Peptides / Weight and metabolic

Synthetic analog · 31 amino acids · 4,113.6 Da

Semaglutide

ApprovedNot banned in sport

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the US and EU for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Studies in people tested it for weight loss and blood sugar control, and tracked heart events, kidney function and stomach side effects. PepBank shows 4,515 results on semaglutide from 934 studies in people, and 67 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as NN-9535, NN9535, NN9924, NNC 0113-0217, NNC-0113-0217, Kayshild and 3 more

Semaglutide is also in CagriSema, a fixed combination with cagrilintide.

31 amino acids, from first to last2 changed amino acids

Evidence level: Large trials in people4,515 of 4,624 results come from studies in people, including randomized trials.

Results in people

4,515

98% of 4,624 results

Results in animals

1% of 4,624 results

Results in lab cells

under 1% of 4,624 results

From computer models

under 1% of 4,624 results

Overview

Key points

Semaglutide is a peptide drug that activates the GLP-1 receptor, the target of the natural hormone GLP-1.¹
In a randomized trial in adults with heart disease and overweight or obesity but no diabetes, semaglutide cut the rate of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death compared with placebo.²
FDA and EMA have both approved semaglutide, as injections and tablets, for uses that include type 2 diabetes and weight management.^3,4,5
WADA does not list semaglutide as banned, and it is on the WADA Monitoring Program for 2026 and 2027.⁶

Semaglutide at a glance

What it is	Synthetic analog, 31 amino acids
Approval	Approved in the US and EU (Ozempic, 2017)
In sport	Not listed as banned by WADA
Studies	1,194 studies with results. 966 of them gave semaglutide, with 4,624 results. 4,515 in people59 in animals8 in lab cells42 from computer models
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 30,787 people (2026)
Clinical trials	663 registered: 284 active or planned, 107 with posted results
Community use	Weight loss and appetite control; Type 2 diabetes (approved use of Ozempic); Lower-dose "microdosing" for fewer side effects or lower cost

The science

What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a peptide drug made as a modified copy of the human hormone GLP-1.^1,3 Its peptide backbone is produced by yeast fermentation.^1,3 It belongs to the group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.¹

Novo Nordisk developed semaglutide, and its codes include NN9535 and NNC 0113-0217.^3,7 Brand names include Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy and Kayshild.^3,5

94%

Sequence match with human GLP-1, the hormone it copies^1,3

The history of semaglutide

2007June
A phase 1 trial of NNC 0113-0217, a code name for semaglutide, started in healthy men and was sponsored by Novo Nordisk.^3,8
2017December
FDA approved Ozempic, the injection form of semaglutide.⁴
2018February
The EU approved Ozempic for adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.⁵
2021June
FDA approved Wegovy injection, which has a label for weight management.⁴
2025December
FDA approved Wegovy tablets, a tablet form of semaglutide for weight management.⁴
2026March
The EU gave conditional approval to Kayshild for adults with non-cirrhotic MASH and moderate to advanced liver fibrosis.⁵

Semaglutide structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 31 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

H1X−EGT5FTS−DV10SSYL−E15GQAA+K20−EFIAW25LV+RG+R30G

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the bodyOutlined: changed amino acid

Structure

Semaglutide is a single chain of 31 amino acids with no ring, changed from human GLP-1 at positions 8 and 34, with a fatty acid side chain on one lysine.^1,3

Formula

C₁₈₇H₂₉₁N₄₅O₅₉

Molecular weight

4,113.6 g/mol

CAS number

910463-68-2

Target

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (gene GLP1R): agonistEvidence: approved-drug label

Development

Novo Nordisk. Highest phase: past the trial stage (see status).

