Ozempic vs Retatrutide: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Ozempic is FDA approved and sold now; Retatrutide is not FDA approved and is only available in trials. Ozempic is approved for kidney disease in type 2 diabetes, along with type 2 diabetes and heart risk.
A quick look at Ozempic
Its half-life is about 1 week. After 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In SUSTAIN 1, people with type 2 diabetes lost 4.7 kg over 30 weeks, compared with 1.2 kg on placebo.
In US dollars, monthly prices cover the list price plus self-pay offers. Each figure comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
A side-by-side look at Ozempic and Retatrutide
| Ozempic | Retatrutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Ozempic | Retatrutide |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | Not listed |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection | Not listed |
| Approved for | Kidney disease in type 2 diabetes, along with type 2 diabetes and heart risk | Not listed |
| First FDA approval | 2017 | Not listed |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 20.3% vs 6.1% on placebo | Not listed |
| List price | $1,027.51 per pen | Not listed |
| Self-pay from | $199 per month | Not listed |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | Not listed |
| Weight loss pct | Not listed | 22.6% |
| Weeks | Not listed | 80 weeks |
| Expected | Not listed | BLA submission Q1 2027 |
| Expected approval | Not listed | BLA submission Q1 2027 |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), Novo Nordisk pricing, TrumpRx.
Comparing coverage and cost
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | for up to 3 months, the price starts at $25 each month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
| Ozempic | For the initial 2 fills, the Ozempic pen intro self-pay price covers 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses | $199 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay options include an Ozempic pen in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg | $349 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen 2 mg | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $199 per month |
In November 2026, price checks used Novo Nordisk pricing, NovoCare, TrumpRx.
Where Retatrutide stands
| Retatrutide | |
|---|---|
| Weight loss pct | 22.6% |
| Weeks | 80 weeks |
| Expected | BLA submission Q1 2027 |
| Expected approval | BLA submission Q1 2027 |
Source: prnewswire.com.