Product Overview
Classification: GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA).
Target: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It simulates the hormone GLP-1 secreted by the human intestine, activates related receptors, and achieves three core functions:
- Blood sugar reduction
By activating GLP-1 receptors, it stimulates insulin secretion (glucose-dependent, low risk of hypoglycemia) and inhibits glucagon secretion.
Suitable for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), especially for obese or high-risk cardiovascular patients.
- Weight loss
Delays gastric emptying, increases satiety, and reduces appetite.
Wegovy® (2.4 mg/week) is approved for obese (BMI ≥ 30) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27) patients with complications.
- Cardiovascular protection
Reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) (such as myocardial infarction, stroke), independent of glucose-lowering effects (NEJM, 2016).
It is these mechanisms that make Semaglutide unexpectedly become a "new star for weight loss" while lowering blood sugar. Clinical trials show that overweight patients can lose an average of 15.3 kg after using it, and diabetic patients can also lose about 6.5 kg.
Oral VS Injection
There are two main formulations of semaglutide:
Injection (subcutaneous, once weekly)
Oral tablet (once daily)
Unique advantages of oral semaglutide
- Non-invasive administration, Better patient compliance;
Avoids injection-related discomfort (pain, local reactions) and risks of operational errors. And suitable for patients who take medication for a long time and have psychological barriers to injections.
- More flexible medication methods
No need for refrigeration (injections need to be stored at 2-8℃, oral grade can be stored at room temperature after opening).
Suitable for travel or outings.
- Suitable for early diabetes management
Low doses (3mg/7mg) can be used for pre-diabetes or mild blood sugar control, while injections are usually used for moderate to severe patients.
Common side effects
- Gastrointestinal reactions
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (mostly occur in the early stage of medication, and gradually alleviate as the body adapts).
- Potential risks
Animal experiments suggest that it may increase the risk of thyroid tumors (it is not clear in humans);
Some men may experience erectile dysfunction.