Identifiers

PubChem 155557169, ChEMBL CHEMBL2108724, UNII 53AXN4NNHX, DrugBank DB13928, KEGG D10025, IUPHAR 9724, PDB 7KI0

Full sequence, SMILES and InChIKey

Three-letter sequence
H-His-Aib-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys[N6-(AEEA-AEEA-gammaGlu-CO-(CH2)16-COOH)]-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Arg-Gly-Arg-Gly-OH

InChIKey
DLSWIYLPEUIQAV-CIIFZSTISA-N

SMILES
CC[C@H](C)[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CNC2=CC=CC=C21)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)NCC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC3=CC=CC=C3)NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CCCCNC(=O)COCCOCCNC(=O)COCCOCCNC(=O)CC[C@@H](C(=O)O)NC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)N)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(C)C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC4=CC=C(C=C4)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CO)NC(=O)[C@H](CO)NC(=O)[C@H](C(C)C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CO)NC(=O)[C@H]([C@@H](C)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC5=CC=CC=C5)NC(=O)[C@H]([C@@H](C)O)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)O)NC(=O)C(C)(C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC6=CN=CN6)N

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

How does semaglutide work?

Step 1Semaglutide binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor

Step 2Insulin release rises and glucagon release falls when blood sugar is high, and stomach emptying is slightly delayed early after a meal¹

The drug label says semaglutide binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, which stimulates insulin release and lowers glucagon release when blood glucose is high.¹ The label also describes a small delay in how fast the stomach empties.¹

From the drug labelIn animals

The Wegovy label adds that animal studies show semaglutide reached and activated neurons in brain regions involved in food intake.⁹ The labels say the exact mechanism behind lower heart risk and lower kidney risk has not been established.^1,9

The evidence

What semaglutide studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Large trials in people4,515 of 4,624 results come from studies in people, including randomized trials.

Weight and appetite

1,105 results · 1,088 in people · 12 animal

In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or kidney disease, oral semaglutide reduced body weight more than placebo, early and after three years, and in adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide improved craving control more than placebo.^10,11

Top results

In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or kidney disease, oral semaglutide reduced body weight more than placebo, early and after three years. (JAMA cardiology, 2026)
In adults with obesity, oral semaglutide reduced how much people ate at a meal compared with placebo. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2024)
In east Asian adults with obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg cut belly visceral fat area more than placebo did. (The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2022)

Blood sugar

672 results · 667 in people · 1 animal

In adults under 65 with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide lowered HbA1c more than comparator drugs or placebo in pooled trials, while in a small retrospective case series of 60 adults, eye changes after semaglutide were not statistically significant.^12,13

Top results

In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or kidney disease, oral semaglutide lowered HbA1c more than placebo, early and after three years. (JAMA cardiology, 2026)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide raised early insulin release after a glucose challenge compared with placebo. (Diabetologia, 2017)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, eye changes after semaglutide were not statistically significant. (The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 2026)

Heart and blood vessels

464 results · 454 in people · 6 animal

In people with obesity and a type of heart failure, semaglutide improved symptoms and limits on activity more than placebo.¹⁴

Top results

In adults with heart disease and overweight but no diabetes, semaglutide cut the rate of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death compared with placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2023)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and heart or kidney disease, oral semaglutide lowered systolic blood pressure more than placebo, early and late. (JAMA cardiology, 2026)
In people with obesity and a type of heart failure, semaglutide improved symptoms and limits on activity more than placebo. (Lancet, 2024)

Liver

179 results · 174 in people · 4 animal · 1 lab

In adults with MASH and stage 2 or 3 liver scarring, more patients on semaglutide than on placebo had their liver inflammation clear up without worsening scarring, and in another trial in adults with fatty liver disease, semaglutide lowered liver fat by less than efinopegdutide.^15,16

Top results

In adults with MASH and liver scarring, more patients on semaglutide than on placebo had their liver inflammation clear up. (The New England journal of medicine, 2025)
The teenager still had raised liver enzymes and sleep apnea despite semaglutide treatment. (Journal of medical case reports, 2025)
In adults with fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, fat in the muscle fell after 6 months of semaglutide, with no control group. (Medicine, 2024)

Daily life and fitness

150 results · 150 in people

In adults with overweight or obesity, people taking semaglutide reported a bigger gain in physical functioning than people taking placebo, and in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight, adding semaglutide gave higher treatment satisfaction than increasing insulin alone.^17,18

Top results

In adults with NASH, semaglutide improved the physical part of quality of life more than placebo. (Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2023)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and leg artery disease, semaglutide improved treadmill walking distance after 52 weeks more than placebo. (Lancet, 2025)
In adults with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, semaglutide improved physical function more than placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2024)

Kidneys and bladder

136 results · 135 in people

In a pooled analysis of trials in people with kidney disease or heart disease, semaglutide lowered the risk of serious kidney outcomes compared with placebo, and in adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease it lowered the risk of death from any cause by 20%.^19,20

Top results

In people with kidney disease or heart disease, semaglutide lowered the risk of serious kidney outcomes compared with placebo. (The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2026)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria already on empagliflozin, adding semaglutide did not change plasma renin activity. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2024)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, semaglutide lowered the risk of serious kidney problems by 24% compared with placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2024)

All 1,194 semaglutide studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key semaglutide studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Effect of semaglutide on kidney outcomes in the SELECT, FLOW, and SOUL trials: a prespecified pooled analysis
Mann et al. 2026 · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 30,787 people · cited by 1
4 results
People
Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes
Lincoff et al. 2023 · The New England journal of medicine · 17,604 people · cited by 2,458
2 results
People
Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes by baseline and changes in adiposity measurements: a prespecified analysis of the SELECT trial
Deanfield et al. 2025 · Lancet (London, England) · 17,604 people · cited by 103
8 results
People
Oral Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in High-Risk Type 2 Diabetes
McGuire et al. 2025 · The New England journal of medicine · 9,650 people · cited by 252
4 results
People
Oral Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in People With Type 2 Diabetes, According to SGLT2i Use: Prespecified Analyses of the SOUL Randomized Trial
Marx et al. 2025 · Circulation · 9,650 people · cited by 49
6 results

All 1,194 Semaglutide studies

Semaglutide clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 663 trials of semaglutide. 284 are active or planned, and 107 have posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Semaglutide Effects on Heart Disease and Stroke in Patients With Overweight or Obesity

Phase 3completed17,604 people

A Heart Disease Study of Semaglutide in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Phase 3completed9,651 people

A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

Phase 3completed3,533 people

All 210 Semaglutide trials

Status and safety

Is semaglutide approved?

FDA

United States

Approved

Ozempic (injection), Ozempic (tablets), Rybelsus (tablets), Wegovy (injection), Wegovy (tablets), since 2017.

EMA

European Union

Approved

Kayshild, Kyinsu (insulin icodec + semaglutide), Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, since 2018.

WADA

Sport

Not banned

Not on the 2026 Prohibited List.

Yes. Approved in the US and EU (Ozempic, 2017). The FDA label for Ozempic says: “Adjunct to diet and exercise for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes; reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease; reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline…” Not listed as banned by WADA.

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Semaglutide side effects and safety

PepBank has 1,224 safety results from studies of semaglutide. 1,221 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (1,224)

In Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes, more people on semaglutide 0.5 mg reported side effects than on an added oral drug. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2018)
In Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes, more side effects were reported with semaglutide 0.5 mg (74.8%) than with sitagliptin (66.0%). (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2018)
In Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes, 80% of patients on oral semaglutide 7 mg had side effects. (The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2020)
In adults with overweight or obesity, nearly all people taking semaglutide with placebo reported at least one side effect. (Lancet, 2021)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, severe low blood sugar was rare and did not differ between semaglutide and insulin aspart. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2022)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, side effects were reported by 63% to 86% on oral semaglutide and 68% on placebo. (JAMA, 2017)
In adults with depression, oral semaglutide did not change how often suicidal thoughts occurred compared with placebo. (Med, 2026)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, about seven in ten people taking semaglutide reported a side effect. (Lancet, 2023)
Similar proportions of older and younger adults had side effects with semaglutide. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2018)
In Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes, starting HbA1c, weight and other medicines did not seem to change how many people reported side effects. (Journal of diabetes investigation, 2022)
In adults with schizophrenia on clozapine or olanzapine, stomach and bowel side effects with semaglutide were common but mild and short-lived. (JAMA psychiatry, 2026)
In Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes taking oral semaglutide, most side effects affected the stomach and gut. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2021)
In three large trials, safety outcomes with semaglutide were similar to those with placebo. (The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2026)
In adults with heart disease and overweight but no diabetes, more people stopped semaglutide because of side effects than stopped placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2023)
People on semaglutide had fewer serious side effects than people on placebo. (Nature medicine, 2024)
Serious side effects were no more common with oral semaglutide (47.9%) than with placebo (50.3%). (The New England journal of medicine, 2025)
In people with type 2 diabetes, serious side effects were about as common with oral semaglutide as with placebo. (Diabetes care, 2026)
In adults with type 2 diabetes, kidney side effects were similar between semaglutide and comparator groups. (The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2020)
In adults with early Alzheimer's disease, more people on oral semaglutide than on placebo had adverse events during treatment. (Lancet, 2026)
In people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, fewer had serious adverse events with semaglutide than with placebo. (Lancet, 2024)
In adults with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, fewer people on semaglutide than on placebo had serious side effects. (The New England journal of medicine, 2024)
In adults with overweight or obesity, stomach and gut side effects were more common with semaglutide 2.4 mg than with placebo. (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2022)
In adults with overweight or obesity, people on semaglutide were less likely than those on placebo to move to a more severe depression category. (JAMA internal medicine, 2024)
In adults with type 2 diabetes at high heart risk, eye complications of retinopathy were more frequent with semaglutide than with placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2016)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (40 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
1.0 mg weekly (FLOW), 2.4 mg weekly (SELECT), 14 mg daily oral (SOUL)	Human	human	subcutaneous or oral	mean follow-up 39·5-47·5 months	Randomized trial in people · n = 30,787	Mann 2026
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 17,604	Lincoff 2023
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 17,604	Deanfield 2025
maximal dose 14 mg once daily	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 9,650	McGuire 2025
maximum 14 mg once daily	Human	human	oral	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 9,650	Mulvagh 2026
1.0 mg weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	median follow-up of 3.4 years	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533	Perkovic 2024
1 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	median follow-up 3.4 years	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533	Pratley 2024
1 mg weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	median follow-up 3.4 years	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533	Mahaffey 2025
0.5 mg or 1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	104 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,297	Marso 2016
1.0 mg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,276	Rossing 2025
0.5 or 1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 3,045	Warren 2018
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	68 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,961	Wilding 2021
14 mg once daily (flexible dose)	Human	human	oral	up to 156 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,953	Cummings 2026
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,329	Tuttle 2026
IcoSema 700 U/mL icodec plus 2 mg/mL semaglutide	Human	human	subcutaneous	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,291	Mathieu 2025
2·4 mg once a week	Human	human	subcutaneous	68 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,210	Davies 2021
7.2 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	72 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,206	Wharton 2025
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Butler 2024
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Verma 2024
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Verma 2024
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Verma 2024
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Pandey 2025
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145	Pandey 2025
0.5/1.0 mg	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 1,139	Wang 2024
2.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	40 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 961	Frías 2021
0.5 mg or 1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	30 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 868	Ji 2021
14 mg	Human	human	oral	26 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 822	Rodbard 2019
0.5 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	56 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 816	Ahrén 2017
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	56 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 816	Ahrén 2017
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	56 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 813	Ahmann 2018
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	48 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 803	Rubino 2021
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	72 weeks (interim analysis; planned 240 weeks)	Randomized trial in people · n = 800	Sanyal 2025
1.0 mg once per week	Human	human	subcutaneous	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 792	Bonaca 2025
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 792	Verma 2025
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 788	Lingvay 2019
maximum tolerated dose (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg)	Human	human	subcutaneous	72 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 751	Aronne 2025
0.5 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	30 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 722	Aroda 2017
1.0 mg once weekly	Human	human	subcutaneous	30 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 720	Aroda 2017
50 mg once per day	Human	human	oral	68 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 667	Knop 2023
2.4 mg once weekly	Human	human	Not reported	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 616	Kosiborod 2024

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

People use semaglutide for weight loss and appetite control. Sources list the label steps, once a week by subcutaneous injection, as the popular pattern. Some people use compounded vials, slower steps or doses below the label start, which no trial has tested.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Weight loss and appetite controlS3S1
Type 2 diabetes (approved use of Ozempic)S2
Lower-dose "microdosing" for fewer side effects or lower costS4 S5

