FDA-Approved GLP-1 Medications Compared
A side-by-side comparison of Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Dulaglutide, Liraglutide, Orforglipron by independent evidence grade, FDA status, mechanism of action, key safety considerations, and which FDA 503B outsourcing facilities report compounding each.
| Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Dulaglutide | Liraglutide | Orforglipron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | Grade A: Approved and proven | Grade A: Approved and proven | Grade A: Approved and proven | Grade A: Approved and proven | Grade A: Approved and proven |
| FDA status | FDA approved Approved as Ozempic (subcutaneous injection, type 2 diabetes), Wegovy (subcutaneous injection 2.4 mg and oral 25 mg tablet, chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in obesity), and Rybelsus (oral tablet, type 2 diabetes). | FDA approved Approved as Mounjaro (subcutaneous injection, type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (subcutaneous injection, chronic weight management and, additionally, obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity). | FDA approved Approved as Trulicity (once-weekly subcutaneous injection) for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes in adults and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. | FDA approved Approved as Victoza (1.2 mg or 1.8 mg subcutaneous injection, type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular risk reduction) and Saxenda (3.0 mg subcutaneous injection, chronic weight management in adults and adolescents aged 12 and older with obesity). | FDA approved FDA-approved April 1, 2026, for obesity (BMI at least 30 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI at least 27 kg/m²) with at least one weight-related comorbidity. |
| Mechanism | Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite via central and peripheral GLP-1 receptor activation. | Tirzepatide is a dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 receptor agonist, which stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, reduces appetite, and slows gastric emptying through activation of both receptor pathways. | Dulaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that promotes glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and reduces food intake. | Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, delays gastric emptying, and reduces appetite through central GLP-1 receptor activation. | Non-peptide small molecule that selectively activates the GLP-1 receptor, suppressing appetite through central and peripheral pathways, slowing gastric emptying, and enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretion. |
| Key safety | Boxed warning: semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents at clinically relevant exposures; human relevance is unknown but it is contraindicated in... | Boxed warning: tirzepatide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats at clinically relevant exposures; human relevance is unknown and the drug is contraindicated in... | Boxed warning: dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats in a dose- and duration-dependent manner; human relevance is unknown. Contraindicated in... | Boxed warning: liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents at clinically relevant exposures; it is unknown whether it causes medullary thyroid... | Foundayo carries an FDA boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors: GLP-1 receptor agonists pharmacologically active in rodents have caused thyroid C-cell... |
What the evidence shows
Semaglutide A
Semaglutide has the broadest and strongest human evidence base among GLP-1 receptor agonists currently approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The STEP clinical trial program, comprising multiple large phase 3 randomized controlled trials, demonstrated clinically meaningful weight loss in adults with...
Compounding: FDA-approved; brand and generic forms available. Mass compounding from bulk API by 503A and 503B facilities was permitted during a declared shortage; the semaglutide shortage was resolved by FDA in...
Tirzepatide A
Tirzepatide is approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and chronic weight management (Zepbound), supported by an extensive phase 3 trial program. The SURPASS series of trials in type 2 diabetes demonstrated substantial reductions in HbA1c and body weight, with tirzepatide outperforming comparator GLP-1...
Compounding: FDA-approved; brand name only (no generic as of mid-2026). Mass compounding from bulk API was permitted during a declared shortage that FDA resolved in December 2024; enforcement grace periods for...
Dulaglutide A
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) is an FDA-approved once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes with an extensive clinical evidence base. The AWARD trial series demonstrated consistent reductions in HbA1c across a range of backgrounds and comparators. The REWIND cardiovascular outcomes trial enrolled approximately...
Compounding: FDA-approved; brand name Trulicity; no mass compounding indications apply to an approved, in-market product. Generic development status unclear as of mid-2026.
Liraglutide A
Liraglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist with a well-established evidence base across type 2 diabetes and obesity management. The SCALE trial program demonstrated meaningful weight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg (Saxenda) in adults with obesity, including those with or without type 2 diabetes; the SCALE...
Compounding: FDA-approved; generic liraglutide injection has been approved by FDA (first generic approval announced 2024). Liraglutide injection remained on the FDA drug shortage list as of early 2026, permitting...
Orforglipron A
Orforglipron (brand name Foundayo) is a non-peptide oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly, approved by FDA on April 1, 2026, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and...
Compounding: FDA-approved branded product (Foundayo); compounding is not appropriate. As a small-molecule drug, it is not a biologic and not on peptide compounding lists. Dispensing requires a valid prescription;...
Where these are compounded
Semaglutide: reported compounded by Annovex Pharma, Inc., Apollo Care, BPI Labs LLC, Delta Pharma, Inc., Eagle Pharma, Empower Clinic Services New Jersey, Empower Pharma, Fagron Compounding Services dba Fagron Sterile Services, and 9 more.
Tirzepatide: reported compounded by AnazaoHealth Corporation, Annovex Pharma, Inc., Apollo Care, BPI Labs LLC, Empower Pharma, Hybrid Pharma, LLC, Olympia Pharmaceuticals, PQ Pharmacy LLC, and 2 more.
Dulaglutide: no FDA 503B facility in our directory currently reports compounding it.
Liraglutide: reported compounded by Olympia Pharmaceuticals, PQ Pharmacy LLC, ProRx LLC.
Orforglipron: no FDA 503B facility in our directory currently reports compounding it.
From the FDA Outsourcing Facility Product Report. PeptideGrids does not sell or source any compound.
Full profiles: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Dulaglutide, Liraglutide, Orforglipron. Browse all GLP-1s and therapeutic peptides.