GLP1Base
Menu

Side-by-side comparison

Ozempic vs Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy are two brand names for the same medicine, semaglutide, and both are made by Novo Nordisk. What separates them is what each brand is approved to treat.

Last verified 2026-09-29 · how we verify

In plain English

The real difference

  • Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same molecule, semaglutide, from the same maker (Novo Nordisk), so how it works in the body is the same. Our safety records are kept per molecule and are shown once below; where a figure comes from one brand's trials, the text says so.[src]
  • Ozempic is approved for: Type 2 diabetes; lowering the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes (injection: those with established heart disease; tablets: those at high risk); lowering kidney-disease and heart-death risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (injection only).[src]
  • Wegovy is approved for: Chronic weight management (injection from age 12; tablets in adults); lowering heart-event risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight (injection and tablets); noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis in adults (injection only, accelerated approval).[src]

Which one suits a person is a decision for them and their clinician.

Ozempic and Wegovy, side by side

Ozempic compared with Wegovy
Ozempicsemaglutide · Novo NordiskWegovysemaglutide · Novo Nordisk
The basics
MoleculeSame for both
Brand namesOzempicWegovy
MakerSame for both
Acts onThe hormone receptors the drug switches onSame for both
GLP-1 receptor
Approved to treat
  • Type 2 diabetes; lowering the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes (injection: those with established heart disease; tablets: those at high risk); lowering kidney-disease and heart-death risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (injection only)
  • Chronic weight management (injection from age 12; tablets in adults); lowering heart-event risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight (injection and tablets); noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis in adults (injection only, accelerated approval)
How it is takenSame for both
Approved as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection (Ozempic, Wegovy) or as a once-daily oral tablet co-formulated with SNAC (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets, Wegovy tablets), prescribed and supervised by a clinician.
Half-lifeHow long until half the drug has left the bloodSame for both
About 1 week (elimination half-life); the drug stays in the blood for about 5 weeks after the last injection[src]
Evidence and safety
Evidence levelSame for both
Approved. Approved by a major regulator after large trials.
Approvals and filings
  • FDA approval, Ozempic. Original FDA approval on 5 December 2017 (injection, type 2 diabetes).[src]
  • EMA authorisation, Ozempic. Authorised in the European Union on 8 February 2018 for type 2 diabetes.[src]
  • FDA approval, Wegovy. Original FDA approval on 4 June 2021 (injection, chronic weight management).[src]
  • FDA approval for MASH. On 15 August 2025 the FDA granted Wegovy accelerated approval for noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis; a study to confirm clinical benefit is ongoing.[src]
Key trial resultsTrials test the molecule, not a brand; each result names its populationSame for both
  • STEP 1 weight result. Mean weight change at 68 weeks was -14.9% with semaglutide versus -2.4% with placebo (1,961 adults, plus lifestyle intervention).[src]
  • SELECT heart outcomes. Major cardiovascular events occurred in 6.5% on semaglutide versus 8.0% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.80; 17,604 adults with heart disease and overweight or obesity, no diabetes).[src]
Known safety signalsSame for both
  • Boxed warning: in rodents semaglutide caused dose- and duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumours at clinically relevant exposures. Whether it does so in humans is unknown. It is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with MEN 2.[src]
  • Gastrointestinal effects are the most common adverse reactions. In the pooled weight-management trials of Wegovy injection versus placebo, nausea occurred in 44% versus 16%, diarrhoea 30% versus 16%, vomiting 24% versus 6% and constipation 24% versus 11%.[src]
  • The label warns of acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease (cholelithiasis in 1.6% of adults on Wegovy injection versus 0.7% on placebo in weight-reduction trials), acute kidney injury from volume depletion, and hypersensitivity reactions.[src]
  • In SUSTAIN-6, diabetic retinopathy complications were higher with semaglutide than placebo (hazard ratio 1.76; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.78) in people with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.[src]
  • Because semaglutide delays gastric emptying, there are rare post-marketing reports of pulmonary aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists.[src]
  • Compounded semaglutide products are not FDA-approved. As of 31 May 2026 the FDA had received 990 adverse-event reports associated with compounded semaglutide. The FDA notes these events are likely underreported, because federal law does not require state-licensed pharmacies that are not outsourcing facilities to report them.[src]
Legal status
United StatesSame for both
Approved

FDA-approved as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy; compounded copies lost their shortage cover in 2025 and 503B is proposing a formal exclusion[src]