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for Semaglutide. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Wegovy injection, chronic weight management (US label)Official label dosing of an approved product	subcutaneous injectionabdomen, thigh or upper arm	0.25 to 7.2 mg per dose	once weekly	Dose steps every 4 weeks; maintenance from week 17	Label dosing (single official source)	S1
Ozempic, type 2 diabetes (US label)Official label dosing of an approved product	subcutaneous injection	0.25 to 2 mg per dose	once weekly	0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg; later steps depend on glycemic control	Label dosing (single official source)	S2
Weight loss with compounded vials; label-style steps, sometimes slower or faster	subcutaneous injectiondrawn from a multi-dose vial with a syringe	0.25 to 2.5 mg per dose	once weekly	ongoing; steps of 6 to 8 weeks reported by some, 3 weeks by others	single source; the source carries seller links	S3
"Microdosing" below the label starting dose, with compounded vials	subcutaneous injectionneeds a vial and syringe; the lowest pen click is 0.25 mg	0.05 to 0.25 mg per dose	weekly or more often (S4); 2 times a week by splitting the weekly dose (S3)	Not stated	sources differ: 0.05 to 0.125 mg weekly or more often (S4) vs 0.125 to 0.25 mg twice weekly (S3); no average given; S3 carries seller links	S3S4

Reported side effects

nausea, especially during dose escalationS3
constipationS3
severe nausea, vomiting and emergency visits after vial dosing mistakesS3

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

reduced appetite and less preoccupation with food ("food noise")S3

Cautions

Compounded vials need manual dose measuring. The wiki reports mix-ups of mg, mL and syringe units that led to doses 5 to 20 times too high.S3
A Cornell obesity specialist quoted by Healthline says microdosing GLP-1 drugs has not been studied. The article says there is no current evidence for microdosing claims.S5
FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA approved and are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality.S6
FDA has received adverse event reports that may be related to compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide doses above the label. These could be larger doses, doses taken more often, or faster dose increases.S6

Status notes

The wiki says FDA resolved the semaglutide shortage in February 2025, and that this restricts compounding.S3
On 2026-03-03 FDA announced 30 warning letters to telehealth firms that market compounded GLP-1 products. Per the law-firm summary, FDA objected to promotion that implies equivalence to approved drugs or hides who the compounder is.S7

Community sources

S1Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information (opens in a new tab)DailyMed (NLM)
S2Ozempic (semaglutide) prescribing information (opens in a new tab)DailyMed (NLM)
S3Semaglutide: Community Protocols & Reportspeptideprotocolwiki.comcarries seller links, not linked
S4Understanding the Ozempic Microdosing Trend (opens in a new tab)recovered.org
S5Healthline news article on GLP-1 microdosing (opens in a new tab)healthline.com
S6FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss (opens in a new tab)fda.gov
S7FDA's Latest GLP-1 Crackdown: What Compounders and Telehealth Platforms Need to Know (opens in a new tab)venable.com

Gaps

Reddit threads, the main community source, cannot be fetched here. The wiki page summarizes Reddit and gives no per-person data. The two microdosing numbers come from secondary pages. No public forum with checkable dosing posts was found. The wiki page also carries supplier listings.

Questions and more

Common questions

Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic and Wegovy?

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy.^1,9 The two have separate FDA approvals and different approved uses.⁴ Ozempic injection is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy injection for weight management, heart risk and the liver condition MASH.⁴ Rybelsus is a tablet form of semaglutide approved for type 2 diabetes.⁴ See if semaglutide is approved

How much weight do people lose on semaglutide?

In one randomized trial of adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes, average weight loss was 14.9% with semaglutide and 2.4% with placebo over 68 weeks.¹⁷ In adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes, semaglutide also led to more weight loss than placebo at week 68.²¹ See what semaglutide studies show

Is semaglutide safe?

Semaglutide has known side effects and a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents.^1,9 In mice and rats, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors after lifetime exposure.¹ It is unknown whether the drug causes these tumors in humans.¹ The Ozempic label lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation as the most common reactions.¹ See semaglutide side effects and safety

What is the half-life of semaglutide?

About 1 week, according to the label for Ozempic injection.¹ The label gives this as the elimination half-life in patients with type 2 diabetes.¹ Semaglutide is present in the circulation for about 5 weeks after the last injection.¹ The long half-life comes mainly from albumin binding.¹ See how semaglutide works

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy?

