Peptides for Weight Management
Overview
14 research peptides are currently studied for weight management. This guide ranks them by evidence strength and covers their mechanisms, safety profiles, and current clinical status.
Semaglutide — FDA Approved
Evidence Rating: A Category: Metabolic / GLP-1 Agonist
Semaglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist (MW ~4113.6 g/mol, molecular formula C187H291N45O59) with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1. It is approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic), chronic weight management (Wegovy), and non-cirrhotic MASH (Wegovy). Developed by Novo Nordisk and first...
Key claims: Causes significant weight loss; Improves blood sugar control.
Tirzepatide — FDA Approved
Evidence Rating: A Category: Metabolic / Dual GIP-GLP-1 Agonist
Tirzepatide is a first-in-class dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and chronic weight management (Zepbound) including severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. It is a 39-amino-acid peptide with a C20 fatty di-acid moi...
Key claims: Superior weight loss compared to semaglutide; Improves blood sugar control.
Liraglutide — FDA Approved
Evidence Rating: A Category: Metabolic / GLP-1 Agonist
Liraglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1. Developed by Novo Nordisk, it is approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for chronic weight management. It was the first GLP-1 agonist approved for obesity. While effect...
Key claims: Clinically significant weight loss; Improves glycemic control.
Exenatide — FDA Approved
Evidence Rating: A Category: Metabolic / GLP-1 Agonist
Exenatide is a 39-amino-acid GLP-1 receptor agonist (MW ~4186.6 g/mol) originally derived from exendin-4, a peptide found in the saliva of the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). It was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA, with Byetta (twice-daily injection) approved in April 2005 a...
Key claims: Improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes; Produces modest weight loss.
Setmelanotide — FDA Approved
Evidence Rating: A Category: Metabolic / MC4R Agonist
Setmelanotide (brand name Imcivree) is a cyclic 8-amino-acid peptide (MW ~1117.3 g/mol) that acts as a melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist. FDA-approved in November 2020 by Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, it is the first-ever treatment for chronic weight management in patients aged 6 years and older with...
Key claims: Significant weight loss in POMC deficiency obesity; Effective in LEPR deficiency obesity.
Retatrutide — Phase III / NDA Filed
Evidence Rating: B Category: Metabolic / Triple Agonist
Retatrutide is a first-in-class investigational triple hormone receptor agonist (GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon) developed by Eli Lilly. In the Phase 2 trial (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2023, n=338), the 12 mg dose achieved 24.2% mean body weight reduction at 48 weeks, with 100% of participants achieving at ...
Key claims: Unprecedented weight loss in Phase 2; Phase 3 confirms efficacy with osteoarthritis benefit.
Cagrilintide — Phase III / NDA Filed
Evidence Rating: B Category: Metabolic / Amylin Analog
Cagrilintide is a long-acting synthetic analog of human amylin, a peptide hormone co-secreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. It is being developed by Novo Nordisk both as a standalone agent and in fixed-dose combination with semaglutide (CagriSema). The CagriSema combination targets compleme...
Key claims: CagriSema achieves ~20% weight loss; Superior to semaglutide alone.
Survodutide — Phase III / NDA Filed
Evidence Rating: B Category: Metabolic / Dual Agonist
Survodutide is an investigational dual glucagon/GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma. Unlike tirzepatide (GIP/GLP-1), survodutide combines glucagon and GLP-1 agonism, adding glucagon-driven hepatic fat oxidation and energy expenditure to GLP-1-mediated appetite...
Key claims: High rates of MASH resolution; Significant weight loss.
Danuglipron — Phase III / NDA Filed
Evidence Rating: B Category: Metabolic / Oral GLP-1 Agonist (Small Molecule)
Danuglipron (PF-06882961) is a small-molecule, non-peptide oral GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Pfizer. NOTE: Danuglipron is NOT a peptide — it is a synthetic small molecule included here for comparison with peptide-based GLP-1 agonists. It is in Phase III development for type 2 diabetes and obe...
Key claims: Oral small-molecule GLP-1 agonism is feasible; Weight loss in Phase II.
Orforglipron — Phase III / NDA Filed
Evidence Rating: B Category: Metabolic / Oral GLP-1 Agonist (Small Molecule)
Orforglipron (LY3502970) is a small-molecule, non-peptide oral GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed by Eli Lilly. NOTE: Orforglipron is NOT a peptide — it is a synthetic small molecule included here for comparison with peptide-based GLP-1 agonists. It is in Phase III development (ATTAIN trial prog...
Key claims: Significant weight loss approaching injectable GLP-1 agonists; Effective glycemic control in T2D.
Mazdutide — Phase I–II Clinical Trials
Evidence Rating: C Category: Metabolic / Dual GLP-1/Glucagon Agonist
Mazdutide (IBI362) is a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist co-developed by Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly (MW ~4233.7 g/mol). It is a once-weekly injectable peptide that activates both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, aiming to combine GLP-1-mediated appetite suppression and glucose lowering with g...
Key claims: Significant weight loss in Chinese adults with obesity; Effective glycemic control.
Pemvidutide — Phase I–II Clinical Trials
Evidence Rating: C Category: Metabolic / Dual GLP-1/Glucagon Agonist
Pemvidutide (ALT-801) is a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist being developed by Altimmune for the treatment of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH). It is a once-weekly injectable peptide designed to combine GLP-1-mediated appetite suppression with glucagon-mediated increases in e...
Key claims: Clinically meaningful weight loss in obesity; Substantial reduction in liver fat.
Related Products
Retatrutide 20mg
20mg
Retatrutide 10mg
10mg
Semaglutide 10mg
10mg
Tirzepatide 10mg
10mg
Related Research News
Retatrutide Clinical Trial Results: Phase III TRIUMPH Data Shows Significant Weight Loss
Early reports from the Phase III TRIUMPH-1 trial suggest retatrutide, a novel triple agonist, has delivered substantial weight loss outcomes. These retatrutide clinical trial results indicate a potential shift in obesity treatment research, though full data analysis is pending.
Semaglutide News: Ozempic Linked to Fewer Bone Fractures Despite Greater Weight Loss
Recent data presented at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting suggests semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) may reduce bone fracture risk even with significant weight loss. This semaglutide news adds a new dimension to GLP-1 research, with implications for metabolic and skeletal health.
Retatrutide Phase III TRIUMPH-1 Results: Unprecedented Weight Loss Reported at ADA26
Early reports from the American Diabetes Association 2026 meeting suggest retatrutide delivered unprecedented weight loss in the Phase III TRIUMPH-1 trial. Researchers and industry professionals are closely watching these retatrutide clinical trial results for implications in obesity and metabolic disease treatment.