Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (671 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A glucagon-like peptide and glp-1 agonist used to enhance glycemic control of TYPE 2 diabetes mellitus, and for obesity management.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ozempic; Rybelsus; Wegovy.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Glucagon-Like Peptides
Related concepts
- Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Obesity Management
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,516 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Semaglutide” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,354 of them (93.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 2,354 records.
Reviews account for 630 records (25.0%) and meta-analyses for 184. Randomized controlled trials number 282 (11.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 172 |
| 2020 onward | 2,354 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 630 | 25.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 184 | 7.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 282 | 11.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Semaglutide"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduced-Frequency GLP1 Therapy Maintains Weight, Body Composition, and Metabolic Syndrome Improvements: A Case Series | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 6 | cc by PMID 41732031 · DOI · PMC13250739 |
| Semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF: a report from a global federated research network | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 41711744 · DOI · PMC13108322 |
| Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 41991158 · DOI · PMC13220942 |
Reduced-Frequency GLP1 Therapy Maintains Weight, Body Composition, and Metabolic Syndrome Improvements: A Case Series [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate whether reduced-frequency dosing of GLP1 receptor agonists maintains weight loss, body composition, and metabolic syndrome improvements following successful initial treatment with standard weekly therapy.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings support structured de-escalation as a promising strategy to reduce treatment burden without sacrificing efficacy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (162 words)
ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate whether reduced-frequency dosing of GLP1 receptor agonists maintains weight loss, body composition, and metabolic syndrome improvements following successful initial treatment with standard weekly therapy.MethodsThis retrospective case series included 30 adults who achieved weight plateau while on weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide. Patients transitioned to reduced-frequency dosing (usually every other week) at their existing dose. Data were collected at three time points: pre-treatment, plateau (weekly dosing), and maintenance (reduced-frequency dosing). Primary outcome was change in body weight from plateau to maintenance. Secondary outcomes included body composition and metabolic syndrome comorbidities.ResultsPatients maintained reduced-frequency dosing for an average of 36.3 weeks. Weight decreased from 87.9 ± 2.4 kg at pre-treatment to 74.1 ± 2.4 kg at plateau and further to 72.4 ± 2.2 kg on maintenance dosing (p ConclusionsIn patients with prior weight loss and metabolic improvement on GLP1 therapy, reduced-frequency maintenance dosing preserved outcomes. These findings support structured de-escalation as a promising strategy to reduce treatment burden without sacrificing efficacy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41732031 · DOI · PMC13250739
Semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF: a report from a global federated research network [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and aimsSemaglutide and tirzepatide have been shown to reduce body weight, improve health status, and lower rates of clinical events in patients with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsIn this real-world analysis, no difference was observed between semaglutide and tirzepatide in terms of clinical outcomes among patients with obesity and HFpEF.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (261 words)
Background and aimsSemaglutide and tirzepatide have been shown to reduce body weight, improve health status, and lower rates of clinical events in patients with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Although recent data suggest that tirzepatide leads to greater weight loss compared to semaglutide in non-HF populations, it remains uncertain whether these different drugs might result in different clinical event rates. This study aims to compare the rates of clinical outcomes for semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF.MethodsIn this non-randomized, observational cohort study, adults with obesity and a concurrent diagnosis of HFpEF who initiated treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide for the first time between November 2023 and May 2025 were identified using electronic health record data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Research Network. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization, evaluated after propensity score matching (PSM).ResultsAmong 3983 patients meeting the study criteria (semaglutide, 2719; tirzepatide, 1264), 1258 remained in each group after PSM (mean age 66 years, 41% male, 77% White, mean body mass index 42 kg/m², 63% with diabetes). Over a median follow-up of 24 weeks, semaglutide and tirzepatide were associated with a similar risk of the primary composite endpoint (HR 1.14 [95% CI, 0.89-1.46]; P = .286), and of its individual components (all-cause death: HR 1.24 [95% CI, 0.63-2.44]; P = .531; HF hospitalization: HR 1.10 [95% CI, 0.85-1.43]; P = .471), irrespective of diabetes status.ConclusionsIn this real-world analysis, no difference was observed between semaglutide and tirzepatide in terms of clinical outcomes among patients with obesity and HFpEF.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41711744 · DOI · PMC13108322
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and aimsGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve cardiovascular outcomes in obesity and heart failure and preserved ejection fraction; however, their safety and efficacy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remain uncertain.