No.^4,22 Wegovy is an FDA-approved drug, while FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not assessed for safety, effectiveness or quality.^4,22 FDA also says semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate are different active ingredients from those in approved drugs.⁴ As of May 2026, FDA lists 990 adverse event reports linked to compounded semaglutide.⁴ See if semaglutide is approved

Ask a question about semaglutide

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about semaglutide?Is semaglutide tested in people?Compare with Liraglutide Compare with Exenatide (exendin-4)

Sources

Drug label: US prescribing information (DailyMed): OZEMPIC
People: Lincoff et al., 2023, The New England journal of medicine (PMID 37952131)
Database: PepBank profile: identity and structure (GSRS Semaglutide 53AXN4NNHX (API); GSRS fragment Lysine, Semaglutide- 2BRP4PMI4U; PubChem CID 155557169 properties)
Regulator: FDA (United States) status record, as of 2026-10-09
Regulator: EMA (European Union) status record, as of 2026-10-09
Regulator: WADA Prohibited List 2026
Database: Development record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03144271: Dose Escalation Trial of Single Subcutaneous Doses of NNC 0113-0217 to Assess Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Healthy Male Subjects
Drug label: US prescribing information (DailyMed): WEGOVY
People: Mulvagh et al., 2026, JAMA cardiology (PMID 41879791)
People: Wharton et al., 2023, Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (PMID 36655300)
People: Warren et al., 2018, Diabetes, obesity & metabolism (PMID 29687620)
People: Jha et al., 2026, The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (PMID 42543936)
People: Butler et al., 2024, Lancet (London, England) (PMID 38599221)
People: Sanyal et al., 2025, The New England journal of medicine (PMID 40305708)
People: Romero-Gómez et al., 2023, Journal of hepatology (PMID 37355043)
People: Wilding et al., 2021, The New England journal of medicine (PMID 33567185)
People: Rodbard et al., 2026, Diabetes, obesity & metabolism (PMID 42504064)
People: Mann et al., 2026, The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology (PMID 42567173)
People: Perkovic et al., 2024, The New England journal of medicine (PMID 38785209)
People: Davies et al., 2021, Lancet (London, England) (PMID 33667417)
Community: Community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote this page from the sources above. AI can make mistakes, so check important facts against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about semaglutide

Semaglutide

ApprovedNot banned in sport

Also known as NN-9535, NN9535, NN9924, NNC 0113-0217, NNC-0113-0217, Kayshild and 3 more

Semaglutide is also in CagriSema, a fixed combination with cagrilintide.

What it is

Synthetic analog, 31 amino acids

Approval

Approved in the US and EU (Ozempic, 2017)

In sport

Not listed as banned by WADA

Studies

1,194 studies with results. 966 of them gave semaglutide, with 4,624 results.
4,515 in people59 in animals8 in lab cells42 from computer models

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 30,787 people (2026)

Clinical trials

663 registered: 284 active or planned, 107 with posted results

Community use

Weight loss and appetite control; Type 2 diabetes (approved use of Ozempic); Lower-dose "microdosing" for fewer side effects or lower cost

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

1.0 mg weekly (FLOW), 2.4 mg weekly (SELECT), 14 mg daily oral (SOUL)

Human

human

subcutaneous or oral

mean follow-up 39·5-47·5 months

Randomized trial in people · n = 30,787

Mann 2026

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 17,604

Lincoff 2023

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 17,604

Deanfield 2025

maximal dose 14 mg once daily

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 9,650

McGuire 2025

maximum 14 mg once daily

Human

human

oral

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 9,650

Mulvagh 2026

1.0 mg weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

median follow-up of 3.4 years

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533

Perkovic 2024

1 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

median follow-up 3.4 years

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533

Pratley 2024

1 mg weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

median follow-up 3.4 years

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,533

Mahaffey 2025

0.5 mg or 1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

104 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,297

Marso 2016

1.0 mg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,276

Rossing 2025

0.5 or 1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 3,045

Warren 2018

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

68 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,961

Wilding 2021

14 mg once daily (flexible dose)

