Two medicines, side by side
Semaglutide vs sitagliptin
Semaglutide and sitagliptin are both labeled for type 2 diabetes. Drugs@FDA records approvals of semaglutide since 2017 and of sitagliptin since 2006. Pharmacies paid $331.99 per mL (Ozempic 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen) and $3.77 per sitagliptin phosphate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, semaglutide is a glp-1 receptor agonist and sitagliptin a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the semaglutide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 30, 2026); the sitagliptin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 14, 2024).
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
Highlights of the sitagliptin record
Sitagliptin (Januvia) · label of November 14, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsJANUVIA ® is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. JANUVIA is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 16, 2006
- Generic labelers
- 4 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.77 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Semaglutide label of July 30, 2026, Sitagliptin label of November 14, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do semaglutide and sitagliptin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, semaglutide is a glp-1 receptor agonist and sitagliptin a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: 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.”; Sitagliptin, “Sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor, which is believed to exert its actions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by slowing the inactivation of incretin hormones.”
Only the semaglutide label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: semaglutide none approved; sitagliptin since 2025 (Drugs@FDA).
| Semaglutide | Sitagliptin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Chronic kidney disease, Weight management | Type 2 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | GLP-1 Receptor Agonist | Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | 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. | Sitagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor, which is believed to exert its actions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by slowing the inactivation of incretin hormones. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Following a single oral 100-mg dose to healthy volunteers, mean plasma AUC of sitagliptin was 8.52 μM•hr, C max was 950 nM, and apparent terminal half-life (t 1/2 ) was 12.4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 2017 | October 16, 2006 |
| First generic approved | none | December 29, 2025 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 4 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $331.99 per mL (Ozempic 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen) | $3.77 per tablet (Sitagliptin phosphate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 73,001 | 74,197 |
| 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 semaglutide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions