Peptide library / Digestive & weight / Semaglutide
Semaglutide
A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes, weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Effects studied or claimed
What it is used or promoted for, and where each effect has actually been seen
- Lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetesFDA approved
- Weight loss in adults with obesity or overweightFDA approved
- Fewer major heart events in adults with obesity and established heart diseaseLarge trials
How it is thought to work
Semaglutide copies GLP-1, a gut hormone that raises insulin after meals, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying and acts on appetite centers in the brain.
What the evidence shows
In the STEP 1 trial, adults with obesity lost about 15 percent of body weight over 68 weeks on the 2.4 mg dose, against about 2 percent on placebo. The SELECT trial reported fewer major cardiovascular events in people with obesity and heart disease but no diabetes. Weight is usually regained after stopping.
Safety and unknowns
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are the most common effects. Gallbladder disease and pancreatitis have been reported. The label carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.
Regulatory status
FDA-approved as Ozempic (2017), Rybelsus in tablet form (2019) and Wegovy (2021) for chronic weight management.
Regulatory status changes quickly. This entry was last reviewed on 27 October 2026. Confirm current status with the FDA before relying on it.
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General information, not medical advice. Do not buy or inject unregulated peptides.