- Closing excerpt
- Prospective randomized trials are needed to validate these findings.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (248 words)
Background and aimsGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve cardiovascular outcomes in obesity and heart failure and preserved ejection fraction; however, their safety and efficacy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remain uncertain. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GLP-1RAs in patients with HFrEF.MethodsWe conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study of adult patients with HFrEF (LVEF ≤40%) between 2021 and 2024. Patients receiving semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide were compared with GLP-1RA-naïve patients. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1; caliper 0.1) was conducted to balance demographics, comorbidities, LVEF, body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and guideline-directed medical therapy. Primary outcomes were 1-year all-cause mortality and acute decompensated HF (ADHF) hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes included new acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation (AF)/flutter, and ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) events.ResultsA total of 127 021 patients met inclusion criteria. After PSM, 2550 patients (n = 1275 per group) were analysed (mean age 61.5 ± 13 years, 33.5% female, 66% White, mean HbA1c 8.1 ± 2.1%, mean LVEF 30 ± 8.7%, mean BMI 34.5 ± 8.4 kg/m2). Patients prescribed GLP-1RAs had a lower risk of all-cause mortality [7.1% vs 10.2%, odds ratio (OR): 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.90; P = .006]. Time-to-event analysis was also consistent [matched hazard ratio: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.41-0.7); P ConclusionsIn this real-world cohort, GLP-1RA therapy in HFrEF was associated with reduced mortality and ADHF without an increase in arrhythmic events. Prospective randomized trials are needed to validate these findings.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41991158 · DOI · PMC13220942
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article GLP-1 therapies and hair loss: A systematic review of current evidence and implications for counseling [4]
- Research article Clinical evidence of semaglutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): An updated meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Head-to-head comparison of tirzepatide and semaglutide for weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Impact of Semaglutide, Liraglutide and Tirzepatide on Cardiometabolic Outcomes: A Comparative Narrative Review [7]
- Research article Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on metabolic outcomes in antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Therapeutic role of semaglutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials with GRADE evidence assessment [9]
References
- Wong M, Wu A, Garhe PK, Biermann M. Reduced-Frequency GLP1 Therapy Maintains Weight, Body Composition, and Metabolic Syndrome Improvements: A Case Series. . 2026. PMID 41732031 · DOI · PMC13250739
- Monzo L, Savarese G, Duarte K, Baudry G, Petrie MC, Girerd N. Semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF: a report from a global federated research network. . 2026. PMID 41711744 · DOI · PMC13108322
- Kassab J, Drazner MH, Thibodeau JT. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. . 2026. PMID 41991158 · DOI · PMC13220942
- Gupta AK, Teasell EM, Economopoulos V, Mirmirani P. GLP-1 therapies and hair loss: A systematic review of current evidence and implications for counseling. Sci Prog. 2026. PMID 41998799 · DOI · PMC13100445
- Peng TR, Lin HH, Tseng TL, Wu TW, Chao YC. Clinical evidence of semaglutide for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): An updated meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42273973 · DOI · PMC13420891
- Zufry H, Hariyanto TI. Head-to-head comparison of tirzepatide and semaglutide for weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2026. PMID 41723034 · DOI
- Bawadi H, Abuhijleh H, Nofal M, Zakaria ZZ, Al-Asmakh M. Impact of Semaglutide, Liraglutide and Tirzepatide on Cardiometabolic Outcomes: A Comparative Narrative Review. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2026. PMID 42747132 · DOI · PMC13580159
- Sobral MVS, Menechini RB, Marçal JBC, de Vasconcelos AV, Graciolli LHMDSG, Maciel RC, et al.. Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on metabolic outcomes in antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophr Res. 2026. PMID 42497473 · DOI
- Khan S, Jamal A, Qadri M, Zai IA, Shah A, Ahmed A, et al.. Therapeutic role of semaglutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials with GRADE evidence assessment. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026. PMID 42499082 · DOI · PMC13406235
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.