GLP-1 drugs compared: in October 2026 there are seven main GLP-1 brands in US pharmacies, plus generic liraglutide. For weight loss, Zepbound (tirzepatide) produced the most in its main trial, 20.9%, followed by Wegovy (semaglutide) at 14.9% on 2.4 mg and 18.7% on the newer 7.2 mg dose.[13][10][11] Self-pay prices through the manufacturers run from $149 to $499 a month depending on drug and dose, versus list prices of about $650 to $1,350.[17][20][23]
Below, every branded GLP-1 and incretin drug side by side: what each is approved for, how it’s dosed, trial results and price. For background, see our GLP-1 drugs hub, our semaglutide profile and our tirzepatide profile.
Prices and program terms checked October 2026. They change often; confirm with the manufacturer or your plan.
Every GLP-1 brand at a glance
| Brand | Ingredient | Form | Approved for | First US approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | Weekly injection or daily pill | Weight (adults and teens 12+), heart risk, MASH[1] | 2021 |
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney risk[2] | 2017 |
| Ozempic pill (formerly Rybelsus) | Semaglutide | Daily pill | Type 2 diabetes, heart risk[3] | 2019 |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Weight, obstructive sleep apnea[4] | 2023 |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes (adults and children 10+), heart risk[5] | 2022 |
| Foundayo | Orforglipron | Daily pill | Weight (adults)[6] | 2026 |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide | Daily injection | Weight (adults and teens 12+)[7] | 2014 |
| Victoza (and generics) | Liraglutide | Daily injection | Type 2 diabetes (10+), heart risk[8] | 2010 |
| Trulicity | Dulaglutide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes (10+), heart risk[9] | 2014 |
Tirzepatide acts on GIP as well as GLP-1 receptors, and orforglipron is a small molecule rather than a peptide, but both are usually grouped with GLP-1 drugs.[4][6] Brand-name exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon BCise) was discontinued in the US in 2024.[28] Saxenda is also being discontinued, with supply listed until January 2027.[27]
Notice that several brands share one ingredient. Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide, and Mounjaro and Zepbound are both tirzepatide; the brands differ in approved use, dose range and price.[1][2][4][5] That matters for insurance, because plans usually cover a brand for its approved use. A diabetes brand prescribed only for weight loss is often denied.
Dosing compared
| Brand | Start | Maximum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injection | 0.25 mg weekly | 2.4 mg, or 7.2 mg[1] | Monthly dose increases |
| Wegovy pill | 1.5 mg daily | 25 mg[1] | Empty stomach, small sip of water |
| Ozempic | 0.25 mg weekly | 2 mg[2] | |
| Ozempic pill | 1.5 mg daily | 9 mg[3] | Not interchangeable mg for mg with Rybelsus |
| Zepbound / Mounjaro | 2.5 mg weekly | 15 mg[4][5] | Increase by 2.5 mg every 4+ weeks |
| Foundayo | 0.8 mg daily | 17.2 mg[6] | No food or water rules |
| Saxenda | 0.6 mg daily | 3 mg[7] | |
| Trulicity | 0.75 mg weekly | 4.5 mg[9] |
A clinician sets the dose. Doses don’t convert directly between drugs; our GLP-1 dose conversion chart explains why.
Weekly injections suit people who prefer one dose a week. The daily semaglutide pills must be swallowed on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, followed by a wait before eating or other medicines, while Foundayo can be taken any time, with or without food.[1][3][24] Missing doses or breaking the pill rules can lower how well the semaglutide tablets work.
Weight loss in each drug’s main trial
| Drug and dose | Trial | Weeks | Drug | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide 15 mg (Zepbound) | SURMOUNT-1 | 72 | −20.9% | −3.1%[13] |
| Semaglutide 7.2 mg (Wegovy) | STEP UP | 72 | −18.7% | −3.9%[11] |
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) | STEP 1 | 68 | −14.9% | −2.4%[10] |
| Oral semaglutide 25 mg (Wegovy pill) | OASIS 4 | 64 | −13.6% | −2.2%[12] |
| Orforglipron, top dose (Foundayo) | ATTAIN-1 | 72 | −11.2% | −2.1%[14] |
| Liraglutide 3 mg (Saxenda) | SCALE | 56 | −8.4 kg | −2.8 kg[15] |
The SCALE trial reported average loss in kilograms rather than percent; at a starting weight of about 106 kg, that is roughly 8%. The orforglipron trial used capsules; a bioequivalence study showed its 36 mg capsule matches the marketed 17.2 mg Foundayo tablet.[15][34] The diabetes-only brands (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Victoza) were tested mainly on blood sugar, so they are left out of this weight table.
