How long has semaglutide been around?

As of late, it can feel difficult to go a day without reading a headline or hearing a conversation that calls out semaglutide medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. But there was, in fact, a time when these drugs weren’t so popular and, before then, when they didn’t exist (gasp!). 

So, how long has semaglutide been around, exactly? Glad you asked. While its popularity might seem relatively new, semaglutide has existed for longer than you might expect. Keep reading to find out how long semaglutide has been around and learn more about its history, including how meds, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, went from discovery to development.

In short, semaglutide hit the market nearly a decade ago in 2017. 

But how did we get there? If you’re really interested in how long semaglutide has been around, we need to go back to the 1980s and talk about a small group of scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital that included Svetlana Mojsov, PhD, Joel Habener, MD, and Daniel Drucker, MD. 

History of semaglutide

By the mid-80s, Dr. Mojsov had developed ways to detect the presence of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in lab animals. This was a key step toward determining whether an incretin such as GLP-1—i.e. a type of hormone that spurs the release of insulin from the pancreas—could help treat type 2 diabetes. Although they weren’t in the same lab, the group collaborated and, in 1986, Drs. Mojsov and Habener published a joint paper detailing the discovery of the 7-37 stretch of GLP-1—which they hypothesized to be the active form of the hormone—in rat intestines. 

Using a synthesized (i.e. man-made) version of GLP-1 that was developed by Dr. Mojsov, Dr. Drucker then led a study that showed the hormone did, in fact, prompt insulin secretion in rats. From there, Mojsov, Habener, and another scientist, Gordon Weir, MD, teamed up and used Mojsov’s synthesized GLP-1 in new research. As detailed in the 1987 study, they found that when the hormone was injected into a rat pancreas, insulin output increased. It’s important to note that at the same time, a scientist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark named Jens Juul Holst, MD, DMSc, had also discovered GLP-1; independently, he and his team were conducting their own research on the peptide and its potential effects on the pancreas as well as other systems associated with diabetes. 

All of this work laid the foundation for studies in the 1990s that found that GLP-1 could normalize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and those without. But first came John Eng, MD, a researcher at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, whose interest in the Gila monster—a type of lizard that can slow down its metabolism and maintain stable blood sugar levels even after long periods of not eating—led to a pretty big finding. Around 1995, Dr. Eng discovered a peptide in the lizard’s saliva that triggers the synthesis and release of insulin from beta cells in the pancreas. Known as exendin, the peptide was similar in structure and function to GLP-1—but only when glucose is high (think: right after a meal). 

Fast forward to 2005 and a synthetic version of exendin—a GLP-1 receptor agonist—known as exenatide (brand name Byetta) became the first medicine of its kind to treat type 2 diabetes. But the drug had a major drawback: It had to be injected twice a day. So, chemists at drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk set out to create a GLP-1 that lasted long enough for daily injections, and in 2010, Victoza (liraglutide) received FDA approval to treat diabetes. Turns out, the drug also appeared to cause slight weight loss in patients.

This then led to the development of Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide), which were FDA-approved for obesity and diabetes, respectively, in  2014. Meanwhile, the folks at Novo Nordisk seemingly were determined to create a GLP-1 drug that lasted so long that it only had to be injected once a week—or so the story goes.  

It wasn’t until 2017 that semaglutide received FDA approval as a treatment for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. Four years later in 2021, the FDA gave the green light to another brand-name drug with semaglutide as the active ingredient: Wegovy, which was (and still is) approved for chronic weight management in people with either obesity (body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater) or overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. This marked the first time a weight loss medication was FDA-approved since 2014 (when Saxenda was approved). 

In 2023 and 2024, respectively, Ozempic and Wegovy were also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular problems (e.g. heart attack, stroke) in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight (though remember, Ozempic is specifically approved for those with diabetes mellitus as well). 

While Wegovy and Ozempic might be the most popular semaglutide drugs, there is a third semaglutide medication called Rybelsus, which received FDA approval to treat type 2 diabetes in 2019. Unlike Wegovy and Ozempic (which are injections), Rybelsus is an oral tablet. 

In general, folks have been using semaglutide since its approval as a diabetes drug (under the brand name Ozempic) in 2017. 