Full detail →
United KingdomSame for both
Approved

Licensed in the UK: Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight management (now also as a tablet)[src]

Full detail →
European UnionSame for both
Approved

Authorised EU-wide for type 2 diabetes, weight management and MASH (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Kayshild)[src]

Full detail →
AustraliaSame for both
Approved

Approved on the ARTG as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. PBS covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy is not yet PBS-listed. Compounded copies barred since 1 Oct 2024.[src]

Full detail →
CanadaSame for both
Generics available

Approved as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy; generic semaglutide approved from April 2026 and on sale since May 2026[src]

Full detail →

Go deeper

Molecule

Semaglutide explained →Watch the 3D body journey →

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use any substance, and not an offer to supply. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own care.

Sources (57)

  1. 01Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1)New England Journal of Medicine (via PubMed) · 2021-03-18 · accessed 2026-09-29
  2. 02Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN-6)New England Journal of Medicine (via PubMed) · 2016-11-10 · accessed 2026-09-29
  3. 03Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes (SELECT)New England Journal of Medicine (via PubMed) · 2023-12-14 · accessed 2026-09-29
  4. 04Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (FLOW)New England Journal of Medicine (via PubMed) · 2024-07-11 · accessed 2026-09-29
  5. 05Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (ESSENCE)New England Journal of Medicine (via PubMed) · 2025-06-05 · accessed 2026-09-29
  6. 06Drugs@FDA record, NDA 209637 (Ozempic): original approval 2017-12-05U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA Drugs@FDA) · 2017-12-05 · accessed 2026-09-29
  7. 07Drugs@FDA record, NDA 213051 (Rybelsus): original approval 2019-09-20U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA Drugs@FDA) · 2019-09-20 · accessed 2026-09-29
  8. 08Drugs@FDA record, NDA 215256 (Wegovy): original approval 2021-06-04U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA Drugs@FDA) · 2021-06-04 · accessed 2026-09-29
  9. 09Drugs@FDA record, NDA 218316 (Wegovy tablets): original approval 2025-12-22U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA Drugs@FDA) · 2025-12-22 · accessed 2026-09-29
  10. 10Wegovy approved by FDA for the treatment of adults with noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosisNovo Nordisk (PR Newswire) · 2025-08-15 · accessed 2026-09-29
  11. 11Ozempic: EPAR (European public assessment report)European Medicines Agency · 2026-08 · accessed 2026-09-29
  12. 12Rybelsus: EPAR (European public assessment report)European Medicines Agency · 2026-04 · accessed 2026-09-29
  13. 13Wegovy: EPAR (European public assessment report)European Medicines Agency · 2026-09 · accessed 2026-09-29
  14. 14RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC (semaglutide) tablets: prescribing informationDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) / Novo Nordisk · 2026-01 · accessed 2026-09-29
  15. 15OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection: prescribing informationDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) / Novo Nordisk · 2026-06 · accessed 2026-09-29
  16. 16WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets: prescribing informationDailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) / Novo Nordisk · 2026-06 · accessed 2026-09-29
  17. 17FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight lossU.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026-09-01 · accessed 2026-09-29
  18. 18OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026-05 · accessed 2026-09-29
  19. 19RYBELSUS / OZEMPIC (semaglutide) tablets prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026-07 · accessed 2026-09-29
  20. 20WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026-09 · accessed 2026-09-29
  21. 21Novo Nordisk announcement: FDA approves the Wegovy pill (Form 6-K)Novo Nordisk A/S (SEC filing) · 2025-12-22 · accessed 2026-09-29
  22. 22FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilizeU.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026-04-01 · accessed 2026-09-29
  23. 23List of Bulk Drug Substances for Which There Is a Clinical Need Under Section 503B (proposal not to include semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide)Federal Register (FDA) · 2026-05-01 · accessed 2026-09-29
  24. 24GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to knowMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) · 2026-02-05 · accessed 2026-09-29
  25. 25Single-dose 7.2mg semaglutide (Wegovy) pen approved to treat adult patients with obesityMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) · 2026-04-14 · accessed 2026-09-29
