Wiki · Profile

Semaglutide

Ozempic · Wegovy · Rybelsus

Metabolic & WeightApproved

MW: 4114g/mol
Formula: C187H291N45O59

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist derived from a naturally occurring hormone involved in glucose metabolism. Researchers primarily study semaglutide for its potential benefits in managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Key findings from recent studies indicate that semaglutide can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in glycemic control, with participants experiencing an average weight reduction of approximately 13.7% over 72 weeks compared to lower reductions with other treatments. Additionally, semaglutide has been associated with mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal side effects, which are generally transient. Current research continues to explore its efficacy and safety in various populations, including those with obesity and without diabetes, as well as its combination with other agents for enhanced weight loss outcomes.

Chemical Profile

Chemical Structure

Formula	C187H291N45O59
Molecular Weight	4114 g/mol
CAS Number	910463-68-2
PubChem CID	56843331

Half-Life

SCSubcutaneous

~7 days

INIntranasal

Not applicable

POOral

Poor bioavailability

The long half-life supports once-weekly dosing for subcutaneous administration.

Mechanism

Mechanism of Action

Semaglutide acts as a selective agonist for the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor, activating the GLP-1 signaling pathway, which enhances insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, inhibits glucagon release, and promotes satiety. This receptor activation leads to downstream effects such as increased cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, activation of protein kinase A (PKA), and modulation of gene expression involved in glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. While the overall mechanism is well-characterized, some aspects of its long-term effects on metabolic pathways remain to be fully elucidated.

Research

58 Research Publications

8,033

Total Citations

Human/RCT

10.6

Avg. Influence

2025

Latest

Sort

Filter

01Top

#01

GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of type 2 diabetes - state-of-the-art.

ReviewInfluence63.0

1286

Researchers observed that GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, effectively improve glycemic control and promote weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes.

10 nmol/kgintraperitoneal(mouse)10 weeks100 μgsubcutaneous(human)54 weeks200 μgsubcutaneous(human)54 weeks300 μgsubcutaneous(human)54 weeks1.8 mgsubcutaneous(human)54 weeks

PubMed

02Top

#02

Semaglutide versus dulaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 7): a randomised, open-label, phase 3b trial.

Pratley Richard E, et al. · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2018

HumanInfluence44.0

658

The study demonstrated that semaglutide was superior to dulaglutide in reducing HbA1c and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes after 40 weeks.

Key findings

01Semaglutide was superior to dulaglutide in improving glycemic control.
02Patients using semaglutide experienced greater weight loss compared to those on dulaglutide.
03Both medications had a similar safety profile during the trial.

2.4 mgsubcutaneously(human)68 weeks2.4 mgsubcutaneously(human)68 weeks5 mgsubcutaneously(human)40 weeks10 mgsubcutaneously(human)40 weeks15 mgsubcutaneously(human)40 weeks1 mgsubcutaneously(human)40 weeks14 mgoral(human)not mentioned0.5 mgsubcutaneously(human)30 weeks1.0 mgsubcutaneously(human)30 weeks2.4 mgsubcutaneously(human)32 weeks2.4 mgsubcutaneously(human)32 weeks1.0 mgsubcutaneously(human)56 weeks2.0 mgsubcutaneously(human)56 weeks

PubMed

03Top

#03

Semaglutide lowers body weight in rodents via distributed neural pathways.

Gabery Sanaz, et al. · JCI insight · 2020

HumanInfluence33.0

549

Researchers found that semaglutide, a medication used for diabetes, can lower body weight in rodents by influencing brain pathways related to food intake and preference. The study observed that semaglutide activates specific brain areas without crossing the blood-brain barrier, leading to reduced food consumption without affecting energy expenditure.

Key findings

01Semaglutide modulated food preferences and reduced food intake in rodents.
02The medication accessed various brain regions involved in appetite control without crossing the blood-brain barrier.
03Activation of certain brain pathways suggests that semaglutide influences how meals are terminated.

PubMed

#04

Advances in oral peptide therapeutics.

ReviewInfluence14.0

525

The study demonstrated that oral semaglutide has been approved for type 2 diabetes, marking a significant advancement in peptide therapeutics aimed at overcoming gastrointestinal delivery barriers.

PubMed

#05

Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly Semaglutide Versus Exenatide ER in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN 3): A 56-Week, Open-Label, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Ahmann Andrew J, et al. · Diabetes care · 2018

HumanInfluence20.0

491

The study demonstrated that once-weekly semaglutide was superior to exenatide ER in improving glycemic control and reducing body weight in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Key findings

01Semaglutide was superior to exenatide in improving glycemic control after 56 weeks.
02Participants using semaglutide experienced greater weight loss compared to those using exenatide.
03Both medications had comparable safety profiles throughout the study.

PubMed

#06

Semaglutide Added to Basal Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN 5): A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

HumanInfluence28.0

349

The study demonstrated that semaglutide significantly reduced HbA1c and body weight compared to placebo when added to basal insulin in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

#07

Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide versus once-daily insulin glargine as add-on to metformin (with or without sulfonylureas) in insulin-naive patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 4): a randomised, open-label, parallel-group, multicentre, multinational, phase 3a trial.

