Semaglutide was discovered in the early 2000s by researchers at Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone naturally found in our bodies, GLP-1 (short for “glucagon-like peptide-1”).

It is a peptide (a short chain of amino acids) that is the main ingredient (also known as “active pharmaceutical ingredient”) in three different FDA-approved prescription medicines for patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity, with or without established cardiovascular disease. 


Medicines containing semaglutide belong to a class of drugs that are called GLP-1 receptor agonists and are currently available in injectable and oral forms.^1-3 

To learn more about our FDA-approved medicines containing semaglutide, please visit the Our Medicines page.

No. There are currently no FDA-approved generic versions of medicines containing semaglutide available.

While all medicines can result in potential side effects, it can be risky for patients to use unapproved versions (such as compounded “semaglutide”) because they do not undergo FDA review.

Without the FDA’s review, the safety, quality, and effectiveness of what is being marketed and sold as alleged “semaglutide” has not been established. Because of this, the FDA alerted the public that “compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs."^4,5

The FDA has received reports of adverse events, some requiring hospitalization, related to overdoses from dosing errors associated with compounded “semaglutide” products.⁴

Think you know the truth about compounded "semaglutide"? Click here to learn about the steps you can take to make sure you are getting authentic FDA-approved medicines containing semaglutide.

• FDA’s Concerns on Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs
• FDA Alerts on Dosing Errors with Compounded Semaglutide
  
• Obesity Action Coalition’s Statement on Compounded GLP-1 Alternatives
• The American Diabetes Association Statement on Compounded Incretin Products