Which GLP-1 drugs are on the market?

GLP-1 drugs, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, were originally solely intended for use as diabetes medications. However, they are now being used for a variety of purposes, including helping people with weight loss.

The drugs mimic the action of the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), can increase satiety and reduce appetite.

They are, according to Faris Zuraikat, assistant professor at Colombia University, far stronger than the GLP-1 hormone produced endogenously (by the body), and thus have much greater capacity to provoke satiety.

There are a range of such drugs on the market, under a number of different brand names. Many of them have only been approved for sale in the last few years.

Semaglutide The most widely known of GLP-1 drugs, semaglutide is sold under well-known brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

According to the charity Diabetes UK, it helps the body produce more insulin when needed, slows down food digestion, and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver.

There are a range of semaglutide medications available on the market, including:

OzempicWhat does it do? Novo Nordisk-produced Ozempic, perhaps the best known of GLP-1 drugs, is a medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

How is it taken? It is injected at a rate of once a week.

Where is it available? Ozempic is a prescription-only drug available in a range of territories including the UK, Canada, the EU, Australia, Japan, China and the US. It is usually prescription-only.

Wegovy What does it do? Unlike Ozempic, which is primarily aimed at those with type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is prescribed to people to aid with weight loss.

How is it taken? Like with Ozempic, Wegovy is an injection which is taken once a week.

Where is it available? It is available in a wide range of territories including the EU, the UK, the US, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, China, the UAE, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Canada.

RybelsusWhat does it do? As a brand of semaglutide, Rybelsus, much like Ozempic and Wegovy, increases the production of hormones produced by the stomach when you eat. It is aimed at those with type 2 diabetes.

How is it taken? Unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, Rybelsus is taken in the form of a tablet, once a day. Diabetes UK recommends taking it with an empty stomach, before your first meal or snack of the day.

Where is it available? Rybelsus is currently available in a range of territories including the US, the EU, the UK, Switzerland and Japan.

Liraglutide Liraglutide is another weight-loss drug which, like semaglutide, is available in multiple brands.

VictozaWhat does it do? Victoza is a medicine primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, by increasing the amount of insulin released.

How is it taken? Victoza is an injection that you take once a day.

Where is it available? Victoza is available in a range of territories including the EU, the US, and China. According to Diabetes UK, it is currently out of stock in the UK, with shortages expected to be resolved this month.

SaxendaWhat does it do? Like Wegovy, Saxenda is intended primarily as a weight-loss drug, rather than Victoza, which is aimed at those with type 2 diabetes.

How is it taken? Saxenda is an injection and should be taken once a day.

Where is it available? The drug is available in many markets around the world, including the EU and US. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO), after considering doing so, has not added Saxenda to its essential medicines list.

Exenatide Exenatide, like semaglutide, increases the amount of GLP-1 hormones produced by the body. These increase the production of insulin, as well as reducing the amount of glucose the body produces and slowing down digestion.

Exenatide is available under the brand name Bydureon. Former exenatide brand Byetta has, according to Diabetes UK, been discontinued.

BydureonWhat does it do? Increase the production of GLP-1 hormones.

How is it taken? Bydureon is taken through a once-weekly injection.

Where is it available? Bydureon is available in a wide range of territories, including the US and the EU.

While GLP-1 drugs are known for their weight loss capabilities, most are mainly intended to treat type 2 diabetes. (10’000 Hours/Getty Images)LixisenatideMuch like other GLP-1 receptor agonists, lixisenatide binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, increasing insulin secretion, supressing glucagon secretion, and slowing down food digestion.

LyxumiaWhat does it do? Lyxumia is the brand name for lixisenatide, and is used to treat type 2 diabetes.

How is it taken? It is taken as a once-daily injection.

Where is it available? It is available in the EU, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and India.

In the US, it was sold under the brand name Aldyxin, but this was discontinued in 2023. Lyxumia has also been discontinued in England and Scotland.

DulaglutideDulaglutide, like other GLP-1 receptors, helps the body secrete insulin and slows food digestion.

Trulicity What does it do? The drug is mainly prescribed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, not only for adults but for children of ten years and above as well.

How is it taken? It is taken once a week via injection.

Where is it available? It is available in a range of markets including the EU, the UK, the US, New Zealand and Australia.

TirzepatideTirzepatide slows digestion, reduces glucagon secretion and increases insulin sensitivity and secretion.

MounjaroWhat does it do? Mounjaro, a brand name for tirzepatide, activates both GLP-1 and Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptors.

Crucially, Mounjaro treats both weight loss and type 2 diabetes, rather than being aimed at treating one or the other like the proceeding GLP-1 receptor agonists.

How is it taken? It is taken once a week via injection.

Where is it available? It is available in a range of markets including the EU, the UK, the US, and China.

Eli Lilly, the company that produces Mounjaro, also makes Zepbound, a weight loss-friendly version of tirzepatide, but this is not yet available in the EU.

Tackling GLP-1 shortagesWhile the availability of these drugs is growing, with many of them being approved for the market within the last decade, high demand has meant increasing shortages. In the EU, Ozempic, Saxenda, Trulicity and Victoza in particular have suffered from the shortages. The shortages are worsened by people who do not have obesity using these drugs for ‘cosmetic’ weight loss, the European Medicine Agency suggests. This even extends to criminal activity, with an increased risk of falsified products entering the market.