Human

human

oral

up to 156 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,953

Cummings 2026

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,329

Tuttle 2026

IcoSema 700 U/mL icodec plus 2 mg/mL semaglutide

Human

human

subcutaneous

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,291

Mathieu 2025

2·4 mg once a week

Human

human

subcutaneous

68 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,210

Davies 2021

7.2 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

72 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,206

Wharton 2025

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Butler 2024

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Verma 2024

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Verma 2024

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Verma 2024

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Pandey 2025

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,145

Pandey 2025

0.5/1.0 mg

Human

human

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 1,139

Wang 2024

2.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

40 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 961

Frías 2021

0.5 mg or 1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

30 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 868

Ji 2021

14 mg

Human

human

oral

26 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 822

Rodbard 2019

0.5 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

56 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 816

Ahrén 2017

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

56 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 816

Ahrén 2017

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

56 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 813

Ahmann 2018

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

48 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 803

Rubino 2021

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

72 weeks (interim analysis; planned 240 weeks)

Randomized trial in people · n = 800

Sanyal 2025

1.0 mg once per week

Human

human

subcutaneous

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 792

Bonaca 2025

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 792

Verma 2025

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 788

Lingvay 2019

maximum tolerated dose (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg)

Human

human

subcutaneous

72 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 751

Aronne 2025

0.5 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

30 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 722

Aroda 2017

1.0 mg once weekly

Human

human

subcutaneous

30 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 720

Aroda 2017

50 mg once per day

Human

human

oral

68 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 667

Knop 2023

2.4 mg once weekly

Human

human

Not reported

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 616

Kosiborod 2024

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Wegovy injection, chronic weight management (US label)Official label dosing of an approved product

subcutaneous injectionabdomen, thigh or upper arm

0.25 to 7.2 mg per dose

once weekly

Dose steps every 4 weeks; maintenance from week 17

Label dosing (single official source)

Ozempic, type 2 diabetes (US label)Official label dosing of an approved product

subcutaneous injection

0.25 to 2 mg per dose

once weekly

0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg; later steps depend on glycemic control

Label dosing (single official source)

Weight loss with compounded vials; label-style steps, sometimes slower or faster

subcutaneous injectiondrawn from a multi-dose vial with a syringe

0.25 to 2.5 mg per dose

once weekly

ongoing; steps of 6 to 8 weeks reported by some, 3 weeks by others

single source; the source carries seller links

"Microdosing" below the label starting dose, with compounded vials

subcutaneous injectionneeds a vial and syringe; the lowest pen click is 0.25 mg

0.05 to 0.25 mg per dose

weekly or more often (S4); 2 times a week by splitting the weekly dose (S3)

Not stated

sources differ: 0.05 to 0.125 mg weekly or more often (S4) vs 0.125 to 0.25 mg twice weekly (S3); no average given; S3 carries seller links

S3S4

Semaglutide

Key points

Semaglutide at a glance

What is semaglutide?

The history of semaglutide

Semaglutide structure and chemistry

How does semaglutide work?

What semaglutide studies show

Weight and appetite

Blood sugar

Heart and blood vessels

Liver

Daily life and fitness

Kidneys and bladder

Key semaglutide studies

Semaglutide clinical trials

Is semaglutide approved?

Semaglutide side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Reported side effects

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Cautions

Status notes

Community sources

Common questions

Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic and Wegovy?

How much weight do people lose on semaglutide?

Is semaglutide safe?

What is the half-life of semaglutide?

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy?

Ask a question about semaglutide

Related peptides

Semaglutide vs tirzepatide

Sources

Semaglutide

Key points

Semaglutide at a glance

What is semaglutide?

The history of semaglutide

Semaglutide structure and chemistry

How does semaglutide work?

What semaglutide studies show

Weight and appetite

Blood sugar

Heart and blood vessels

Liver

Daily life and fitness

Kidneys and bladder

Key semaglutide studies

Semaglutide clinical trials

Is semaglutide approved?

Semaglutide side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Reported side effects

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Cautions

Status notes

Community sources

Common questions

Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic and Wegovy?

How much weight do people lose on semaglutide?

Is semaglutide safe?

What is the half-life of semaglutide?

Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy?

Ask a question about semaglutide

Related peptides

Semaglutide vs tirzepatide

Sources