The GLP-1 era ships one genuinely confusing convention: each molecule sells under different brand names per indication. Ozempic and Wegovy are the same drug; Ozempic and Mounjaro are not; Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same; none of them are retatrutide. Search data shows tens of thousands of people per month asking 'are X and Y the same' - this page is the answer key.
The decoder table
| Molecule | Diabetes brand | Weight-loss brand | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Ozempic (inj), Rybelsus (oral) | Wegovy | GLP-1 | Approved |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro | Zepbound | GLP-1 + GIP | Approved |
| Liraglutide | Victoza | Saxenda | GLP-1 (daily) | Approved, older |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | - | GLP-1 | Approved (T2D only) |
| Exenatide | Byetta, Bydureon | - | GLP-1 (first-gen) | Approved, fading |
| Retatrutide | - | - | GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon | Phase 3 - no brand yet |
| Survodutide | - | - | GLP-1 + glucagon | Phase 3 - no brand yet |
| Orforglipron | - | - | GLP-1 (oral, non-peptide) | Phase 3 |
The three rules that resolve every confusion
- Same molecule, two coats: manufacturers launch one brand for type 2 diabetes and another for obesity - identical active ingredient, different label, dosing ceiling, and insurance pathway. Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro/Zepbound are both this pattern.
- Different molecule, same family: semaglutide and tirzepatide are competitors, not versions of each other - tirzepatide adds a second receptor (GIP) and posted stronger trial numbers.
- No brand name = not approved: retatrutide and survodutide have no consumer brand because they aren't drugs yet. Anything sold under those names is gray market by definition.
Why the same drug has two prices and two insurance answers
Because insurers cover indications, not molecules. A plan may cover Mounjaro (diabetes) while excluding Zepbound (obesity) - identical tirzepatide in both pens. This is the mechanical reason for the 'Ozempic for weight loss' phenomenon: diabetes-label coverage leaking into obesity use, and manufacturers eventually launching the second brand to formalize it.
Compounded names, decoded
'Compounded semaglutide' means the molecule prepared by a pharmacy rather than the brand pen - a channel that boomed during shortages and is now restricted with narrow exceptions. It is never 'generic Ozempic' (no GLP-1 generics exist in the US yet), and products marketed with tweaks like 'semaglutide + B12' are compounding-era artifacts, not distinct drugs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?
Same molecule (semaglutide), different products: Ozempic is labeled for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight management at higher maximum doses. One drug, two brands, two insurance pathways.
Is Zepbound the same as Mounjaro?
Yes - both are tirzepatide. Mounjaro carries the diabetes label, Zepbound the obesity label. The pen you get depends on the indication your prescription and insurance run through.
Is tirzepatide the same as Ozempic?
No. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) and semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) are different molecules from the same family - tirzepatide adds GIP-receptor agonism and showed greater average weight loss in trials.
Is retatrutide the same as tirzepatide?
No - retatrutide is tirzepatide's in-development successor, adding a third receptor (glucagon). It has no brand name because it isn't approved; our retatrutide hub tracks its status monthly.
Are Ozempic and semaglutide the same thing?
Semaglutide is the drug; Ozempic is one branded form of it (the diabetes injection). Wegovy and Rybelsus are the same molecule in weight-loss and oral forms respectively.