Is Ozempic a peptide?

If you know a few things about Ozempic (semaglutide), you probably know that people may take it to lose weight or manage their type 2 diabetes. You may also know that it’s considered a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, which may have you wondering, “Is Ozempic a peptide?” It’s right there in the name, after all.

The short answer? Yes, Ozempic is a peptide. 

The longer answer, including how peptide medications like Ozempic work in the body, follows below.

Yes. Ozempic is classified as a peptide, not a biologic. 

That’s because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines peptides as compounds that contain a chain of 40 or fewer amino acids. Biologics — including protein-based therapies and vaccines — are more complex and contain larger molecules. They also contain longer chains of amino acids — more than 40, to be exact. Because Ozempic has a chain of 31 amino acids, it’s classified as a peptide vs. a biologic.

Peptides like Ozempic can share attributes with biologics. Both can be made using living cells from a plant or animal (Ozempic, specifically, is made using yeast fermentation). They may also be manufactured similarly. But they differ in the amount of amino acids they contain and how the FDA regulates them. 

For example, generic versions can be made of peptide drugs, which contain the same active ingredients and work just like the brand-name drug. For biologics, however, there are no generics — only biosimilars. These are very similar to the biologic but not exactly, precisely the same (even though the difference shouldn’t be noticeable to the end user). 

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Peptides are essentially short (40 or fewer) chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Because of their size and structure, peptides can act like natural hormones and signal molecules in the body.

Ozempic has a chain of 31 amino acids, so it’s considered a peptide. The same can be said of many other GLP-1 medications. Specifically, GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that your body naturally releases after you eat. 

GLP-1 plays a role in controlling your appetite and blood sugar (glucose) levels. It encourages the release of more insulin, slows down digestion, and sends signals to your brain that you’re full. GLP-1 also tells your body to make less glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar.

Thanks to these effects, people taking Ozempic often experience:

• Better blood sugar control, especially when paired with diet and exercise

• Reduced appetite and increased feelings of fullness, leading to weight loss

• Lowered risk of serious heart and kidney problems among those who have heart or kidney disease in combination with type 2 diabetes

While Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss, it may be prescribed off-label for that reason. Currently, Ozempic is FDA-approved to manage type 2 diabetes and to lower the risk of cardiovascular death and kidney decline in people who have heart or kidney disease, respectively, along with type 2 diabetes.

No, not all GLP-1 agonists are peptides, although many of them are. Most of the FDA-approved GLP-1 agonists on the market today — including injectable ones like Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide), and Saxenda (liraglutide) — are peptides. However, some non-peptide GLP-1 agonists are currently being studied in clinical trials, but none are FDA-approved yet. For example, orforglipron is being studied for obesity, and danuglipron is being studied for type 2 diabetes.

If approved, these non-peptide GLP-1s would be taken orally, which could expand treatment options for people who prefer pills over injections. (Almost all of the current GLP-1s are weekly or daily injectables, with the exception of oral semaglutide, Rybelsus.)

Ozempic isn’t the only peptide weight loss medication available. There are several FDA-approved peptides that treat a variety of conditions, from diabetes and obesity to sleep apnea and fatty liver. We’ll go over some of them below. 

But first, a word of caution: You may come across unapproved or “over-the-counter” peptide injections being sold online. Some may even claim to be versions of Ozempic or other GLP-1s. Despite their marketing, these experimental peptides haven’t been tested for safety or effectiveness. To stay safe, it’s best to only get FDA-approved peptide medications prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and filled at a licensed pharmacy.

Wegovy (semaglutide)

Wegovy is a weekly injection that contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide. It’s available in higher dosage strengths and is FDA-approved for the following conditions, along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity:

• Weight loss in adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related health condition, such as sleep apnea or type 2 diabetes

• Reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with obesity and heart disease

• Treating fatty liver in adults with moderate to advanced liver scarring (fibrosis)

Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Mounjaro, along with Zepbound, is unique among GLP-1s. That’s because it mimics two gut hormones — GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide)— instead of just one. It’s a weekly injection that’s approved to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, when used with diet and exercise.

Zepbound (tirzepatide)

Zepbound contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, comes in the same dosage strengths, and is administered via a weekly injection. The difference is in its indications. Zepbound is FDA-approved along with lifestyle changes for:

• Weight loss in adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity

Saxenda (liraglutide)

Like Wegovy and Zepbound, Saxenda is another GLP-1 agonist approved for weight management alongside diet and exercise. It is injected daily (vs. weekly) and can be prescribed to adults and children ages 12 and up. 

Victoza (liraglutide)

Victoza contains the same active ingredient as Saxenda, liraglutide, and is also injected once a day. However, it’s FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and up, in combination with diet and exercise. Victoza is also approved to reduce the risk of experiencing heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In late 2024, the FDA approved a generic version of Victoza.

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Repeat after me: Ozempic is a peptide, not a biologic. Its structure — a chain of 31 amino acids — fits the FDA’s definition of a peptide. Like other GLP-1 agonists, it mimics natural hormones in your body to regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and manage appetite. 

• Ozempic is a peptide, not a biologic. Its amino acid chain length places Ozempic in the peptide category, even though it shares some similarities with biologics.

• Peptides like Ozempic work by mimicking natural hormones. As a GLP-1, Ozempic works by regulating blood sugar and appetite, making it an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes and related conditions.

• Most, but not all, GLP-1 agonists are peptides. Today’s injectable GLP-1 medications are peptides, but non-peptide versions are currently being developed as potential oral medications for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• There are multiple FDA-approved peptides. Examples include Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda, and Victoza.