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Strong human evidenceGLP-1 receptor agonist

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a peptide GLP-1 analog used in several FDA-approved finished medications. Product names, formulations, indications and eligible populations differ.

Also indexed as: Ozempic · Wegovy · Rybelsus

A clear starting point

Semaglutide is a peptide GLP-1 analog used in several FDA-approved finished medications. Product names, formulations, indications and eligible populations differ.

Systems mapping shows biological relevance, not a treatment recommendation or a patient CPI score.

No validated chemical structure is displayed in this edition.

How it works

GLP-1 signaling

Semaglutide is a peptide GLP-1 analog used in several FDA-approved finished medications. Product names, formulations, indications and eligible populations differ.

Targets & processes
GLP-1 signaling
Systems & tissues
See the pathway description; category links describe research relevance, not demonstrated treatment effects.

What does the evidence show?

Glycemic, weight and cardiovascular outcomes in defined patient groups.

What this does not establish

Randomized trials establish specific outcomes in selected populations. They do not validate unapproved formulations, every proposed use or self-treatment.

Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.

The New England journal of medicine · 2021 · Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't · PMID 33567185

Verified sample: 1,961 · Adults with overweight or obesity without diabetes

Greater average weight reduction at 68 weeks; gastrointestinal effects were common.

Limitations: Product-, population- and protocol-specific; does not imply suitability for an individual.

Citation metadata from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH. A citation match is not a guarantee of study quality. Abstracts are not full-text reviews.

Safety is a separate question

Label warnings include thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents (human relevance unknown), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe GI effects and dehydration-related kidney injury. Contraindicated with personal/family MTC or MEN2 or serious hypersensitivity. Weight-loss use is inappropriate in pregnancy.

Contraindications & cautions

Not an exhaustive contraindication review. Label warnings include thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents (human relevance unknown), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe GI effects and dehydration-related kidney injury. Contraindicated with personal/family MTC or MEN2 or serious hypersensitivity. Weight-loss use is inappropriate in pregnancy.

Medication & supplement interactions

Interaction information is incomplete. Label warnings include thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents (human relevance unknown), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe GI effects and dehydration-related kidney injury. Contraindicated with personal/family MTC or MEN2 or serious hypersensitivity. Weight-loss use is inappropriate in pregnancy.

Regulatory status · United States

FDA-approved products · specific indications. Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy have product-specific FDA approvals. Indications and eligible populations differ; consult the current label. Approval does not extend to research preparations.

Read the official source

This is not an exhaustive safety list. Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction and product; investigational use is not approval.

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IW Interactive Learning Engine · 5 minutes

GLP-1: from receptor to evidence

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View the preserved original research profile, glossary and reading trails

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All medications and therapies discussed are for educational purposes only. Prescriptions are determined independently by the licensed clinician following a medical evaluation. There is no guarantee that any medication or peptide will be prescribed.
IW Interactive Learning Engine · Adapted from stable OpenMAIC v1.2.1. Open-source license
Education only. Confidence labels are not formal systematic evidence grades. No patient record is used.

Education, not a prescription. Research summaries are not medical advice, dosing instructions, or an offer to sell. Mechanistic findings do not establish clinical effectiveness. US regulatory status is product- and indication-specific and may change. Discuss health decisions with a licensed clinician.