourth Product Under National Priority Voucher Program, Higher Dose Semaglutide, FDA (2026)
  4. Semaglutide — PubChem compound summary (CID 56843331), PubChem

Semaglutide calculators

Lab arithmetic only: convert a mass to a volume or syringe units at a known concentration with the units converter, or work out a concentration with the reconstitution calculator.

Semaglutide is a prescription medicine. The legal route is a prescription for the FDA-approved product (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), filled by a licensed pharmacy.

Get Semaglutide via telehealth

Research suppliers that list Semaglutide

14 vendors in our directory listed a product matching Semaglutide in their public catalog on October 19, 2026. Listed alphabetically; a listing is not an endorsement. Research use only.

Prices per mg, where we could verify them, are on our price comparison.

Semaglutide dosing protocol

The FDA-label schedule is reproduced, with sources, on Semaglutide 2.4 mg: Wegovy Label Escalation Schedule (2026).

Find clinics offering Semaglutide

784 verified clinics name Semaglutide; browse them by state.

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