Metabolic / GLP-1
GLP-1: Semaglutide & blends
Also known as Ozempic, Wegovy, compounded semaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist with large human trials in type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.
Where the evidence comes from
122 verified records from 50 countries. The number of studies or countries is not proof that GLP-1: Semaglutide & blends works or is safe.
Human clinical trial: 33 · Narrative review: 16 · Systematic review / meta-analysis: 16 · Observational human study: 8 · Animal study: 8 · Randomized clinical trial: 41
What is known
Editorial summary not yet written.
What remains uncertain
Editorial summary not yet written.
Conflicting findings
Editorial summary not yet written.
U.S. regulatory status (FDA)
Compound
Product or formulation
FDA status
FDA-approved branded drug
Approved indication
Metara availability (compounded formulation)
Research material (research use only)
Source
Last verified
Notes
Approval applies only to the exact finished drug, formulation and indication. A shared active ingredient does not make a compounded version, blend or other use FDA-approved. Pharmacy or research-material availability is not FDA approval.
International regulatory status
Kept separate from U.S. status. The regulator's country is not the same as where studies took place.
No sourced international decisions recorded yet.
Continue your research
These are two different pathways, not two ways to get the same thing. Neither changes the FDA status shown above.
Clinical care
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Trial results apply to branded products at studied doses. Compounded products have not been evaluated for safety, effectiveness or quality by FDA.
Human clinical evidence (82)
Effects of Semaglutide on Body Composition and GFR: A Prespecified Analysis of the SMART Trial
Heerspink HJL, Soler M, Beernink JM, Jongs N, Cigarran S, Cigarran S, Cruzado JM, Puchades MJ, López-Martínez M, López-Martínez M, Apperloo E, Waanders F, Laverman GD, van der Aart-van der Beek A, van Beek AP, Verhave JC, Ahmed SB, Schmieder RE, Wanner C, Cherney DZI, Górriz JL · Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN · DOI 10.2215/cjn.0000001051
This randomized trial studied semaglutide in adults with chronic kidney disease and overweight or obesity, without type 2 diabetes. Compared with placebo, semaglutide reduced lean body mass and fat mass, but these changes did not correlate with changes in estimated or measured kidney filtration. Semaglutide also reduced fluid outside cells and blood pressure, and these changes were correlated.
Comparison of lifestyle, surgery, and semaglutide for weight management in endometrial cancer: a prospective observational study
Wei Y, Gong Y, Gong J, Zeng H, Zhong Z, Xiong Y, Li X · Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · DOI 10.1080/01443615.2026.2701996
This observational human study compared weight-loss surgery, semaglutide, and a structured lifestyle programme in patients receiving fertility-preserving treatment for endometrial cancer. Surgery was associated with the greatest initial weight loss, while the lifestyle group had less weight regain, more stable metabolic improvements, and the highest complete tumour remission rate. Participants were not randomly assigned to these approaches.
Real-World Use of Semaglutide for Weight Management: Dose Titration, Discontinuation Patterns and Weight Changes
Skandov MD, Christensen KM, Dalin DA, Unkerskov J, Brønden A, Lund M, Christensen MB, Karstoft K · Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · DOI 10.1111/dom.71092
This observational study reviewed semaglutide use for weight management in adults with overweight or obesity at a Danish primary care practice. Treatment interruptions and permanent discontinuation were common. Among people who continued treatment and had follow-up weight measurements, substantial average weight loss was observed.
Effect of semaglutide on COVID-19 and other infections: an analysis from the FLOW randomized clinical trial
Rayner B, Mahaffey KW, Mann JFE, Pratley RE, Rossing P, Belmar N, Bosch-Traberg H, Jeppesen OK, Tran MC, Chernin G, Tuttle KR · Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association · DOI 10.1093/ndt/gfag036
This analysis of a randomized human trial examined infections in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Compared with placebo, semaglutide reduced the combined risk of serious infection, infection-related hospitalization, or death from any cause. Serious infections and COVID-19 events were also less frequent with semaglutide.
