GLP-1 Medications: The Complete List & Comparison (2026)

How to read the GLP-1 drug class

Before comparing individual brands, it helps to understand how the class is organized — because the marketing names hide a surprisingly small number of actual molecules. Every drug here is an incretin-based therapy, meaning it works by activating receptors for gut hormones that control insulin and appetite. What separates them is how many of those receptors each one switches on.

• Single agonists (GLP-1 only). These are the original GLP-1 receptor agonists — semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide and exenatide. They bind to and activate the GLP-1 receptor alone. This is still the largest group and includes the most familiar names like Ozempic and Trulicity.
• Dual agonists (GLP-1 + GIP). Tirzepatide adds a second target: the GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor. Activating both incretin pathways at once tends to produce stronger blood-sugar and weight effects, which is why tirzepatide is often described as a "twincretin."
• Triple agonists (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon). The newest experimental class adds a third target, the glucagon receptor, which can boost energy expenditure. Retatrutide is the leading example — but it is not yet approved.

A practical rule of thumb: more receptors generally means more weight loss, though it also means more to learn about long-term safety. If you want the underlying biology first, start with our explainer on what GLP-1 actually is. Below, we put every approved drug side by side.

It's also worth understanding why this small group of molecules works at all. Your body makes natural GLP-1 after every meal, but an enzyme called DPP-4 destroys it within a minute or two — useless as a medicine. The breakthrough behind every drug in the table below was re-engineering the molecule so it resists that enzyme and stays active for days, allowing once-weekly or once-daily dosing instead of constant infusions. The differences between brands then come down to which receptors the molecule hits, how long it lasts, how it's delivered, and what it was tested and approved to treat.

The GLP-1 medications comparison table

This is the heart of the page: every major GLP-1 (and GLP-1-based) medication approved in the United States as of 2026, grouped so you can see at a glance which brands share a molecule. Note how the same generic drug appears under two brands — that's the diabetes-versus-weight branding split we explain further down.

Approved indications are simplified; exact labeling, eligibility and age ranges are set by the FDA prescribing information for each product. Availability and shortages change over time. See our cost & insurance guide for pricing context.

The semaglutide family: Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus

Semaglutide is the single most important molecule in this entire category, and it's sold by Novo Nordisk under three different brand names. They are all the same active drug — the differences are dose, delivery and what each is approved to treat.

• Ozempic is the weekly semaglutide injection approved for type 2 diabetes, and also to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in certain adults with diabetes and heart disease. It's dosed up to 2 mg weekly.
• Wegovy is also weekly injectable semaglutide, but approved at a higher dose (2.4 mg) specifically for chronic weight management in people with obesity or overweight with a related condition — and, more recently, to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity.
• Rybelsus is the oral tablet version of semaglutide, taken once daily on an empty stomach, approved for type 2 diabetes. It's the answer to "is there a GLP-1 pill?" — though it isn't currently approved for weight loss.

Because Ozempic and Wegovy share a molecule, doctors sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss when Wegovy is unavailable or not covered. That's legal and common, but it has real consequences for insurance and supply, which we unpack below.

One source of confusion worth clearing up: people often ask whether they can simply "use Ozempic to lose weight" instead of Wegovy. Pharmacologically the active drug is identical, so the appetite and weight effects are the same at the same dose. The practical differences are dose ceilings (Wegovy is approved up to a higher 2.4 mg dose specifically studied for weight), labeling, and — most of all — which version your insurer will pay for. None of that changes the fact that all three Rybelsus, Ozempic and Wegovy products are the same semaglutide molecule under the hood.

Tirzepatide: Mounjaro and Zepbound

Tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly, is the headline act of the newer generation. It's a dual agonist — it activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors — and in clinical trials it has produced the largest average weight loss of any approved drug in the class, roughly 20–22% of body weight at the highest dose, compared with about 15% for semaglutide.

Like semaglutide, it wears two brand names:

• Mounjaro is the weekly tirzepatide injection approved for type 2 diabetes.
• Zepbound is the same molecule approved for chronic weight management — and, notably, also for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, an indication that signals where the class is heading.

The trade-off for that potency is the same one that runs through the whole class: gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, and a need to titrate the dose up slowly. We cover tolerability in detail in our side effects guide.

Older GLP-1s: liraglutide, dulaglutide and exenatide

Before the semaglutide and tirzepatide era, the GLP-1 class was built on three earlier molecules. They're still in use, but generally produce more modest results and, in some cases, require more frequent dosing.

• Liraglutide (Novo Nordisk) is a daily injection. It's sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management. Saxenda's average trial weight loss (around 5–8%) is meaningful but well below semaglutide and tirzepatide, and daily injections are less convenient than weekly options.
• Dulaglutide (Eli Lilly), sold as Trulicity, is a once-weekly injection for type 2 diabetes that also reduces cardiovascular risk. It's a long-established, well-tolerated diabetes option, though not approved for weight loss.
• Exenatide (AstraZeneca) was one of the first GLP-1 drugs. Byetta is dosed twice daily; the extended-release Bydureon BCise is weekly. Both treat type 2 diabetes, but exenatide has largely been overtaken by newer, more effective agents and is much less commonly prescribed today.

If you or a family member is already on one of these, it doesn't mean you're on the "wrong" drug — for some people an established, affordable option is exactly right. These earlier molecules also have years of additional real-world safety data behind them, and for someone whose blood sugar is well controlled on Trulicity or Victoza, switching to a newer agent purely for novelty rarely makes sense. But it's worth knowing the newer agents exist when discussing options with your clinician, especially if your current drug isn't getting you to your goals or weight loss is a priority.

