Ozempic vs Wegovy: what is the difference?

Not yet medically reviewed. Fact-checked against the sources listed below on October 7, 2026.How we write and review

Last updated October 7, 2026

Both brands contain semaglutide. Ozempic's US approval is for type 2 diabetes. The US Ozempic label's maximum is 2 mg once weekly. Wegovy's US approval is for weight reduction, heart risk reduction and a liver condition, and its US label allows up to 7.2 mg once weekly for some adults using it for weight reduction. Your doctor sets your dose.

Key takeaways

Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Both are injected under the skin once a week.
In the US, Ozempic is approved for blood sugar control and heart and kidney risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight reduction, heart risk reduction in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, and a liver condition (MASH).
US label maximums: Ozempic 2 mg once weekly (Revised: 05/2026). Wegovy 7.2 mg once weekly for some adults using it for weight reduction (Revised: 6/2026). Your doctor sets your dose.
The US Wegovy label says using it with other semaglutide products, or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended.
Ozempic and Wegovy are both listed as registered prescription drugs (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Their Philippine package inserts list type 2 diabetes for Ozempic and weight management for Wegovy.

Same molecule, different brands

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. They are sold as separate brands, each with its own label, approved uses, doses and pens.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (US Wegovy label). It is a GLP-1 analogue with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1, the body's own hormone, and it selectively binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor (US Ozempic label).

What it does, according to the US labels:

Appetite. GLP-1 is a natural regulator of appetite and calorie intake. Semaglutide lowers calorie intake, likely by affecting appetite (US Wegovy label).
Blood sugar. It raises insulin release and lowers glucagon release, both in a glucose-dependent manner. A minor delay in stomach emptying after meals also contributes (US Ozempic label).
Long action. It binds to albumin, a blood protein, which gives it a long half-life (US Ozempic label). Both brands are injected once a week.

Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Rybelsus, a tablet. For how semaglutide compares with other medicines in this group, see GLP-1 medicines explained.

Approved uses on each label

The biggest difference between the two brands is what each one is approved for. In the US, Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes medicine. Wegovy is a weight management medicine with added heart and liver uses.

Where	Ozempic	Wegovy
US (injection)	With diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. To reduce the risk of major heart and blood vessel events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. To reduce the risk of kidney decline, end-stage kidney disease and heart death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease	With a reduced calorie diet and more physical activity: to reduce excess weight and keep it off long term in adults and children aged 12 and older with obesity, or adults with overweight and at least one weight-related condition. To reduce the risk of major heart and blood vessel events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight. To treat noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (stages F2 to F3) in adults, under accelerated approval
US (tablets)	Ozempic tablets: blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, and heart risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk	Wegovy tablets: heart risk reduction in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, and weight reduction in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition
EU	Not recorded here	Weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition
Philippines (Philippine package insert)	Adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise. To reduce the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. No weight or kidney indication	Weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition. The FlexTouch inserts also cover adolescents aged 12 and older with obesity and body weight above 60 kg

The Philippine Ozempic column comes from the Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326). One of the four Ozempic inserts, linked for BR-1346, lists only the type 2 diabetes indication. The Philippine Wegovy column comes from the Philippine package insert for Wegovy (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1468), and the leaflet linked for the single-dose pens (BR-1473) covers adults only.

The US Ozempic kidney indication rests on the FLOW trial, which the US label presents as its kidney outcomes trial. FLOW (NEJM 2024) followed 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease for a median of 3.4 years. Major kidney disease events were 24% lower with semaglutide 1 mg than with placebo (hazard ratio 0.76).

Weight management is not among the US uses recorded for Ozempic, and blood sugar control is not among the US uses recorded for Wegovy.

Dose schedules on the US labels

Both labels start at the same low weekly dose and raise it step by step. The labels say this is to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. After that, the maintenance and maximum doses differ.

These are the US label schedules, quoted from the US prescribing information. They are not personal advice. Your doctor sets your dose. The dose schedules in the Philippine package inserts are not recorded here.

	Ozempic injection, US label (Revised: 05/2026)	Wegovy injection, US label (Revised: 6/2026)
Starting dose	0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks	0.25 mg once weekly, weeks 1 to 4
Raising the dose	0.5 mg after 4 weeks. If more blood sugar control is needed after at least 4 weeks, 1 mg, then 2 mg	0.5 mg weeks 5 to 8; 1 mg weeks 9 to 12; 1.7 mg weeks 13 to 16
Maintenance dose	0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg once weekly, based on blood sugar control. 1 mg for type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease	Weight reduction in adults: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg (recommended). Heart risk reduction: 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg. Weight reduction in children aged 12 and older: 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg. MASH: 2.4 mg, which can be lowered to 1.7 mg if not tolerated
Maximum	2 mg once weekly	7.2 mg once weekly, for adults using it for weight reduction who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks when more weight reduction is clinically indicated
When to inject	Once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals	Once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals

Other points from the labels:

The Wegovy label says to consider delaying a dose increase by 4 weeks if a dose is not tolerated.
The Wegovy label says to consider treatment response and tolerability when choosing the maintenance dose.
The Wegovy label says people with diabetes should have their blood glucose monitored before and during treatment.