For the direct matchups, see semaglutide vs tirzepatide, orforglipron vs tirzepatide, liraglutide vs semaglutide and dulaglutide vs semaglutide.
Side effects compared
All of these drugs mainly cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, most often while the dose is being raised.[1][4][6] The injectable peptide drugs and Foundayo carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents and should not be used with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[1][4][6] In the BMJ analysis, stopping because of side effects was most common with orforglipron, liraglutide and oral semaglutide.[16] The same analysis found tirzepatide cut fat mass the most but also lean mass the most, which is one reason clinicians stress protein and strength training during treatment.[16] Other label warnings shared across the class include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas.[1][4]
List prices and self-pay prices
| Brand | List price per month | Manufacturer self-pay per month |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injection | $1,349.02[17] | $199 for first 2 fills (new patients), then $349; $399 for 7.2 mg[17] |
| Wegovy pill | Not published | $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 and 25 mg)[17] |
| Ozempic | About $1,000[19] | $199 intro, then $349; $499 for 2 mg[18] |
| Ozempic pill | Not published | $149 / $199 / $299 by dose[18] |
| Zepbound | About $1,086[19] | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 to 15 mg)[20] |
| Mounjaro | $1,112.16[21] | From $499[22] |
| Foundayo | $649[23] | From $149 (lowest dose)[24] |
| Saxenda | $1,349.02[25] | No self-pay program[25] |
| Trulicity | $987.19[26] | Savings card requires commercial insurance |
“List price” is what the manufacturer charges wholesalers before discounts; it is what uninsured patients at a regular pharmacy, and people paying a deductible, tend to see. “Self-pay” is the cash price through the maker’s own program, such as NovoCare Pharmacy or LillyDirect, and it still needs a prescription. Self-pay purchases usually don’t count toward an insurance deductible.
Medicare: from July 2026, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge lets eligible Part D enrollees get Wegovy, Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo for weight management for $50 a month.[29] Medicare’s negotiated price for Ozempic, the Ozempic pill and Wegovy starts January 1, 2027.[30] Novo Nordisk also plans to cut the list price of its semaglutide brands to $675 a month on that date.[31]
For details, see GLP-1 cost without insurance, Foundayo cost, Saxenda cost and Trulicity cost without insurance.
What’s coming next
- CagriSema (cagrilintide plus semaglutide) is under FDA review, with a decision Novo Nordisk expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.[32] It lost the REDEFINE 4 head-to-head trial to tirzepatide; see CagriSema vs Zepbound.
- Survodutide and retatrutide are in late-stage trials and not approved. See survodutide vs tirzepatide and our retatrutide profile.
Which may suit you: questions for your clinician
- “Weight is my main goal.” Ask whether Zepbound, Wegovy or Foundayo fits your health, budget and coverage.
- “I have heart disease and obesity.” Ask about Wegovy, which is approved to lower heart attack and stroke risk in that group.[1]
- “I’d rather not inject.” Ask about the Wegovy pill or Foundayo, and whether daily routines will work for you.[1][6]
- “I have type 2 diabetes.” Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity and Victoza are approved for it, with heart (and for Ozempic, kidney) benefits on their labels.[2][5]
- “I have sleep apnea.” Zepbound is the only one approved for it.[4]
The verdict
There is no single best GLP-1 drug. Tirzepatide leads on weight loss, semaglutide has the broadest list of approved uses and the strongest heart outcome data, and the pills trade some effectiveness for convenience. Price now depends more on the manufacturer’s self-pay tier and your coverage than on list price. What isn’t settled: long-term results beyond a few years, and how the next wave of drugs will compare.
