Weight · Heart · Kidney

Semaglutide

Peptilex evidence grade ABCDEUpdated 19 Oct 2026 How grades work

Type: GLP-1 receptor agonist
Main use or focus: Type 2 diabetes; chronic weight management; cardiovascular, kidney and liver (MASH) indications
Also known as: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus

Key results

Semaglutide: average weight loss% of body weight lost on average

SemaglutidePlacebo

STEP 168 wk · 1,961 participants

14.9%

2.4%

Source: STEP 1 · NEJM 2021

Trial	Semaglutide	Comparison
STEP 1	14.9%	2.4%

Beyond the scale: semaglutideOutcomes in large randomized trials

20%fewer heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular deathsSELECT · 17,604 people · NEJM 2023

24%fewer major kidney eventsFLOW · 3,533 people · NEJM 2024

TreatmentPlacebo

MASH resolvedESSENCE · 72 wk

62.9%

34.3%

Sources: SELECT · NEJM 2023 · FLOW · NEJM 2024 · ESSENCE · NEJM 2025

Where it stands

Approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), now also as a weight-loss tablet. Research has moved beyond the scale: 20% fewer heart attacks and strokes (SELECT), 24% fewer serious kidney events (FLOW) and MASH resolution in 63% vs 34% (ESSENCE).

How it works

How the new weight-loss medicines workWhich hormone receptors each one activates

	GLP-1	GIP	Glucagon	Amylin
Liraglutide1×
Semaglutide1×
Tirzepatide2×
Retatrutide3×
CagriSema2×

Source: Peptilex 1, profile overview (type of each peptide)

Go deeper

Full profile in the book

What it is, how it acts, the key studies, risks and open questions.

Peptilex – The Peptide Encyclopedia

34 peptides – from semaglutide to BPC-157 – in one book
An evidence grade (A–E) and the key studies for every peptide
Where each one stands in 2026 – US, EU and Switzerland

View on Amazon

Formats: Kindle · Paperback · Hardcover

Amazon store: amazon.com · Change store

Coming soonPeptilex – The Honest GLP-1 HandbookSemaglutide, tirzepatide and the new pills, explained for adults over 50.

Research at a glance

Publications by typePubMed, all years

All papers5,707

Human studies3,251

Animal studies only273

Randomized trials311

Meta-analyses & systematic reviews420

Source: PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov via the Peptilex study database

Registered trials by phaseClinicalTrials.gov · name in study title

ongoing / startingcompleted / other

Phase 188

Phase 277

Phase 3131

Phase 460

Other121

Source: PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov via the Peptilex study database

Trial starts per yearClinicalTrials.gov · by start date (planned starts included)

112017

362019

352021

512023

622025

52027

Source: PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov via the Peptilex study database

Registered trials

ClinicalTrials.gov · name in study title · ongoing first

Study	Phase	Status	Participants	Start
STEP TEENS Weight Maintenance: A Research Study on How Well Semaglutide Helps Teenagers With Excess Body Weight to Lose Weight and Maintain Weight Loss NCT06571383Novo Nordisk A/S	Phase 4	Running	500	Sep 2024
Bariatric Surgery vs. Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide NCT06803888Ali Aminian	Phase 4	Running	140	Jan 2025
A Study Investigating Oral Semaglutide in People with Open-Angle Glaucoma NCT06792422Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen	Phase 4	Recruiting	126	Jan 2025
GLUCOSE-MGH: Genetic Links Understood Through Challenge With Oral Semaglutide Exposure at MGH NCT06003153Massachusetts General Hospital	Phase 4	Recruiting	125	Mar 2024
Does Semaglutide Improve Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder and Overweight or Obesity NCT07136714Nordsjaellands Hospital	Phase 4	Recruiting	116	Sep 2025
Semaglutide Treatment for Hyperglycaemia After Renal Transplantation NCT05702931Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet	Phase 4	Recruiting	104	Sep 2024
The Impact of Semaglutide Compared to Energy Restriction on Type 2 Diabetes NCT07272343Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University	Phase 4	Recruiting	100	Feb 2023
JOULE - Metabolic Adaptation to Weight Loss in Response to a Behavioural Lifestyle Program With or Without Semaglutide in Adolescents With Obesity NCT06852391McMaster University	Phase 4	Recruiting	74	Jun 2025
Effect of Semaglutide on Embryo Quality in Overweight and Obese Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization. NCT07242534Fundacion Dexeus	Phase 4	Recruiting	62	Jan 2026
Effects of Semaglutide on Clinical Outcomes and Metabolic Inflammation in Psoriasis NCT07401992Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose E. Gonzalez	Phase 4	Recruiting	62	Jan 2026