Cagrilintide-semaglutide (CagriSema) versus semaglutide or cagrilintide in people with type 2 diabetes (REIMAGINE 2): a double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 3 study
Buse JB, Bajaj HS, Dalskov SM, Donaldson L, Hansen Duus HH, Fabricius TW, Haluzík M, Lingvay I, Pedersen SD, Pratley RE, Jain AB · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · DOI 10.1016/s2213-8587(26)00125-7
This completed randomized trial compared combined cagrilintide and semaglutide with the individual medicines in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. In the primary comparison, the combination produced a statistically significantly greater reduction in HbA1c, a measure of long-term blood sugar, than semaglutide alone. The supplied abstract cuts off during the safety results.
Effect of Semaglutide on the Inflammatory Biomarker High-Sensitivity CRP in Patients With Established Cardiovascular Disease and Overweight or Obesity in SELECT: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis
Plutzky J, Bogdański P, Colhoun HM, Dagdelen S, Deanfield JE, Emerson SS, Hovingh GK, Kahn SE, Ekström K, Latkovskis G, Lehrke M, Hardt-Lindberg S, Lingvay I, Nicholls SJ, Kalayci Oral T, Terns PP, Rasmussen S, Ridker PM, Ryan DH, Lincoff AM · Circulation · DOI 10.1161/circulationaha.125.074482
This planned analysis of a randomized human trial examined inflammation in people with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, but not diabetes. Semaglutide lowered the inflammation marker hsCRP and reduced major cardiovascular events across baseline hsCRP groups. The findings suggest that reduced inflammation may partly contribute to semaglutide’s cardiovascular benefits.
Semaglutide and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Gill H, Badulescu S, Shah H, Brudner RM, Phan L, Di Vincenzo JD, Tabassum A, Thanarajah SE, Llach CD, Rosenblat JD, McIntyre RS, Mansur RB · JAMA psychiatry · DOI 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0594
This secondary analysis of a randomized human trial examined semaglutide’s effects on motivation in adults with major depressive disorder and overweight or obesity. Participants receiving semaglutide showed greater willingness to exert physical effort for higher expected rewards. Modeling suggested this reflected a reduced perceived cost of effort, rather than a change in sensitivity to reward probability.
Effect of semaglutide on kidney outcomes in the SELECT, FLOW, and SOUL trials: a prespecified pooled analysis
Mann JFE, Badve SV, Baeres FMM, Belmar N, Brown-Frandsen K, Buse JB, Colhoun HM, Deanfield JE, Engelmann MDM, Hovingh GK, Idorn T, Lincoff AM, Lingvay I, Mahaffey KW, McGuire DK, Pratley RE, Rasmussen S, Rossing P, Sattar N, Tuttle KR, Perkovic V · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · DOI 10.1016/s2213-8587(26)00134-8
This prespecified pooled analysis examined semaglutide’s kidney effects in randomized human trials involving people with chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease, with and without diabetes. Semaglutide reduced the combined risk of major kidney outcomes and cardiovascular death compared with placebo; kidney outcomes also improved when cardiovascular death was excluded. Safety findings were broadly similar between groups.
Systematic & narrative reviews (32)
Analytical methods for the determination of semaglutide in pharmaceutical formulations and biological matrices: A comprehensive review
Kavibharathi V, Thirusha KM, Vijayadevan G, Vijayakumar R, Nalini CN · Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences · DOI 10.1016/j.jchromb.2026.125267
This review compared laboratory methods for identifying and measuring semaglutide in pharmaceutical products and biological samples. It presented chromatography, which separates a sample’s components, as the most effective, sensitive, and reliable approach, while also discussing alternative methods.
Comparative Efficacy of Tirzepatide Versus Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Head-to-Head Studies
Paccola GP, de Oliveira RF, Mochetti MM, Razera FPM, Vecchi R, Montanher RCP · Clinical obesity · DOI 10.1111/cob.70111
This systematic review combined trials and observational studies comparing tirzepatide with semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. Tirzepatide was associated with greater weight loss and improved long-term blood sugar levels, but serious adverse events were more frequent. Overall side effects, digestive side effects, and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events did not differ significantly.