  26. 26First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UKMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) · 2026-06-11 · accessed 2026-09-29
  27. 27Semaglutide (Wegovy) approved to treat form of liver diseaseMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) · 2026-07-03 · accessed 2026-09-29
  28. 28Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875)National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) · 2023-03-08 · accessed 2026-09-29
  29. 29Kayshild: EPAR (European public assessment report)European Medicines Agency · 2026-04-09 · accessed 2026-09-29
  30. 30First oral GLP-1 treatment for weight managementEuropean Medicines Agency · 2026-05-22 · accessed 2026-09-29
  31. 31Applications for new human medicines under evaluation by the CHMP (September 2026)European Medicines Agency · 2026-09-04 · accessed 2026-09-29
  32. 32Obesite: prise en charge de Wegovy et Mounjaro a partir du 15 juin 2026, sous conditionsVidal · 2026-05-28 · accessed 2026-09-29
  33. 33Kyinsu: EPAR (European public assessment report)European Medicines Agency · 2026-02-12 · accessed 2026-09-29
  34. 34Arrêté du 23 mai 2026 modifiant la liste des spécialités pharmaceutiques remboursables aux assurés sociaux (WEGOVY)Légifrance, Journal officiel de la République française · 2026-05-28 · accessed 2026-09-29
  35. 35Arzneimittel-Richtlinie Anlage II: Lifestyle-Arzneimittel (Stand 20. August 2025)Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) · 2025-08-20 · accessed 2026-09-29
  36. 36OZEMPIC semaglutide solution for injection pre-filled pen (ARTG 308324)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2019-08 · accessed 2026-09-29
  37. 37WEGOVY semaglutide solution for injection pre-filled pen (ARTG 356286)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2022-09 · accessed 2026-09-29
  38. 38RYBELSUS semaglutide tablet blister pack (ARTG 346198)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2022-02 · accessed 2026-09-29
  39. 39AusPAR: Wegovy (semaglutide), extension of indication (weight management in adolescents aged 12 and over; ARTG entry 29 February 2024)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2024-09-05 · accessed 2026-09-29
  40. 40PBS Medicines Status: semaglutide (Ozempic), type 2 diabetes mellitusAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (PBS) · 2026-03-31 · accessed 2026-09-29
  41. 41PBS Medicines Status: semaglutide (Wegovy), established cardiovascular disease with obesityAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (PBS) · 2026-07-23 · accessed 2026-09-29
  42. 42Manufacturing, supplying and advertising compounded medicines lawfullyTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2026-05-14 · accessed 2026-09-29
  43. 43Prescription medicines under evaluation: Ozempic (semaglutide), claudication in peripheral arterial disease (accepted September 2025)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) · 2025-09 · accessed 2026-09-29
  44. 44PBS Medicines Status: semaglutide (Wegovy), established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with obesity (November 2026 PBAC meeting)Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (PBS) · 2026-07-23 · accessed 2026-09-29
  45. 45Drug Product Database API: active-ingredient search for semaglutideHealth Canada (Drug Product Database) · 2026-09-29 · accessed 2026-09-29
  46. 46Product Monograph: OZEMPIC (semaglutide injection)Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. · 2026-07-13 · accessed 2026-09-29
  47. 47Product Monograph: WEGOVY (semaglutide injection)Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. · 2025-12-10 · accessed 2026-09-29
  48. 48Canada approves second generic semaglutide, the first G7 country to do soHealth Canada · 2026-05-01 · accessed 2026-09-29
  49. 49Canada approves first generic semaglutide for weight lossHealth Canada · 2026-06-29 · accessed 2026-09-29
  50. 50Policy on Manufacturing and Compounding Drug Products in Canada (POL-0051)Health Canada · 2009-01-26 · accessed 2026-09-29
  51. 51Semaglutide + Pyridoxine: produced with an unauthorized active pharmaceutical ingredientHealth Canada · 2025-01-21 · accessed 2026-09-29
  52. 52Canada becomes the first G7 country to approve a generic version of semaglutideHealth Canada · 2026-04-28 · accessed 2026-09-29
  53. 53Semaglutide Injection: Incorrect Pen in Package (Type II recall, RA-82477)Health Canada · 2026-08-11 · accessed 2026-09-29
  54. 54Semaglutide Injection: Out-of-Specification (Impurity) (Type II recall, RA-82537)Health Canada · 2026-08-26 · accessed 2026-09-29
  55. 55Apo-Semaglutide Injection: Incorrect dose display (Type II recall, RA-82536)Health Canada · 2026-08-27 · accessed 2026-09-29
  56. 56Apo-Semaglutide Injection: Incorrect dose display (Type II recall, RA-82679)Health Canada · 2026-09-24 · accessed 2026-09-29
  57. 57Unauthorized health products sold online and seized at Rize Fitness may pose serious health risksHealth Canada · 2025-12-24 · accessed 2026-09-29