All FDA-Approved GLP-1 Medications: The Complete 2026 Guide

There are now nine FDA-approved GLP-1 medications on the US market, split across two manufacturers and covering indications from type 2 diabetes to chronic weight management. The landscape changed significantly in late 2025 and early 2026 with the arrival of the first oral GLP-1 pills for weight loss.

This guide covers every approved drug — what it is, who it's for, what it costs, and how it fits into the bigger picture.

The Quick-Reference Table

Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes but are widely prescribed off-label for weight loss.

FDA-Approved for Weight Loss

Four medications carry FDA approval specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27) with a weight-related condition.

Wegovy (semaglutide injection)

Wegovy is the injectable form of semaglutide approved for weight loss. It's given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection and follows the same titration schedule as Ozempic — starting at 0.25 mg and stepping up to a 2.4 mg maintenance dose over approximately five months.

Clinical results: Participants in the STEP trials lost an average of 15% of body weight at 68 weeks, the strongest result for a GLP-1 medication at the time of its approval.

Retail price without insurance: ~$1,350/month. With the Novo Nordisk savings program for self-pay patients, introductory pricing starts at $199/month for the first two fills.

Best for: People who prefer a weekly injection, have insurance coverage, or are already familiar with injectable GLP-1s.

Wegovy Pill (oral semaglutide)

Approved in December 2025, the Wegovy pill brings the same active ingredient — semaglutide — into a once-daily oral format. Because semaglutide is a peptide that digestive enzymes would normally break down, the pill uses a higher dose (up to 25 mg) with a special absorption-enhancing formulation.

Clinical results: The OASIS 4 trial showed an average weight loss of 13.6% at 64 weeks at the highest dose. Participants who continued treatment lost an average of 17% of their body weight.

Key requirement: Must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of plain water, at least 30 minutes before eating or taking other medications.

Retail price without insurance: $149/month for the lowest doses; up to $300/month at higher doses under Novo Nordisk's self-pay program (valid through August 2026).

Best for: People who want the proven semaglutide molecule without weekly injections and can commit to the morning fasting window.

Zepbound (tirzepatide)

Zepbound is Eli Lilly's injectable weight loss drug and the first in its class to target two hormones simultaneously — GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). This dual mechanism is why it consistently outperforms semaglutide in head-to-head trial comparisons.

Clinical results: The SURMOUNT-1 trial showed an average weight loss of 20.9% at the highest dose (15 mg) at 72 weeks. That's the highest average weight loss ever recorded for an obesity medication in a phase 3 trial.

Also available as: The Zepbound KwikPen — a multi-dose injectable pen that delivers a full month's medication in a single device, available through Amazon Pharmacy and select pharmacies.

Retail price without insurance: ~$1,060/month list price. Lilly's self-pay program offers the KwikPen starting at $299/month through December 2026.

Best for: People who want maximum weight loss efficacy, can afford the out-of-pocket cost, or have insurance that covers it.

Foundayo (orforglipron)

Foundayo is the newest and most distinctive entry: the first small-molecule, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for weight loss. Approved on April 1, 2026, it's a once-daily pill with no food or water restrictions — you can take it any time of day with or without food.

This matters because it's fundamentally different from the Wegovy pill. Foundayo doesn't use a peptide molecule at all, which means it doesn't face the same digestive degradation challenges and doesn't require a fasting window.

Clinical results: The ATTAIN trials showed an average weight loss of 12.4% at the highest dose (17.2 mg) at 72 weeks — meaningful weight loss, though somewhat less than the injectable options. Researchers also found improvements in cholesterol and blood pressure.

Retail price without insurance: $149/month for the lowest dose; up to $349/month at the highest dose. With the Lilly savings card for commercial insurance patients: $25/month. Medicare coverage expected starting July 1, 2026.

Best for: People who want the convenience of a daily pill without any dietary timing restrictions, or those who haven't responded as well to semaglutide.

Saxenda (liraglutide)

Saxenda was the first GLP-1 medication approved specifically for weight loss, back in 2014. Unlike the newer weekly injectables, it requires a daily injection — a significant drawback that has made it far less popular since Wegovy arrived.

