Two medicines, side by side
Semaglutide vs tirzepatide
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are both labeled for heart attack and coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and weight management. Drugs@FDA records approvals of semaglutide since 2017 and of tirzepatide since 2022. Pharmacies paid $331.99 per mL (Ozempic 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen) and $538.68 per mL (Mounjaro 10 mg/0.5 mL pen) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, semaglutide is a glp-1 receptor agonist and tirzepatide a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist.
Check it at the source: the semaglutide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 30, 2026); the tirzepatide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 29, 2026).
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 tirzepatide record
Tirzepatide (Zepbound) · label of July 29, 2026
RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS In both male and female rats, tirzepatide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether MOUNJARO causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsMOUNJARO ® 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
- May 13, 2022
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $538.68 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Semaglutide label of July 30, 2026, Tirzepatide label of July 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do semaglutide and tirzepatide differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, semaglutide is a glp-1 receptor agonist and tirzepatide a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist.
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.”; Tirzepatide, “Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
| Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Chronic kidney disease, Weight management | Type 2 diabetes, Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Weight management |
| Pharmacologic class | GLP-1 Receptor Agonist | GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptor Agonist |
| 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. | Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It contains a C20 fatty diacid that enables albumin binding and prolongs the half-life. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination The apparent population mean clearance of tirzepatide is 0.061 L/h with an elimination half-life of approximately 5 days, enabling once-weekly dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 2017 | May 13, 2022 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| 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) | $538.68 per mL (Mounjaro 10 mg/0.5 mL pen) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 73,001 | 160,663 |
| 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