Pens and forms

Ozempic and Wegovy injections come in different pens and syringes. Semaglutide also comes as tablets in the US.

Form	Ozempic	Wegovy
Injection devices (US label)	Single-patient-use pens holding several weekly doses, used with NovoFine Plus needles, or single-dose prefilled syringes	Single-dose pens, single-dose syringes with built-in needles, or a single-patient-use pen (Wegovy FlexTouch) holding 4 weekly doses
Where to inject	Under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, using a different spot each week within the same area	Under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm
Tablets (US)	Ozempic tablets, for type 2 diabetes	Wegovy tablets, taken once daily on an empty stomach in the morning with up to 4 ounces of water, followed by a wait of at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines

The Ozempic label says a pen must never be shared between people, even if the needle is changed. The Ozempic label also says the solution should look clear and colorless before use.

Storage on the Philippine package inserts. The Philippine package insert applies to products registered in the Philippines.

Device	Before first use	After first use or out of the fridge
Ozempic pen (BR-1326 insert)	Refrigerator, 2°C to 8°C	"may be stored for a maximum of 6 weeks. Store below 30°C or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C)."
Wegovy FlexTouch pen (BR-1468 insert)	Refrigerator, 2°C to 8°C	6 weeks, below 30°C or in a refrigerator
Wegovy single-dose pen (BR-1473 leaflet)	Refrigerator, 2°C to 8°C	"may be stored unrefrigerated for up to 28 days at a temperature not above 30°C"

Storage on the US labels. For the Ozempic pen and the Wegovy FlexTouch pen after first use, the US labels allow 56 days rather than 6 weeks.

Device	Before first use	After first use or out of the fridge
Ozempic pen	Refrigerator, 2 to 8 C, in the original carton	Up to 56 days at 15 to 30 C or in the refrigerator
Ozempic single-dose syringe	Refrigerator, 2 to 8 C	If needed, up to 28 days at 8 to 30 C
Wegovy single-dose pen or syringe	Refrigerator, 2 to 8 C	If needed, before the cap is removed, up to 28 days at 8 to 30 C
Wegovy FlexTouch pen	Refrigerator, 2 to 8 C	Up to 56 days at 15 to 30 C or in the refrigerator
Wegovy tablets	20 to 25 C, in the original bottle, in a dry place	Not applicable

Neither injection should be frozen or used if it has been frozen. The FDA Philippines Verification Portal lists both brands as solutions for injection.

Key trials behind each brand's doses

The trials below tested semaglutide at the doses used on each brand's label. Ozempic maintenance doses are 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg. The recommended Wegovy maintenance dose for weight reduction in adults is 2.4 mg.

Trials at Ozempic doses (type 2 diabetes).

Trial	Who took part	Doses	Length	Main result
SUSTAIN-6 (NEJM 2016)	3,297 people with type 2 diabetes	Semaglutide 0.5 or 1.0 mg vs placebo	104 weeks	Heart death, nonfatal heart attack or nonfatal stroke: 6.6% vs 8.9% (hazard ratio 0.74). Retinopathy complications were more frequent with semaglutide (hazard ratio 1.76)
SURPASS-2 (NEJM 2021, open label)	1,879 people with type 2 diabetes	Semaglutide 1 mg vs tirzepatide	40 weeks	HbA1c fell by 1.86 percentage points with semaglutide 1 mg

Other trials of Ozempic for blood sugar control are not recorded in the sources for this page.

Trials at the Wegovy dose (semaglutide 2.4 mg).