Show 15 moreShow fewer

Study	Phase	Status	Participants	Start
Semaglutide vs Sitagliptin NCT05195944University Health Network, Toronto	Phase 4	Running	58	Oct 2022
Effects of Semaglutide on Intracranial Blood Flow and Brain-Barrier Permeability in Type-2 Diabetes NCT05780905University of Washington	Phase 4	Recruiting	50	Jan 2024
A Proof-of-Concept Study to Evaluate Topical-Lingual Semaglutide in Adults With Obesity NCT07728383Gila Therapeutics, Inc.	Phase 4	Recruiting	40	Jun 2026
Impact of Semaglutide on Tobacco Use and Related Health Behaviors NCT06986993University of Oklahoma	Phase 4	Recruiting	40	Jul 2024
A Research Study to Look at How Semaglutide Compared to Placebo Affects Diabetic Eye Disease in People With Type 2 Diabetes NCT03811561Novo Nordisk A/S	Phase 3	Running	1,500	May 2019
Efficacy and Safety of Ribupatide Administered Once Weekly Compared With Semaglutide and Placebo in Participants Living With Obesity Who Do Not Have Diabetes NCT07284979Kailera	Phase 3	Running	1,270	Dec 2025
Effect of Retatrutide Compared With Semaglutide in Adult Participants With Type 2 Diabetes and Inadequate Glycemic Control With Metformin With or Without SGLT2 Inhibitor (TRANSCEND-T2D-2) NCT06260722Eli Lilly and Company	Phase 3	Running	1,250	Feb 2024
Research Study on Whether Semaglutide Works in People With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) NCT04822181Novo Nordisk A/S	Phase 3	Running	1,205	Apr 2021
A Study to Find Out if the Study Drug Elecoglipron Helps Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Comparing it With Semaglutide, a Medicine Already Used to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus NCT07662213AstraZeneca	Phase 3	Recruiting	1,200	Jul 2026
A Research Study Investigating How Well the Medicine Zenagamtide Helps People With Excess Body Weight Lose Weight Compared to Semaglutide NCT07668414Novo Nordisk A/S	Phase 3	Recruiting	650	Sep 2026
A Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of HRS9531 Injection With Semaglutide Injection in Subjects With Obesity NCT07285902Fujian Shengdi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	Phase 3	Running	572	Dec 2025
A Study Comparing IBI362 vs Semaglutide in Chinese Overweight or Obese Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease （MAFLD） NCT06884293Innovent Biologics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.	Phase 3	Running	479	May 2025
Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide Injection Vs WEGOVY® in Chinese Obese Patients NCT07036172Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	Phase 3	Recruiting	460	Jan 2025
Research Study on How Well Oral Semaglutide Works for Weight Loss in Adults With Excess Body Weight NCT07770841Novo Nordisk A/S	Phase 3	Recruiting	450	Aug 2026
Phase III Clinical Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of GZR18 Injection and Semaglutide (Wegovy®) in Adult Obese or Overweight Subjects NCT07150975Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals.	Phase 3	Recruiting	420	Sep 2025

Showing 25 of 477 matching registered studies. See all on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Latest key papers

PubMed · newest first

2026
Cardiovascular Risk in SELECT-Eligible MI Patients With Overweight or Obesity: The Western Denmark Heart Registry
Human studyHansen MK et al. · JACC. AdvancesPMID 42858539
2026
Efficacy and Safety of Chemically Synthesized Semaglutide Injection (HD1916) for the Treatment of Obesity: A Multicenter, Randomized, Phase III Trial
Human RCTPhase 3Gao L et al. · Diabetes, Obesity & MetabolismPMID 42839752
2026
Efficacy and safety of once-daily oral orforglipron compared with oral semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes (ACHIEVE-3): a multinational, multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial
Human RCTPhase 3Rosenstock J et al. · The LancetPMID 41765029
2025
Tirzepatide for adults living with obesity
Meta-analysisFranco JV et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic ReviewsPMID 41161687
2025
Semaglutide Treatment of Antipsychotic-Treated Patients With Schizophrenia, Prediabetes, and Obesity: The HISTORI Randomized Clinical Trial
Human RCTPhase 2Ganeshalingam AA et al. · JAMA PsychiatryPMID 40900607
2025
Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity
Human RCTPhase 3Aronne LJ et al. · NEJMPMID 40353578
2025
Discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and body habitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Meta-analysisBerg S et al. · Obesity ReviewsPMID 40186344
2025
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Human RCTPhase 2Hendershot CS et al. · JAMA PsychiatryPMID 39937469

In the research news

19 Oct 20262 new

Related peptides

ATirzepatide BRetatrutide BCagriSema (cagrilintide)ALiraglutide APramlintide ASetmelanotide CAOD-9604