Semaglutide At a Glance Drug Class: GLP-1 receptor agonist Brand Names: Ozempic (diabetes), Wegovy (weight loss), Rybelsus (oral) Molecular Weight: 4,113 Daltons Half-Life: ~7 days (enables weekly dosing) FDA Approved: 2017 (Ozempic), 2019 (Rybelsus), 2021 (Wegovy) Compounding Status: Illegal since May 2025 (shortage resolved) The Semaglutide Timeline That Changed Everything Semaglutide's journey from diabetes drug to cultural phenomenon reads like a pharmaceutical thriller
Among lowest publicly disclosed pricing
It can also be found in fortified foods (foods that have certain vitamins and nutrients added to them) such as certain cereals, bread and nutritional yeast
For example, Rybelsus, the oral version of semaglutide, is difficult for many people to access because of its high cost
GLP-1s GLP-1 receptor agonists help lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss
It also contributes to more sustainable weight loss and impacts metabolic health, such as by reducing blood sugar spikes