Semaglutide vs Retatrutide
Semaglutide is FDA-approved and rated 5/5 for evidence; Retatrutide is not FDA-approved and rated 4/5. Semaglutide has more human evidence behind it. Both are used for metabolic & weight goals.
| Compare |  SemaglutideThe GLP-1 drug that started the modern weight-loss era: Ozempic and Wegovy. |  RetatrutideEli Lilly's investigational triple-hormone agonist: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon in one weekly shot. |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic & Weight | Metabolic & Weight |
| Evidence | 5/5FDA-approved with large RCT programs (SUSTAIN, STEP, SELECT). SELECT showed a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with heart disease and overweight. | 4/5Large phase 2 RCT (NEJM 2023) and multiple positive phase 3 trials (TRIUMPH program). Not yet approved, and long-term safety data is still being collected. |
| FDA status | FDA-approved (Ozempic 2017, Wegovy 2021) | Not FDA-approved (phase 3) |
| WADA (sport) | Not prohibited | Not prohibited |
| Also known as | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, NN9535, AMP-1 (SM) | LY3437943, AMP-3 (RT), GGG tri-agonist, "Reta" |
| How it works | A modified version of the natural hormone GLP-1 with a fatty-acid side chain that binds albumin, stretching its half-life to about a week. It lowers appetite through the brain, slows stomach emptying, and increases insulin release when blood sugar is high. | A 39-amino-acid peptide with a C20 fatty-acid chain that binds albumin, giving it a long half-life. It activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors (appetite, insulin release, slower stomach emptying) like tirzepatide, and adds glucagon-receptor activity, which is thought to raise energy use and reduce liver fat. |
| Half-life | About 7 days (once-weekly dosing) | About 6 days (once-weekly dosing) |
| Commonly reported doses |
|
|
| Route | Subcutaneous (abdomen, thigh, upper arm) | Subcutaneous |
| Good once mixed | ~28 days in the fridge | ~28 days in the fridge |
| Top side effects |
|
|
| Lowest price per mg | $3.00 (10 mg vial, 40% off) | $4.00 (30 mg vial, 40% off) |
| Latest lab purity | 99.17% (lot SEM0001) | 99.92% (lot RT0004) |
Want a third? Add another peptide. Doses are commonly reported ranges, not recommendations.