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What is Semaglutide?
Tuesday, April 29, 2025

What is Semaglutide?

If you have been on the internet lately, then you probably have heard about Ozempic or Wegovy at some point about celebrities/influencers taking it to fasten their weight loss or seen an advertisement about it. According to the European Medicines Agency, “Ozempic is a diabetes medicine used with diet and exercise to treat adults whose type 2 diabetes is not satisfactorily controlled.” Ozempic and Wegovy as we know of as now, as weight-loss drugs used for type 2 diabetes, and the active drug used in Ozempic is Semaglutide. Let’s understand what semaglutide is and its use, and why it is important to use it mindfully.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, also known as GLP-1 analogs, GLP-1DAs or incretin mimetics. This class of drugs reduce blood sugar and intake by activating the GLP-1 receptor. Half a century has passed since the discovery of GLP-1, which has provided a new way for humans to fight diabetes. Currently, there are nine GLP-1RAs approved for marketing worldwide, mainly for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Today, there are a large number of GLP-1R agonists entering clinical trials.


In December 2016, the US FDA New Drug Application (NDA) was filed by Novo Nordisk, and in October 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee approved it unanimously.

There are three FDA-approved Semaglutide products:

  • 1) Ozempic injection is approved to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and known heart disease.
  • 2) Rybelsus tablets are approved to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • 3) Wegovy injection is approved to help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems lose weight and keep the weight off.

According to a presentation by Lake et al at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver, it was reported that a weekly injection of Semaglutide was safe and reduced the amount of fat in the liver by 31% in people with HIV and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD is characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver that is not caused by alcohol consumption or viral hepatitis. Over time, fat deposits may cause inflammation and cellular damage and can result in cardiovascular and liver disease. MASLD also is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. It is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States and a leading reason for liver transplantation.

Semaglutide has been blowing up on the internet, and the consumption of this drug has grown rapidly. According to Forbes, the sales of Ozempic have had an increase of 58%. We must then wonder if this sales increase is caused by the desire to lose weight and not for its intended medical needs. Has there been enough studies and research trials performed for its use as a weight loss alternative?

At Axios, your research is Our Passion. We offer support to Pharmaceutical R&D in the development of generics, new formulations and/or custom synthesis.  We have recently synthesized the below Semaglutide impurities and continue to expand our product portfolio. https://www.axios-research.com/collections/semaglutide

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