Here’s a breakdown of when semaglutide drugs received FDA approval and for what reasons: 

Since 2017, semaglutide has become one of the 100 most popular prescription drugs in the US, according to Pew Research. As the FDA has approved more medications with semaglutide (first Ozempic, then Rybelsus, followed by Wegovy) the number of people taking these drugs has only risen. In 2021 , two million Americans were taking a semaglutide-based medication, which is three times more than the number from the previous year.

By now you know that the FDA has approved three medications with semaglutide: Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, all of which are GLP-1 receptor agonists. 

As a GLP-1, semaglutide works by binding to and activating GLP-1 receptors, which are proteins found throughout the body, including in the pancreas, gut, and brain. GLP-1 receptors play a crucial role in blood sugar levels because they enhance insulin secretion. By attaching to these receptors, semaglutide is able to stimulate insulin secretion, which then lowers blood sugar levels. The active ingredient can also cause delayed stomach emptying; this can keep you fuller longer, increase satiety, and suppress appetite, ultimately contributing to weight loss. 

Because Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy are all part of the same drug class and contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide), they also share similar side effects—the most common of which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Where the three drugs differ, however, is with their indications (i.e. FDA-approved uses), dosage, and more. Here’s what you need to know about each semaglutide medication: 

Ozempic

A weekly subcutaneous injection, Ozempic is FDA-approved to:

• Control blood sugar in adults 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes 

• Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease 

Despite not being FDA-approved for weight loss, Ozempic is often prescribed off-label for that reason due to its effects on food intake and appetite. The active ingredient in Ozempic is also the same active ingredient in Wegovy. No matter the reason for prescription, injection semaglutide-based medications are intended to be used in conjunction with a balanced diet and regular exercise. 

Rybelsus

Rybelsus is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes and is often prescribed off-label for weight loss. It differs from its fellow semaglutide medications in that it’s a daily oral tablet (vs. weekly injection). 

Wegovy 

And then there’s Wegovy, the third semaglutide-based medication to hit the market. It’s a weekly subcutaneous injection that’s supposed to be used alongside a healthy diet and exercise. 

Wegovy is FDA-approved to:

• Manage weight in adults and children ages 12+ with obesity (BMI of 30+) and in adults with overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition (e.g. type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol)

• Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular health problems (e.g.heart attack, stroke, death) in adults with established heart disease and obesity (BMI of 30+) or overweight

Compounded semaglutide

Although not FDA-approved like the aforementioned drugs, we can’t talk about semaglutide without mentioning compounded semaglutide, a type of compounded medication.

Compounded medications are pharmaceutical products custom-made by licensed pharmacists to meet a person’s health needs when a commercial drug cannot, according to the American Pharmacists Association. They’re permitted to be prescribed under federal law, but they are not FDA-approved. Plus, drugs that are still under patent-protection, such as semaglutide, are legally allowed to be compounded when they are in shortage (which is frequently the case these days). 

For example, if you’re seriously struggling to get Ozempic or Wegovy, your healthcare provider might prescribe compounded semaglutide. Like brand-name versions, compounded semaglutide is usually a weekly injection that contains (as you probably guessed) semaglutide as the active ingredient. 

If you and your healthcare provider decide that compounded semaglutide is a good option for you, it’s important to ensure the medication is prepared by a reputable compounding pharmacy. 

By now, you (hopefully) know how long semaglutide has been around. But we did just go through a lot of information, so let’s quickly recap with some bullet points: 

• Mid-1980s: Multiple scientists, including Drs. Mojsov, Habener, and Drucker, were involved in the discovery and growing understanding of the hormone, GLP-1.

• Early 1990s: Dr. Eng uncovered exendin, a peptide in the saliva of a venomous lizard that triggers the production and release of insulin from the pancreas. 

• 2005: Byetta (exenatide), the synthetic version of exendin, was FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes.

• 2010: Victoza (liraglutide) was FDA-approved to treat diabetes. 

• 2014: Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) were FDA-approved for obesity and diabetes, respectively. 

• 2017: Semaglutide (finally!) made it to the market, as Ozempic (semaglutide) became FDA-approved to treat diabetes. 

• 2019: Rybelsus (semaglutide) received FDA approval to treat diabetes.

• 2021: Wegovy (semaglutide) was FDA-approved for chronic weight management in people with either obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition.

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Current version

July 10, 2024

Written by

Emily Laurence

Fact checked by

Beverly Tchang, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Beverly Tchang, MD

Beverly Tchang, MD, is an Obesity Medicine Advisor for Ro. She is also an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and triple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Obesity Medicine.