Why the same drug has two names

One of the most confusing things about this category is that a single molecule is frequently sold under two completely different brand names. Semaglutide is both "Ozempic" and "Wegovy"; tirzepatide is both "Mounjaro" and "Zepbound." There are a few reasons this happens.

• Separate FDA approvals. Diabetes and obesity are different medical indications, each requiring its own clinical trials and approval. Manufacturers brand and dose each version for its specific use — often the weight-management version is approved at a higher dose.
• Marketing and positioning. A diabetes brand and a weight-loss brand reach different audiences, prescribers and price points. Separate names let the maker market each clearly.
• Insurance and coverage. This is the practical kicker. Many insurance plans cover the diabetes brand but exclude the weight-loss brand, or vice versa. That's a big reason clinicians sometimes prescribe a diabetes-branded drug off-label for weight — and why the same person can face wildly different out-of-pocket costs depending on which name is on the box.

The takeaway: when comparing options, look at the generic molecule first, then check which brand your insurance actually covers. Our cost and insurance guide goes deep on this.

Which is strongest for weight loss?

If raw potency is the question, the trial data points clearly to tirzepatide (Zepbound) as the most effective approved option, followed by semaglutide (Wegovy), with liraglutide (Saxenda) further back.

*Trial averages alongside lifestyle changes; individual results vary widely. See our weight-loss guide for the full breakdown.

But "strongest" isn't the same as "best for you." The right drug depends on your other health conditions, how you tolerate side effects, whether you'd prefer a pill, and — very often — what your insurance will pay for. A drug you can actually access and stay on consistently will outperform a theoretically stronger one you can't.

Oral vs injectable options

Almost every GLP-1 medication is an injection, given with a small needle under the skin, either weekly or daily. For many people the weekly injectables (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity) are the most convenient — one dose, once a week.

If you'd rather avoid needles, the current FDA-approved pill is Rybelsus (oral semaglutide), taken once daily on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, then waiting before eating. It's effective for diabetes but isn't approved for weight loss, and its daily routine is stricter than a weekly shot.

The big shift on the horizon is orforglipron, an oral, non-peptide GLP-1 in late-stage trials (covered below) that could make convenient daily pills far more practical. For a fuller comparison of the formats, including pros, cons and who each suits, see our dedicated guide on pills vs injections.

What's coming next: investigational GLP-1 drugs

The pipeline behind today's drugs is crowded, and several names are already circulating online as if they were available. To be clear: the following are investigational and NOT FDA-approved as of 2026. They are in clinical trials, and trial results are not the same as approval.

• Retatrutide (Eli Lilly) — a triple agonist hitting GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. Early trial weight-loss numbers have been striking, which is why it's so talked about, but it remains experimental.
• Orforglipron (Eli Lilly) — an oral, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist. Because it's a small molecule rather than a peptide, it could be easier to manufacture and take as a daily pill without Rybelsus's strict dosing rules. Still in late-stage testing.
• CagriSema (Novo Nordisk) — a combination of cagrilintide (an amylin analog) plus semaglutide, pairing two appetite-regulating mechanisms in one weekly injection. Under investigation for weight management.
• Survodutide — a dual GLP-1 + glucagon agonist being studied for obesity and for liver disease (MASH). Not approved.

How to choose with your clinician

No table can pick the right medication for you, because the decision is genuinely individual. When you sit down with a doctor or other prescriber, these are the factors that actually drive the choice:

• Your primary goal. Type 2 diabetes, weight management, or both? That narrows the field immediately — diabetes-indicated versus weight-indicated brands.
• Your other conditions. Established heart disease, sleep apnea, kidney disease and history of pancreatitis or certain thyroid cancers all change what's appropriate or unsafe.
• Format preference. Weekly injection, daily injection, or daily pill — convenience matters for staying consistent.
• Side-effect tolerance. All of these can cause nausea and other GI effects, especially while titrating. Some people tolerate one molecule better than another.
• Cost and coverage. Often the deciding factor. What your insurance covers, and at what tier, can make one option dramatically cheaper than an otherwise similar one.

Bring this comparison table to the conversation, be honest about your goals and budget, and treat the choice as a starting point you can adjust. These are chronic-condition medicines — finding the right fit, dose and routine usually takes some iteration with professional guidance.

It also helps to come prepared with a few specific questions: Which version does my insurance cover, and at what copay? What's the starting dose and how slowly will we increase it? What side effects should I expect in the first few weeks, and when should I call? And what's the plan if this drug doesn't work well for me or becomes unavailable? Good prescribers welcome these questions, and having answers up front makes the decision feel far less overwhelming. Remember, too, that the choice isn't permanent — many people switch molecules or formats over time as their needs, tolerance and coverage change.

The bottom line

The GLP-1 landscape looks crowded, but it's really a handful of molecules wearing many brand names. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) dominate, with older liraglutide, dulaglutide and exenatide products still in use. Tirzepatide is the most potent approved option for weight loss; Rybelsus is the only approved pill; and a wave of investigational drugs — retatrutide, orforglipron, CagriSema, survodutide — is coming but not yet here.

From here, dig into the specific drugs in our guides on Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound and Mounjaro, or read up on cost and insurance and side effects before talking to a clinician.

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