# Semaglutide

> Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist for glycemic control and weight management.

- Also known as: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
- Class: Metabolic
- FDA approved: Yes
- Canonical page: https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/semaglutide

## Overview

Semaglutide is a 31-amino-acid GLP-1 receptor agonist engineered for once-weekly dosing via fatty-acid acylation and amino-acid substitutions that resist DPP-4 degradation. Approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes (2017) and chronic weight management (2021).

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist built on the backbone of human GLP-1. Two engineering changes define it: a C18 fatty-diacid chain attached through a linker that promotes reversible binding to albumin, and amino-acid substitutions that resist degradation by the enzyme DPP-4. Together these extend its half-life to roughly a week, enabling once-weekly administration.

It reached the market first for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, 2017; oral Rybelsus, 2019) and then for chronic weight management (Wegovy, 2021). Large cardiovascular-outcome and weight-management trials have made it one of the most studied metabolic peptides of the past decade, and its template — acylation plus DPP-4 resistance — now informs the broader incretin class.

## Mechanism

GLP-1 receptor agonism → glucose-dependent insulin secretion, slowed gastric emptying, central appetite suppression.

## Chemistry

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Molecular formula | C187H291N45O59 |
| Molecular weight | 4113.6 Da |
| CAS number | 910463-68-2 |
| PubChem CID | [56843331](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/56843331) |

## Research areas

Studied in: Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, MASH, Cardiovascular risk reduction.

Guides on this site:

- [Weight Loss & Metabolic Health](https://www.americanpeptide.com/research-areas/weight-loss): Incretin and metabolic peptides studied for glycemic control and fat loss.

## Key research

- Glycemic control — studied for glucose-dependent insulin secretion and glucagon suppression in type 2 diabetes.
- Weight management — chronic-weight-management trials reported substantial mean body-weight reduction versus placebo.
- Cardiovascular outcomes — investigated for reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events in at-risk populations.
- MASH / hepatic fat — examined as an endpoint in metabolic liver-disease research.
- Half-life engineering — fatty-acid acylation and DPP-4-resistant substitutions are the basis of its once-weekly profile.

## Storage, handling & synthesis

**Storage.** Lyophilized: store frozen and protected from light; stable for extended periods. Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8 °C and use within weeks, not months.

**Handling.** Reconstitute gently — swirl rather than shake, since agitation can shear the peptide. Protect from heat and minimize freeze–thaw cycles.

**Synthesis.** Beyond its 31-residue chain, semaglutide carries a fatty-diacid side chain on a linker — extra synthetic steps that each add cost and another opportunity for impurities to form. Genuine material is purified to a defined spec and documented on a certificate of analysis, never judged by appearance.

## FAQs

### What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. It is marketed as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

### How does semaglutide promote weight loss?

In studies it slows gastric emptying and acts on appetite centers in the brain while enhancing glucose-dependent insulin release, which together reduce caloric intake.

### Why is it dosed once weekly?

Fatty-acid acylation promotes reversible binding to albumin and amino-acid substitutions resist DPP-4 breakdown, extending its half-life to about a week.

### What is the difference between Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus?

All three are semaglutide. Ozempic and oral Rybelsus are approved for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management. This page is a research reference, not medical advice.

## Latest research

Recent trials and publications mentioning Semaglutide, pulled automatically from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed (unfiltered search results, refreshed daily).

### Recent trials

- [Efficacy and Safety of KAI-9531 Administered Once Weekly Compared With Semaglutide and Placebo in Participants Living With Obesity Who Do Not Have Diabetes](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07284979) — RECRUITING · PHASE3 · NCT07284979
- [Phase III Study of UBT251 Injection in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin ± Sulfonylurea/SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapy (UNIGUIDE-2)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07653477) — NOT_YET_RECRUITING · PHASE3 · NCT07653477
- [Precision Obesity Medicine: Genetic Prediction of Response to GLP-1/GIP Agonists.](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07653412) — RECRUITING · NCT07653412
- [Interleukine-2 (IL-2) Plus Semaglutide in Alzheimer's Disease](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07651319) — RECRUITING · PHASE1, PHASE2 · NCT07651319
- [Research Study on Whether Semaglutide Works in People With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04822181) — ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · PHASE3 · NCT04822181
- [GLP-1 Plus Lifestyle for Overall Wellness: Find Your Way Forward](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06977438) — NOT_YET_RECRUITING · PHASE4 · NCT06977438

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Source: AmericanPeptide.com — https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/semaglutide
Data license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Attribution: AmericanPeptide.com.
Research reference only — computational and educational content, not medical advice.