Semaglutide

Also called Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, NN9535

Studied in:MetabolicWeightCardiovascular

Educational only, not medical advice. Dosaly reports what has been studied; it isn't a recommendation to use Semaglutide or any amount of it. Talk to a clinician.

Approved by the FDA and EMA as a prescription medicine (Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy for weight management, with a US indication for cardiovascular risk reduction).

Research applications

Type 2 diabetes (large randomized trials)
Obesity (large randomized trials)
Cardiovascular outcomes (large randomized trials)
Insulin, glucagon, stomach emptying and appetite (GLP-1 receptor)

What studies have looked at, not proven uses.

What it is

Semaglutide is a lab-made version of GLP-1, a gut hormone that affects blood sugar and appetite. It's one of the most studied peptides and an approved medicine for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

More detail

Semaglutide is a modified version of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a gut hormone released after meals. Changes to its amino acids and an attached fatty-acid chain let it bind albumin in the blood, giving it a half-life of about a week. Like natural GLP-1, it increases insulin release when blood glucose is high, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying and acts on appetite centres in the brain. It is one of the most heavily studied peptides: large randomized trials have covered type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular outcomes and other conditions, and it exists as an injection and a tablet. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most commonly reported.

Evidence listed here

3 human studies

Results from cells and animals often don't carry over to people. How to read peptide research

Molecular info

Class: Lipidated peptide (GLP-1 analog)
Length: 31 amino acids
Sequence: H-His-Aib-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys*-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Arg-Gly-Arg-Gly-OH
Research areas: Metabolic, Weight, Cardiovascular

Lys* carries a fatty-acid chain (C18 diacid) that binds albumin; Aib at position 2 resists breakdown.