Trial	Who took part	Length	Main result
STEP 1 (NEJM 2021)	1,961 adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes	68 weeks	Weight -14.9% vs -2.4% with placebo
STEP 2 (Lancet 2021)	1,210 adults with a BMI of 27 or more and type 2 diabetes	68 weeks	Weight -9.6% vs -3.4% with placebo
STEP 3 (JAMA 2021)	611 adults with obesity, or overweight with a condition, without diabetes, with intensive behavioral therapy	68 weeks	Weight -16.0% vs -5.7% with placebo
STEP 4 (JAMA 2021)	803 adults who reached 2.4 mg in a 20-week run-in	48 more weeks	Weight -7.9% with continued semaglutide vs +6.9% after switching to placebo
STEP 5 (Nat Med 2022)	304 adults with obesity, or overweight with a condition, without diabetes	104 weeks	Weight -15.2% vs -2.6% with placebo
STEP 6	401 adults from Japan and South Korea with obesity	68 weeks	Abdominal visceral fat area, in a subset, -40.0% vs -6.9% with placebo
SELECT (NEJM 2023)	17,604 adults aged 45 or older with cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more, without diabetes	Mean follow-up 39.8 months	Heart death, nonfatal heart attack or nonfatal stroke: 6.5% vs 8.0% (hazard ratio 0.80)
STEP-HFpEF (NEJM 2023)	529 people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and a BMI of 30 or more	52 weeks	Symptom score (KCCQ) improved 16.6 vs 8.7 points. Weight -13.3% vs -2.6%

STEP 2 also had a semaglutide 1.0 mg group, an Ozempic dose. Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 63.5% with 2.4 mg, 57.5% with 1.0 mg and 34.3% with placebo.

After stopping. In the STEP 1 extension, one year after semaglutide 2.4 mg and the lifestyle program were stopped, people regained two-thirds of their earlier weight loss, and most heart and metabolic improvements moved back towards baseline.

These trials enrolled different people for different lengths of time, so their numbers cannot be compared directly. Trial averages do not predict how any one person will respond.

Side effects and warnings by label

The most common side effects on both US labels affect the stomach and gut. Because both brands contain semaglutide, their warnings overlap. Each fact below is recorded from the label named.

Most common side effects (5% or more of patients).

Ozempic US label	Wegovy US label
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation	Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dysesthesia (altered skin sensation), headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating, burping, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, acid reflux, hair loss

Warnings.

Warning	Recorded from
Boxed warning: semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. It is unknown whether it causes them, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans	Wegovy label
Must not be used with a personal or family history of MTC, with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or after a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or its ingredients	Wegovy label
Acute pancreatitis, including fatal cases, seen with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Stop if pancreatitis is suspected	Wegovy label
Gallbladder disease: gallstones in 1.6% vs 0.7% with placebo, and gallbladder inflammation in 0.6% vs 0.2%, in adult weight trials	Wegovy label
Low blood sugar when taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea, including severe low blood sugar	Wegovy label
Acute kidney injury, sometimes needing dialysis, mostly after dehydration from stomach and gut side effects	Wegovy label
Diabetic retinopathy complications reported in trials	Wegovy label
Resting heart rate rose by a mean of 1 to 4 beats per minute vs placebo	Wegovy label
May harm an unborn baby. Stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy because of semaglutide's long half-life	Wegovy label
Severe gastrointestinal side effects. Not recommended with severe gastroparesis	Ozempic label
Serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis and angioedema	Ozempic label
Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation. Tell your healthcare provider about any planned surgery or procedure	Ozempic label
Delays stomach emptying and may affect how other oral medicines are absorbed	Ozempic label

A warning recorded from one label is not necessarily missing from the other. These are the facts recorded in the sources for this page.

Philippine registration

Both brands are listed as registered prescription drugs in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Every record is a solution for injection under the skin, classified "Prescription Drug (Rx)" and valid on that date. The importer and distributor is Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Philippines), Inc.

The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) lists type 2 diabetes, and reducing the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. The Philippine package insert for Wegovy (linked from record BR-1468) covers weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with a weight-related condition.

FDA Philippines registration records. The strengths below are the registered product forms, not dosing advice. Your doctor sets your dose.

Brand	Form	Strength as registered	Registration number	Valid until
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.19 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1346	October 28, 2027
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.19 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1328	October 15, 2026
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	0.5 mg/0.37 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1327	October 28, 2027
Ozempic	Solution for injection (SC)	1 mg/0.74 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1326	November 17, 2027
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.37 mL (0.68 mg/mL)	BR-1468	February 28, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	0.25 mg/0.5 mL (0.5 mg/mL)	BR-1477	May 22, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	0.5 mg/0.37 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1470	February 28, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	0.5 mg/0.5 mL (1 mg/mL)	BR-1476	May 22, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	1 mg/0.75 mL (1.34 mg/mL)	BR-1471	February 28, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	1 mg/0.5 mL (2 mg/mL)	BR-1475	May 22, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	1.7 mg/0.75 mL (2.27 mg/mL)	BR-1472	February 28, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	1.7 mg/0.75 mL (2.27 mg/mL)	BR-1474	May 22, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	2.4 mg/0.75 mL (3.2 mg/mL)	BR-1469	February 28, 2029
Wegovy	Solution for injection (SC)	2.4 mg/0.75 mL (3.2 mg/mL)	BR-1473	May 22, 2029

The portal record for Ozempic BR-1328 shows issuance on September 29, 2026 and expiry on October 15, 2026.

