Semaglutide vs Retatrutide: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Semaglutide is FDA approved and sold now; Retatrutide is not FDA approved and is only available in trials. Semaglutide is approved for weight loss and MASH liver disease, plus Type 2 diabetes and heart risk, and kidney disease among people with type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy in brief
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, while five half-lives (35 d) leave about 3%.
In STEP 1, 68 weeks, the result was 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Monthly figures are listed in US dollars for the list price and self-pay offers. The maker's price page gives each figure.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Retatrutide and Semaglutide side by side
| Semaglutide | Retatrutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | Not listed |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection or daily tablet | Not listed |
| Approved for | Weight loss and MASH liver disease, plus Type 2 diabetes and heart risk, and kidney disease among people with type 2 diabetes | Not listed |
| First FDA approval | 2017 | Not listed |
| Average weight loss in trials | 14.9% (STEP 1, 68 weeks) | 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 | $149 per month | Not listed |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 per month, eligible Part D | 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.
Price and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | the monthly price starts at $25 for up to 3 months |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
 Wegovy | List price before insurance | $1,349.02 per month |
| Wegovy | Wegovy Savings Offer (insured) | from $25 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 1.5 mg | $149 per month |
| Wegovy | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Wegovy, eligible Part D) | $50 per month |
 Rybelsus | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per 30 tablets |
| Rybelsus | RYBELSUS Savings Offer (insured) | for 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months, fills start at $25 |
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.