Semaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist for diabetes, obesity, and liver disease.
Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic and anti-obesity medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, administered by subcutaneous injection or taken orally, and is sold under brand names including Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Kayshild.
- field
- Pharmaceutical medicine
- known_for
- Treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis
- first_approval
- United States in 2017
- originator
- Novo Nordisk
- half_life
- Approximately 7 days (165–184 hours)
Lore & Background
Semaglutide is a peptide similar to the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), modified with a side chain to resist enzymatic breakdown and prolong its action. It acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimicking the hormone to regulate blood sugar and appetite. The medication was approved for medical use in the United States in 2017, followed by Canada, the European Union, and Japan in 2018, and Australia in 2019. By 2023, it was the nineteenth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 25 million prescriptions, and is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Reader's Guide
Semaglutide represents a significant advancement in the management of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Its ability to improve glycemic control, reduce cardiovascular risk, and promote weight loss has made it a widely used therapy. The medication's gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea and vomiting, are common but typically transient. Controversy exists regarding its effect on lean body mass, with some studies showing decreases, though the ratio of lean mass to total body mass increased. After stopping treatment, individuals regain on average 67% of lost weight within a year. Public perception sometimes frames it as an 'easy way out,' but anthropological research indicates patients and clinicians constantly adjust dosing and administration in response to side effects and life circumstances. The drug's boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors, based on rodent studies, is considered clinically unlikely in humans due to low receptor expression in human thyroids.
Did You Know?
- Semaglutide is sold as a generic drug in Indian and Canadian markets.
- The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
- In December 2025, the FDA approved an oral version of semaglutide for weight management under the brand name Wegovy.
- A 2025 systematic review found that after stopping semaglutide, individuals regain on average 67% of lost weight within a year.
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