Every GLP-1 Drug Available in 2026: A Complete List

The GLP-1 drug landscape has exploded over the past few years. What started as a niche diabetes treatment is now one of the biggest stories in modern medicine—spanning obesity, cardiovascular disease, and potentially even Alzheimer's and addiction.

But the sheer number of brand names has gotten genuinely confusing. Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Rybelsus, Victoza, Saxenda—some of these are the same molecule with different brand names. Some target diabetes. Some target weight loss. Some do both.

This is the comprehensive, no-fluff breakdown of every GLP-1 and GLP-1-based drug currently on the market in 2026.

A Quick Primer: What GLP-1 Drugs Actually Do

GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your gut naturally produces after you eat. It does several things at once: it tells your pancreas to release insulin, it signals your brain that you're full, and it slows down how fast food leaves your stomach.

Your body's own GLP-1 breaks down in about two minutes. These drugs are engineered versions that stick around for hours or even days, amplifying those natural effects. The result? Lower blood sugar, reduced appetite, and significant weight loss for most people (Mahapatra et al., StatPearls, 2024).

Some newer drugs combine GLP-1 with other gut hormones—like GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide)—for even stronger effects. That's the dual-agonist approach behind drugs like tirzepatide.

The Complete GLP-1 Drug List (2026)

1. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)

Semaglutide is probably the molecule you've heard of most. Novo Nordisk makes it, and it's sold under three different brand names depending on the indication and delivery method:

Ozempic — Injectable, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Doses: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg weekly injection.
Wegovy — Injectable, FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Doses: 0.25 mg up to 2.4 mg weekly injection. This is the higher-dose version specifically labeled for obesity.
Rybelsus — Oral tablet, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Doses: 3 mg, 7 mg, 14 mg daily. The first oral GLP-1 medication—no injection required.

The STEP 1 trial demonstrated that semaglutide 2.4 mg produced an average weight loss of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks compared to 2.4% with placebo (Wilding et al., NEJM, 2021). That's roughly 33 pounds for someone starting at 230.

Cost context: Without insurance, Ozempic and Wegovy run roughly $900-$1,300/month. Rybelsus is typically $800-$1,000/month. Insurance coverage varies wildly—diabetes indications get covered more reliably than obesity indications.

2. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)

Tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly, is the first dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. It hits two incretin pathways simultaneously, which appears to produce greater weight loss and blood sugar reduction than GLP-1-only drugs in head-to-head data.

Mounjaro — Injectable, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Doses: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg weekly injection.
Zepbound — Injectable, FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Same molecule, same doses, obesity indication.

The SURMOUNT-2 trial showed tirzepatide produced up to 15.7% weight loss in people with both obesity and type 2 diabetes—a population that historically struggles more with weight loss (Frias et al., The Lancet, 2023).

Cost context: Mounjaro and Zepbound list around $1,000-$1,100/month without insurance. Eli Lilly has offered manufacturer savings cards that can bring costs down significantly for eligible patients.

3. Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)

Liraglutide is the older-generation GLP-1, also from Novo Nordisk. It requires daily injections rather than weekly, which is a meaningful inconvenience compared to newer options.

Victoza — Daily injectable, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Doses: 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg.
Saxenda — Daily injectable, FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Dose: up to 3.0 mg daily.

Weight loss with Saxenda averages around 5-8% of body weight—respectable, but notably less than semaglutide or tirzepatide. It was the first GLP-1 specifically approved for obesity back in 2014 and paved the way for everything that followed.

Cost context: Around $1,200-$1,400/month without insurance. Given the lower efficacy and daily dosing, many providers now start with semaglutide or tirzepatide instead.

4. Dulaglutide (Trulicity)

Dulaglutide is Eli Lilly's earlier GLP-1 agonist, approved for type 2 diabetes. It's a weekly injection available in doses of 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg.

Trulicity was among the most-prescribed GLP-1 drugs globally before Ozempic overtook it. Weight loss is moderate—typically 3-5% of body weight—and it does not have an FDA-approved weight loss indication. It remains a solid diabetes medication, though, particularly for patients who need cardiovascular risk reduction.

Cost context: Approximately $900-$1,000/month without insurance.

5. Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon BCise)

Exenatide was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to hit the market, originally derived from Gila monster venom (yes, really). It comes in two forms:

Byetta — Twice-daily injection. Doses: 5 mcg, 10 mcg.
Bydureon BCise — Extended-release weekly injection. Dose: 2 mg.

Exenatide produces modest weight loss (2-4% on average) and moderate blood sugar improvements. It's now largely been eclipsed by newer agents, but some patients who started on it years ago continue to use it successfully.

Cost context: $700-$900/month. Generic availability is emerging, which may lower this.

6. Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)

Lixisenatide is a short-acting GLP-1 agonist approved for type 2 diabetes, made by Sanofi. It's a once-daily injection (10 mcg or 20 mcg) primarily used as an add-on to basal insulin.

It's also available as a combination with insulin glargine under the brand name Soliqua 100/33. Weight loss is minimal, and it's primarily valued for its post-meal glucose-lowering effects rather than weight management.

7. Combination Products

Several combination products pair a GLP-1 with insulin for patients who need both:

Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine + lixisenatide) — Once daily, for type 2 diabetes not controlled on basal insulin alone.
Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec + liraglutide) — Once daily, for type 2 diabetes. Combines the benefits of basal insulin with GLP-1's appetite and glucose effects.