Burden and Risk of Depression in Patients Receiving Semaglutide: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Bhaduri G, Roy S, Kalia A, Gokalani R, Saboo B · Clinical obesity · DOI 10.1111/cob.70105
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or attempts in people receiving semaglutide. It found no statistically significant increase compared with placebo or other treatments. However, substantial differences between studies and risk of bias limited certainty, so the findings do not prove an absence of psychiatric risk.
Resmetirom and semaglutide: next-generation therapies for metabolic-associated steatohepatitis. Opportunities, challenges and issues
Adinolfi LE, Marrone A, Izzi A, Craxi A · Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism · DOI 10.1080/17446651.2026.2714267
This review examined resmetirom and semaglutide in people with metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, a fatty liver disease involving inflammation, and liver scarring. Both drugs resolved the inflammatory liver disease and improved scarring in a significant proportion of patients, although digestive side effects can occur. Long-term health outcomes, treatment duration, and ways to select and monitor patients remain unresolved.
Therapeutic Mechanisms of Resmetirom and Semaglutide in MASLD/MASH: A Review of Inflammatory and Fibrotic Metabolites
Toshikuni N · Metabolites · DOI 10.3390/metabo16080586
This review examines how resmetirom and semaglutide may affect metabolic changes linked to inflammation and scarring in metabolic fatty liver disease. Resmetirom may act mainly within the liver, while semaglutide may improve the liver’s metabolic environment indirectly through effects elsewhere in the body. Many specific mechanisms remain incompletely understood in humans.
The Risk of Retinal Vascular Events in Patients Using Semaglutide: A Scoping Review
Choujaa Goudira S, Højlund K, Grauslund J · Ophthalmologica. Journal international d'ophtalmologie. International journal of ophthalmology. Zeitschrift fur Augenheilkunde · DOI 10.1159/000553235
This review examined clinical trials reporting retinal blood-vessel events in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity receiving semaglutide. These events, especially retinal artery blockages, were rare but reported more often in semaglutide groups; reduced-blood-flow injuries to the optic nerve were also reported more often. The authors called for further investigation through large registry studies.
Current trends in semaglutide therapy and strategies to improve its bioavailability
Nayak S, Dessai AD, Nayak UY · Expert opinion on drug delivery · DOI 10.1080/17425247.2026.2688990
This review examined semaglutide formulations and strategies to improve oral absorption, rather than reporting a new experiment. Breakdown in the digestive tract and barriers to uptake limit absorption. The authors proposed gut-targeted delivery and protective coatings as promising approaches intended to reduce breakdown and improve intestinal uptake.
Is There a Better Day of the Week to Administer Semaglutide or Tirzepatide? A Systematic Literature Review
La Vignera S, Condorelli RA · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · DOI 10.3390/medicina62081536
This systematic review examined whether the day of semaglutide or tirzepatide administration affects outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes or obesity. No studies directly compared different weekdays for the injectable drugs, so current evidence does not support an optimal day. Suggestions that flexible schedules may help adherence and tolerability came mainly from indirect evidence and expert opinion.
Laboratory, animal & other research (8)
Negative effects of semaglutide on bone in obese mice
Eisner K, Jeromson S, Tahboub K, Zimmerman EA, Wright DC · Cell reports. Medicine · DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2026.102875
This animal study examined semaglutide’s effects on bones in obese male mice. Treated mice had lower thighbone mass, stiffness, and strength, with more pronounced effects than in mice undergoing matched calorie restriction. After semaglutide was discontinued, these bone measures did not differ from controls; whether similar effects occur in humans requires investigation.
Females Are Completely Resistant to Semaglutide-Induced Muscle Loss in ob/ob Mice
Rout S, Karasawa T, Watanabe S, Chaix A, Drummond MJ, Funai K, Choi RH · Diabetes · DOI 10.2337/db26-0229
This animal study examined sex-specific effects of semaglutide on muscle in mice with severe obesity caused by leptin deficiency. Body weight and food intake decreased similarly in both sexes, but males had minor muscle loss while females had none. Muscle force remained intact in both sexes.
Chronic semaglutide alters ingestive behavior without impairing taste function in mice
Acosta AA, Ellis H, Hsu FY, Yee KK, de Lartigue G, Alhadeff AL · Molecular metabolism · DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2026.102410
This animal study examined long-term semaglutide treatment and taste responses in mice with diet-induced obesity. Semaglutide produced substantial weight loss without detectably impairing taste responses, sweet taste sensitivity, or taste-cell features. Increased engagement with sweet solutions suggested changes in motivation rather than taste perception.
Semaglutide Alleviates LPS-Induced Cognitive Disorder via O-GlcNAcylation of AKT-mTOR Signaling Pathway Components
Liu Q, Chen L, Zhang M, Wang Z, Wang X, Dong Y, Wang K, Jiang C, Yin Y · Neuromolecular medicine · DOI 10.1007/s12017-026-08945-6
This animal study tested semaglutide in mice with experimentally induced brain inflammation and cognitive impairment. Semaglutide improved cognitive performance, reduced nerve-cell damage, and restored changes involved in communication between nerve cells. These effects involved a sugar-related modification of the AKT protein and activation of the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.
Semaglutide exerts anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects by inhibiting cellular senescence through activation of the Sirt1/HSF1/HSPs pathway
Qian Z, Shuang L, Yu-Yang L, Min-Lin L, Chong-Mei H, Min-Hui L, Wei L, Si-Yuan T · Biochemical pharmacology · DOI 10.1016/j.bcp.2026.118172
This animal and lab study tested semaglutide in mice with experimentally induced lung scarring and in cultured mouse lung cells. Semaglutide reduced lung scarring, oxidative stress, and cellular aging in mice and inhibited cellular aging in culture. These effects involved the Sirt1/HSF1 pathway and increased heat shock proteins, and were weakened by blocking Sirt1 or silencing HSF1.
Semaglutide-induced loss of skeletal muscle mass is blunted by co-administration of ketone esters
Abuetabh Y, Schmidt MA, Naganuma M, Vaka R, El-Ghiaty MA, Braun S, Kwan EA, Zolondek MC, Sahid D, Khan L, Shandal RK, Trudeau AL, Li Y, Malik SO, Sun Q, Roth DK, Morales-Llamas DY, Levasseur JL, Ferdaoussi M, Fahlman RP, Dyck JR · JCI insight · DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.201810
This animal study tested whether a ketone ester could prevent semaglutide-related muscle loss in obese mice with impaired glucose control. Adding the ketone ester preserved muscle mass and function without compromising fat loss and prevented changes in genes related to muscle wasting and cellular energy production. These findings have not yet been established in humans.
Semaglutide attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by ameliorating BNIP3-Mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.
Li X, Luo W, Tang Y, Wu J, Zhang J, Chen S, Zhou L, Tao Y, Tang Y, Wang F, Huang Y, Jose PA · Redox biology · DOI 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103129
This animal and lab study examined semaglutide in mice and cell experiments modeling heart damage caused by the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. Semaglutide improved heart function and the function of mitochondria, the cells' energy-producing structures, by reducing mitochondrial BNIP3 through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Increasing BNIP3 specifically in the heart prevented the improvement in heart function.
Semaglutide lowers body weight in rodents via distributed neural pathways.
Gabery S, Salinas CG, Paulsen SJ, Ahnfelt-Rønne J, Alanentalo T, Baquero AF, Buckley ST, Farkas E, Fekete C, Frederiksen KS, Helms HCC, Jeppesen JF · JCI insight · DOI 10.3171/2013.4.JNS121639
This animal study examined how semaglutide affects body weight and brain pathways in rodents. Semaglutide changed food preferences, reduced food intake, and caused weight loss without decreasing energy expenditure. The researchers suggested that these effects involve direct and indirect changes in brain pathways controlling eating, reward, and energy use.
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Profile last reviewed September 26, 2026. Educational content only. Not medical advice, a dosing protocol or a treatment recommendation.