HumanInfluence18.0

330

The study demonstrated that semaglutide resulted in greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight compared to insulin glargine, with fewer hypoglycemic episodes in insulin-naive patients with type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

#08

Safety of Semaglutide.

Smits Mark M & Van Raalte Daniël H · Frontiers in endocrinology · 2021

ReviewInfluence16.0

281

The study demonstrated that semaglutide has an overall favorable safety profile, with mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal disturbances being the most common adverse events.

Key findings

01Researchers observed that semaglutide primarily causes mild to moderate gastrointestinal disturbances.
02The review noted an increased risk of gallbladder disease, but no unexpected safety issues were identified.
03Researchers found that the safety profile of semaglutide is similar to other medications in its class, with careful monitoring recommended for certain patients.

PubMed

#09

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor co-agonists for treating metabolic disease.

ReviewInfluence7.0

249

Researchers observed that next-generation therapies combining GLP-1 receptor agonists with other peptides may enhance efficacy in treating metabolic diseases compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists alone.

1 mgsubcutaneous(human)40 weeks2.4 mgsubcutaneous(human)72 weeks14 mgoral(human)varied0.5 mgsubcutaneous(human)30 weeks1.0 mgsubcutaneous(human)30 weeks2.4 mgsubcutaneous(human)32 weeks

PubMed

#10

Semaglutide once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes in an east Asian population (STEP 6): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3a trial.

Kadowaki Takashi, et al. · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2022

HumanInfluence24.0

226

Researchers studied the effects of semaglutide, a weight management medication, in adults from East Asia with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes. They found that those taking semaglutide experienced significant weight loss and reductions in abdominal fat compared to those receiving a placebo.

Key findings

01Participants taking semaglutide 2.4 mg lost an average of 13.2% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared to just 2.1% in the placebo group.
02A higher percentage of participants on semaglutide achieved at least a 5% reduction in body weight compared to those on placebo.
03Semaglutide also led to a significant reduction in abdominal visceral fat, with a 40% decrease in the 2.4 mg group versus 6.9% in the placebo group.

PubMed

Safety

Safety & Handling

Research Gaps

The efficacy and safety of semaglutide in combination with other agents, such as cagrilintide, for specific populations like those with obesity-related complications remain unclear, as no comprehensive long-term trials have been conducted. Additionally, while gastrointestinal side effects are documented, the underlying mechanisms of potential serious adverse events, such as pancreatitis and thyroid cancer, are not fully understood, and definitive conclusions regarding their incidence are lacking.

Solubility

Semaglutide is soluble in water and exhibits limited solubility in organic solvents such as acetonitrile and DMSO.

Storage & Handling

Lyophilized

Stable for 2+ years at -20°C, 12 months at 4°C

Reconstituted

Use within 14 days when refrigerated at 4°C

Avoid

Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, direct light

Solvent

Bacteriostatic water or sterile saline recommended

Safety information is derived from published research and may not reflect all known risks. This is not medical advice.

Legal Status

🇩🇪DE

Approved as a medicinal product for specific indications. Not a controlled substance.

🇺🇸US

Approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Not a controlled substance.

🇦🇺AU

Approved by the TGA for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

🇬🇧UK

Approved by the MHRA for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Legal status information is provided for general reference only and may not reflect the most current regulatory changes. Always verify with official government sources before making any decisions.

Community Insights

Publications per Year

49 total

Pricing

Price Comparison

BESTStrate LabsUS
10mg
$34.95
Price/mg
$3.50/mg
View
Polaris PeptidesUS
20mg
$165.00
Price/mg
$8.25/mg
View
Polaris PeptidesUS
12.5mg
$105.00
Price/mg
$8.40/mg
View
Polaris PeptidesUS
10mg
$90.00
Price/mg
$9.00/mg
View
Prime PeptidesUS
10mg
$90.00
Price/mg
$9.00/mg
View

Vendor	Amount	Price	Price/mg	Link
BESTStrate LabsUS	10mg	$34.95	$3.50/mg	View
Polaris PeptidesUS	20mg	$165.00	$8.25/mg	View
Polaris PeptidesUS	12.5mg	$105.00	$8.40/mg	View
Polaris PeptidesUS	10mg	$90.00	$9.00/mg	View
Prime PeptidesUS	10mg	$90.00	$9.00/mg	View

Top 5 of 22 offers from 13 vendors. Prices updated daily.

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Mechanism

Tools

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Mechanism

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Legal Disclaimer

This page is for informational and research purposes only. All information is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Many substances listed may not be approved for human use and may be subject to drug regulation laws (e.g., AMG in Germany, FDA in the US). PepStack does not encourage the use of any substance on humans. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. Use of this information is entirely at your own risk. PepStack assumes no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content provided. Full disclaimer