8. Emerging and Recently Approved (2025-2026)

The pipeline is moving fast. Several new entries have arrived or are on the verge of arriving:

Orforglipron (Eli Lilly) — An oral non-peptide GLP-1 agonist in late-stage trials. Unlike Rybelsus, it doesn't require the fasting/water restrictions that make oral semaglutide inconvenient. If approved, this could be a game-changer for people who refuse injections.
Survodutide (Boehringer Ingelheim) — A dual glucagon/GLP-1 agonist (different combo than tirzepatide) showing strong results in MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, formerly NASH) and obesity trials.
Retatrutide (Eli Lilly) — A triple agonist hitting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously. Phase 2 data showed up to 24% body weight reduction—the most dramatic weight loss numbers seen in clinical trials to date.
CagriSema (Novo Nordisk) — Combines semaglutide with cagrilintide (an amylin analog). Targets multiple appetite-regulating pathways at once.

How Do These Drugs Compare?

Here's the honest breakdown:

For weight loss efficacy: Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) generally produces the most weight loss among currently approved drugs, followed closely by high-dose semaglutide (Wegovy). Liraglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide produce less weight loss. The pipeline drugs (retatrutide, CagriSema) may eventually surpass all of them.

For diabetes management: All FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs lower A1C effectively. Tirzepatide and semaglutide tend to produce the largest reductions. Choice often comes down to insurance coverage, tolerability, and patient preference.

For convenience: Weekly injections (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity, Bydureon) beat daily injections (Victoza, Saxenda, Byetta). Oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) avoids needles entirely but requires a specific fasting protocol.

For cardiovascular benefits: Semaglutide has the strongest evidence here, with the SELECT trial demonstrating a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with obesity and established cardiovascular disease, even without diabetes (Lincoff et al., NEJM, 2023). Liraglutide and dulaglutide also have positive cardiovascular outcome data.

What About Compounded GLP-1 Drugs?

You've probably seen telehealth companies offering "semaglutide" or "tirzepatide" at a fraction of brand-name prices. These are compounded versions—custom-mixed by compounding pharmacies during the FDA drug shortage declarations.

A few things to know:

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and don't go through the same manufacturing quality checks.
The FDA has actively warned about safety concerns, including sterility issues and incorrect dosing in some compounded products.
As shortages resolve, the legal basis for compounding these drugs may disappear, and many compounding pharmacies may be forced to stop producing them.
That said, cost is a real barrier. When brand-name drugs cost $1,000+/month and insurance won't cover them, compounded versions at $200-$400/month fill a genuine need.

If you go the compounded route, make sure your pharmacy is 503B-registered (held to higher manufacturing standards) and that your prescriber is monitoring your treatment properly.

Practical Takeaways

Talk to your doctor about which specific drug fits your situation. Insurance coverage, existing health conditions, and personal preference (injections vs. oral) all matter more than which drug produced the best clinical trial numbers.
Don't assume "newest = best for you." An older drug like Trulicity might be fully covered by your insurance while Zepbound isn't. That coverage difference matters more than a few percentage points of average weight loss.
Side effects are broadly similar across the class (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation), though individual tolerance varies. Starting at a low dose and titrating slowly helps most people.
Weight loss drugs aren't magic. Diet, exercise, and behavioral changes still matter. These medications make lifestyle changes dramatically easier by reducing appetite and cravings, but they work best as part of a comprehensive approach.
Be cautious with compounded versions. If cost is the barrier, look into manufacturer savings programs, patient assistance programs, and talk to your prescriber about alternatives before going compounded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective GLP-1 drug for weight loss?

Among currently approved drugs, tirzepatide (sold as Zepbound for weight loss) has shown the highest average weight loss in clinical trials—up to 22.5% of body weight at the highest dose. Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) is a close second at roughly 15% average weight loss. Individual results vary significantly, though. Some people respond better to one drug than another.

Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same drug?

Yes—they're both semaglutide made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (max dose 2 mg/week), while Wegovy is approved for weight management (max dose 2.4 mg/week). The molecule is identical; the branding, dosing, and indication differ.

Is there a GLP-1 pill instead of an injection?

Yes. Rybelsus is oral semaglutide, available now. You take it daily on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. Several oral GLP-1 drugs are in clinical trials (orforglipron being the most advanced) with fewer dosing restrictions.

How much do GLP-1 drugs cost without insurance?

Most brand-name GLP-1 medications run $800-$1,400 per month without insurance. Costs vary by pharmacy and location. Manufacturer savings cards, patient assistance programs, and compounding pharmacies can reduce out-of-pocket costs significantly. Check the manufacturer's website for current savings programs.

Can I switch between different GLP-1 drugs?

Yes, switching is common and generally straightforward. Your doctor will typically restart you at a lower dose of the new medication and titrate up. Reasons for switching include inadequate response, side effects, insurance coverage changes, or wanting to try a dual-agonist like tirzepatide. Don't switch on your own—work with your prescriber on timing and dosing.

Are GLP-1 drugs safe long-term?

The longer-acting GLP-1 drugs have been studied in clinical trials lasting 2-5 years, and real-world data now extends further. Known risks include gastrointestinal side effects (common), potential thyroid concerns (boxed warning based on animal data), and rare cases of pancreatitis. Long-term cardiovascular data is actually positive—the SELECT trial showed heart-protective benefits. But these are relatively new drugs in widespread use, and 20-year safety data simply doesn't exist yet. Ongoing monitoring and regular check-ins with your doctor are essential.

References

Mahapatra MK, Karuppasamy M, Sahoo BM. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. StatPearls. Updated 2024.
Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002.
Frias JP, Jastreboff AM, le Roux CW, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2). Lancet. 2023;402(10402):613-626.
Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(24):2221-2232.