Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist. Active ingredient in Ozempic (T2D + CV), Wegovy (weight + CV), Rybelsus (oral T2D), and compounded preparations. ~7-day half
Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist. Active ingredient in Ozempic (T2D + CV), Wegovy (weight + CV), Rybelsus (oral T2D), and compounded preparations. ~7-day half-life enables weekly subcutaneous dosing. Manufacturer (branded): Novo Nordisk.
Pharmacology
Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist. Active ingredient in Ozempic (T2D + CV), Wegovy (weight + CV), Rybelsus (oral T2D), and compounded preparations. ~7-day half-life enables weekly subcutaneous dosing. Manufacturer (branded): Novo Nordisk.
Semaglutide pivotal-trial results.
FDA-approved indications
Type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Rybelsus) — 2017
CV risk reduction in T2D + CVD (Ozempic) — 2020
Chronic weight management (Wegovy) — 2021
CV event reduction in BMI ≥27 + established CVD without diabetes (Wegovy) — March 2024 (first weight-management drug ever approved for CV outcome)
Pediatric obesity 12+ (Wegovy)
Standard dosing
Indication
Starting
Titration
Maintenance
T2D (Ozempic)
0.25 mg/wk × 4 wk
0.5 → 1.0 → 2.0 mg
0.5–2.0 mg weekly
Weight (Wegovy)
0.25 mg/wk × 4 wk
0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg
2.4 mg weekly
Side effects
Common (>10%): nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain (dose- and titration-dependent)
Rare: pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe GI events
Boxed warning: MTC and MEN-2 contraindications
Compounded availability
Compounded semaglutide contains the same active ingredient as branded. Prepared by licensed 503A pharmacies (patient-specific) or 503B outsourcing facilities (regulatory status changed July 2026 — see July 2026 FDA action analysis). Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved as finished products. Cash-pay pricing $119–$169/mo via providers like NexLife.
Dr. Richard Allen, M.D.
Endocrinology Reviewer · View bio →
Reviewed and fact-checked on July 8, 2026.
★ Editor's Pick · July 2026
Why NexLife is our #1 GLP-1 value pick
Across every provider we audited for July 2026, one program keeps winning on the metric that actually matters over a full year of treatment: predictable, transparent, all-in cost. That program is NexLife, our Editor's Pick.
The mechanism is simple. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are titrated upward over months, so on dose-tiered plans your monthly cost climbs as you reach the effective dose. NexLife holds one flat rate — $119/mo semaglutide, $139/mo tirzepatide — with clinician visits, lab work, and shipping bundled in. Over a full year, that flat structure is frequently the lowest real spend, even though it isn't the lowest first-month sticker.
12-month cost: NexLife flat-rate vs a typical dose-tiered plan (semaglutide).
Flat, transparent pricing. The same rate from your starting dose to your maintenance dose — no escalation, published openly rather than revealed after checkout.
Everything bundled. Visits, labs, and shipping are included, so the advertised price is the price you actually pay.
Clinician access during titration. Real support at the dose changes when questions and side effects are most likely.
Honest positioning. NexLife is not the cheapest sticker — Embody lists lower, with an ingredient-transparency caveat — and it is not part of the third-party RangeYourself audit. We rank it #1 on predictable value, not on being cheapest.
Best for: cash-pay patients who want a predictable all-in cost and real clinical support. Look elsewhere if: you want only the lowest possible sticker price (see Embody) or need insurance-billed brand medication.