Clinical results: Average weight loss of 5–8% in clinical trials, substantially less than the newer GLP-1 options.

Retail price without insurance: ~$1,400/month, making it among the most expensive options despite its older status.

Best for: Saxenda is rarely a first choice in 2026. It may be relevant for patients who have tried and tolerated liraglutide (Victoza) for diabetes and are transitioning to weight management, or in specific insurance situations where it remains the only covered option.

Approved for Type 2 Diabetes (Often Prescribed Off-Label for Weight Loss)

These medications are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, but because they produce significant weight loss as a secondary effect, they are frequently prescribed off-label for weight management alone. Off-label prescribing is legal and common, but insurance is much less likely to cover diabetes drugs for a weight-loss-only indication.

Ozempic (semaglutide injection)

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient — semaglutide — at the same weekly injection doses. The difference is the approved indication and the FDA-sanctioned maximum dose: Ozempic tops out at 2 mg for diabetes, while Wegovy goes to 2.4 mg for weight loss.

In practice, many people prescribed Ozempic for weight loss experience similar results to Wegovy at lower doses. The main reason providers prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss is insurance: some plans that won't cover Wegovy will cover Ozempic if a diabetes diagnosis is documented.

Retail price without insurance: ~$900/month.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Mounjaro is the diabetes counterpart to Zepbound — same active ingredient (tirzepatide), same dual GLP-1/GIP mechanism, same injection schedule. It was approved for type 2 diabetes in 2022, a year before Zepbound received its weight-loss indication.

Like Ozempic/Wegovy, the practical difference between Mounjaro and Zepbound for most patients is insurance coverage and labeling. Both produce the same clinical weight loss results.

Retail price without insurance: ~$1,000/month.

Rybelsus (oral semaglutide)

Rybelsus is the original oral semaglutide pill, approved for type 2 diabetes in 2019. It uses the same technology as the new Wegovy pill — a fasting window is required — but at lower doses (up to 14 mg vs. 25 mg for Wegovy).

At the doses approved for diabetes, Rybelsus produces modest weight loss (roughly 3–5%), far less than Wegovy. It is not approved for weight loss and is not typically prescribed for that purpose in 2026.

Retail price without insurance: ~$800/month.

Victoza (liraglutide)

Victoza is the diabetes predecessor to Saxenda — same active ingredient (liraglutide), daily injection, approved for type 2 diabetes in 2010. Like Saxenda, it has largely been supplanted by the newer weekly injectables in clinical practice.

Retail price without insurance: ~$900/month.

How the Medications Compare

By weight loss efficacy (highest to lowest, clinical trial averages)

1. Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — ~21% at highest dose
2. Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide injection) — ~15%
3. Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) — ~14–17%
4. Foundayo (orforglipron) — ~12%
5. Saxenda / Victoza (liraglutide) — ~5–8%

   Important caveat: These are averages from different trials with different populations and durations. Direct head-to-head comparisons within the same trial are the most meaningful, and even those don't predict how you will respond.

By form factor

By manufacturer

Novo Nordisk makes: Wegovy (inj + pill), Ozempic, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza

Eli Lilly makes: Zepbound, Mounjaro, Foundayo

Which One Can You Get Online?

All nine medications require a prescription. The FDA-approved brand-name versions are available through major telehealth providers, but coverage varies significantly:

• Most widely available via telehealth: Wegovy (both forms), Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro
• Newer, still expanding availability: Foundayo (launched April 6, 2026 via LillyDirect; rolling out to telehealth platforms)
• Rarely prescribed via telehealth today: Saxenda, Victoza, Rybelsus (limited demand given newer options) Our full provider comparison breaks down which telehealth platforms carry which medications and what they charge.

A Note on Compounded GLP-1s

During a period when Wegovy and Zepbound were on the FDA shortage list (2022–2024), compounding pharmacies produced lower-cost versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide. That shortage has ended.

In February 2026, the FDA sent warning letters to more than 30 telehealth companies for making misleading claims about compounded GLP-1 products. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved — they have not been tested for safety, efficacy, or quality by the FDA, and are not the same as the brand-name drugs in this guide.

This site covers only FDA-approved brand-name medications and the providers who prescribe them.