Two medicines, side by side
Dulaglutide vs semaglutide
Dulaglutide and semaglutide are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of dulaglutide since 2014 and of semaglutide since 2017. Pharmacies paid $487.57 per mL (Trulicity 0.75 mg/0.5 mL pen) and $331.99 per mL (Ozempic 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Dulaglutide, “TRULICITY contains dulaglutide, which is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 90% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1 (7-37).”; Semaglutide, “Semaglutide acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the target for native GLP-1.”
Check it at the source: the dulaglutide FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 16, 2026); the semaglutide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 30, 2026).
Highlights of the dulaglutide record
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) · label of June 16, 2026
RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS In male and female rats, dulaglutide causes a dose-related and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) after lifetime exposure.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRULICITY ® is indicated: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 2014
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $487.57 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the semaglutide record
Semaglutide (Ozempic) · label of July 30, 2026
RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS
In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether OZEMPIC causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsOZEMPIC is indicated: • as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. • to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 5, 2017
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $331.99 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dulaglutide label of June 16, 2026, Semaglutide label of July 30, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dulaglutide and semaglutide differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Dulaglutide, “TRULICITY contains dulaglutide, which is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 90% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1 (7-37).”; Semaglutide, “Semaglutide acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the target for native GLP-1.”
Both are in FDA's class GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
| Dulaglutide | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | Type 2 diabetes, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Chronic kidney disease, Weight management |
| Pharmacologic class | GLP-1 Receptor Agonist | GLP-1 Receptor Agonist |
| How it works (label) | TRULICITY contains dulaglutide, which is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 90% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1 (7-37). | Semaglutide is a GLP-1 analogue with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1. Semaglutide acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor, the target for native GLP-1. |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of dulaglutide was approximately 5 days. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 18, 2014 | December 5, 2017 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $487.57 per mL (Trulicity 0.75 mg/0.5 mL pen) | $331.99 per mL (Ozempic 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 88,160 | 73,001 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to dulaglutide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions