Semaglutide
FDA ApprovedSemaglutide
- Category
- Weight Loss & Metabolism
- Aliases
- Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
- Administration
- Subcutaneous injection (weekly), Oral tablet (daily)
Documented benefits
Tier 1 · Peer-reviewed / regulatoryBenefit categories
Weight Loss & Metabolism
Semaglutide's defining research application — the most extensively studied GLP-1 receptor agonist to date.
Appetite suppression
Suppresses appetite by acting directly on hunger-regulating centers in the brain via GLP-1 receptor activation.
Blood sugar regulation
Stimulates insulin release only when blood sugar is elevated, reducing hypoglycemia risk compared to older diabetes drugs.
Cardiovascular protection
Demonstrated a reduction in major cardiovascular events in the SELECT trial, independent of its effect on diabetes.
Fat loss
Supports fat loss primarily through sustained appetite reduction rather than a direct metabolic effect.
Neuroprotection (emerging)
Early research is investigating whether GLP-1 receptor activity in the brain offers anti-inflammatory neuroprotective effects.
Weight loss
FDA approved specifically for chronic weight management (Wegovy), based on sustained appetite suppression.