Online sales and fakes. In 2024, FDA Philippines said it was concerned about Ozempic being sold online without a prescription, was investigating online sellers, and asked the public to report illegal online sales of prescription drugs to ereport@fda.gov.ph. In June 2024, WHO Medical Product Alert N°2/2024 reported falsified batches of Ozempic and advised getting medical products only from authorized or licensed suppliers. A search of the FDA Philippines website for "Ozempic" and "Wegovy" on October 7, 2026 found no advisory naming either. This was not a check of every advisory.

Prescriptions. Under the Philippine Pharmacy Act (RA 10918), prescription medicines may be dispensed only by a registered and licensed pharmacist, on a valid prescription from a physician, dentist or veterinarian, and only through a retail drug outlet licensed by FDA Philippines.

Price. This page does not list prices for Ozempic or Wegovy.

To check whether a product is registered, search the FDA Philippines verification portal at verification.fda.gov.ph. For more on Philippine rules, see are peptides legal in the Philippines.

Switching between them and using them together

The only label statement recorded here on this question is about combining. The US Wegovy label says using Wegovy tablets or Wegovy injection together with other semaglutide-containing products, or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended. Ozempic contains semaglutide.

The sources for this page give no schedule for switching from Ozempic to Wegovy or the other way. Whether to switch, and at what dose, is a decision for your doctor.

For a comparison of Ozempic with the tirzepatide brand Mounjaro, see Ozempic vs Mounjaro.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

They contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they are different brands with different approved uses, dose schedules and pens. In the US, Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for weight reduction, heart risk reduction and a liver condition called MASH.

What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

The main differences are the approved uses and the doses on each label. The US Ozempic label has maintenance doses of 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg once weekly. The US Wegovy label has maintenance doses of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg for weight reduction in adults, with a maximum of 7.2 mg for some adults. Your doctor sets your dose.

Is Ozempic approved for weight loss?

Weight management is not among the US approved uses of Ozempic recorded here. The Philippine package insert for Ozempic (linked from FDA Philippines Verification Portal record BR-1326) has no weight management indication either. In the US and the EU, Wegovy is approved for weight management.

Is Wegovy approved for type 2 diabetes?

Blood sugar control is not among the US Wegovy uses recorded here. The Wegovy label says people with diabetes should have their blood glucose monitored before and during treatment. In STEP 2, the Wegovy dose was tested for weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes.

What is the maximum dose of Ozempic and Wegovy?

The US Ozempic label (Revised: 05/2026) gives a maximum recommended dose of 2 mg once weekly. The US Wegovy label (Revised: 6/2026) allows up to 7.2 mg once weekly for adults who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks when more weight reduction is clinically indicated. Your doctor sets your dose.

Can I take Ozempic and Wegovy together?

The US Wegovy label says using Wegovy together with other semaglutide-containing products, or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended. Ozempic contains semaglutide.

Can I switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?

The sources for this page give no switching schedule between the two. Whether to switch, and at what dose, is a decision for your doctor.

Are Ozempic and Wegovy registered in the Philippines?

Yes. Both are listed as registered prescription drugs (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026): Ozempic under four solution for injection records and Wegovy under ten. Their Philippine package inserts list type 2 diabetes and, in three of its four inserts, heart risk reduction for Ozempic, and weight management for Wegovy.

Do I need a prescription for Ozempic or Wegovy in the Philippines?

Yes. Both are listed as prescription drugs (Rx) in the FDA Philippines Verification Portal (checked October 7, 2026). Under the Philippine Pharmacy Act (RA 10918), a pharmacist may dispense a prescription medicine only on a valid prescription from a physician, dentist or veterinarian.

Do Ozempic and Wegovy have the same side effects?

The most common side effects on both US labels are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. The Wegovy label lists more common side effects, including headache, fatigue, dizziness and hair loss.

Do Ozempic and Wegovy come as tablets?

Both brands are injected once weekly. In the US, semaglutide also comes as Wegovy tablets, taken once daily, and as Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes. In the Philippines, the FDA Philippines Verification Portal lists Ozempic and Wegovy as solutions for injection, and oral semaglutide tablets under the brand Rybelsus (checked October 7, 2026).

How much do Ozempic and Wegovy cost in the Philippines?

This page does not list prices for Ozempic or Wegovy.

Sources

This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed doctor before starting any treatment.