Compound research hub

Semaglutide: Research, Handling and Batch Documentation

Semaglutide is an acylated GLP-1 receptor agonist with the largest outcome-trial base of any incretin peptide, supplied here as a research-use reference standard only.

Part of Volta's weight management research peptides catalogue.

Identity and research status

Also referred to as: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
Class: Acylated 31 amino acid GLP-1 receptor agonist
Molecular Formula: C187H291N45O59
Molecular Weight: 4113.58 g/mol
CAS Number: 910463-68-2
Developer Code: NN9535
Receptor Target: GLP-1 receptor (class B GPCR)
Key Substitution: Aib at position 8, conferring dipeptidyl peptidase-4 resistance
Acylation: C18 fatty diacid at position 26 via gamma-glutamate and two PEG spacers
Half-life: Approximately 7 days
Homology to Native GLP-1: 94 percent
Appearance: White lyophilised powder

Evidence level: FDA Approved (grade A)

Regulatory status: FDA-approved (Ozempic for T2D, Wegovy for obesity)

Evidence grades describe the published literature on the compound, not a property of the material Volta supplies, and are not a statement that any use is approved. See how these grades are assigned.

Mechanism, in brief

Semaglutide is a 31 amino acid analogue of human glucagon-like peptide-1, an incretin hormone released from intestinal L cells after a meal. Native GLP-1 is destroyed within about two minutes by dipeptidyl peptidase-4, which cleaves it at the alanine in position 8. Semaglutide substitutes that residue with alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, a non-proteinogenic amino acid the enzyme cannot cut, and that single change is the foundation of the molecule.

DPP-4 resistance. Alanine at position 8 is replaced by alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, which dipeptidyl peptidase-4 cannot cleave. Native GLP-1 has a half-life near two minutes; this substitution removes the primary route of destruction.
Albumin binding. A C18 diacid attached via a gamma-glutamate and PEG spacers at position 26 binds albumin reversibly, protecting the peptide from renal filtration and acting as a slow-release depot.
Receptor engagement. Full agonism at the GLP-1 receptor, signalling largely through Gs and cyclic AMP accumulation.
Islet effect. Potentiation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and suppression of inappropriate glucagon release, both glucose-dependent, which is why the mechanism does not itself drive low blood glucose.
Central effect. Receptor activation in hypothalamic and hindbrain appetite circuits reduces food intake, which is the dominant contributor to weight change rather than the peripheral effects.

The full research write-up, including the findings behind each claim and the model each came from, is on the Semaglutide 10mg 10mg page.

Vial sizes available

Every size of Semaglutide Volta lists, in stock or not. Each is a separate catalogue page with its own batch number and specification table.

Semaglutide 10mg 10mgBatch #: VPSG10100
In stock
Semaglutide 20mg 20mgBatch #: VPSG20100
In stock

Purity and batch documentation

Volta's release specification is >99% (HPLC). That is a threshold we set. >99% is the specification every batch is released to. The figure on a certificate is what a laboratory measured for one lot.

No third-party certificate has been published for Semaglutideyet. The certificates Volta does publish, with the laboratory's own verification link on each, are in the certificate archive.

the complete batch history dataset how each batch is tested laboratories that test peptides independently

Research on Semaglutide

Handling and stability

Laboratory guides

Calculators

Regulatory context

United States: FDA-approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus). Additional approvals: MASH with fibrosis (Aug 2025), oral 25 mg for weight management (late 2025). 135+ warning letters issued to GLP-1 compounders; proposed permanent ban on 503B GLP-1 compounding.
Canada: Health Canada approved (Ozempic, Wegovy).
United Kingdom: MHRA/NICE approved (Ozempic, Wegovy).

Primary sources

Lau J, Bloch P, Schäffer L, et al.. Discovery of the Once-Weekly Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Analogue Semaglutide. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2015). PMID 26308095
Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al.. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID 33567185
Davies M, Færch L, Jeppesen OK, et al.. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet (2021). PMID 33667417
Marso SP, Bain SC, Consoli A, et al.. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine (2016). PMID 27633186
Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al.. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine (2023). PMID 37952131
O'Neil PM, Birkenfeld AL, McGowan B, et al.. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide compared with liraglutide and placebo for weight loss in patients with obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo and active controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2 trial. The Lancet (2018). PMID 30122305
Singh G, Krauthamer M, Bjalme-Evans M. Wegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management. Journal of Investigative Medicine (2022). PMID 34706925

More weight management research peptides

Semaglutide sits in Volta's weight management research peptides catalogue, alongside the other compounds studied in this area. The whole range is on the full research catalogue, and the library of comparisons and guides is under peptide research.