Wegovy®

About Wegovy®

Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Same active ingredient as Ozempic®, different dose and FDA-approved indication.

Manufacturer / source: Novo Nordisk

How it compares

For tirzepatide forms head-to-head, see comparison page. For trial data, see clinical research.

Brand context & FDA status

Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's brand name for semaglutide 2.4 mg, FDA-approved on June 4, 2021 for chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30 or BMI ≥27 with a weight-related comorbidity. In December 2022, the indication was expanded to include adolescents 12 years and older with obesity. On March 8, 2024, Wegovy received an additional FDA approval for cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity — the first weight-loss medication with a cardiovascular outcomes indication.

Mechanism of action

Wegovy is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist. By mimicking endogenous GLP-1, it stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite through central hypothalamic mechanisms. Cardiovascular benefit is hypothesized to involve combinations of weight reduction, improved glycemic markers, reduced inflammation, and possibly direct vascular effects.

Clinical efficacy data

STEP-1 (NEJM 2021): mean weight loss of 14.9% on Wegovy 2.4 mg vs 2.4% on placebo at 68 weeks. STEP-3: when combined with intensive behavioral therapy, mean weight loss reached 16.0%. STEP-4: continuation maintained weight loss; switch to placebo led to regain. SELECT (NEJM 2023): in adults with established CVD and overweight/obesity without diabetes, Wegovy reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% over a mean 33 months.

FDA-approved indications

FDA-approved indications: (1) chronic weight management in adults and adolescents 12+ with obesity; (2) cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight/obesity. Use as adjunct to reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Dosing & titration

Wegovy titrates from 0.25 mg weekly for four weeks, increasing monthly through 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg weekly. Patients who do not tolerate 2.4 mg may maintain on 1.7 mg. Available as pre-filled, single-use injection pens.

Safety profile & adverse events

Most common adverse events: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, distension, eructation, hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease. FDA boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk; contraindicated with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Monitor for pancreatitis, gallbladder events, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, diabetic retinopathy complications in diabetic patients, suicidal behavior or ideation (active monitoring required), and rare hypersensitivity.

Cost & access in 2026

Wegovy list price in 2026 is approximately $1,350 per month. Novo Nordisk's NovoCare Pharmacy direct-to-consumer self-pay program offers Wegovy at roughly $499 per month for cash-pay patients. Coverage has improved for the cardiovascular indication, with Medicare covering Wegovy for eligible CVD patients following the 2024 expansion. Many commercial plans cover Wegovy for obesity with prior authorization; others exclude weight-management medications altogether.

Frequently asked questions

Wegovy vs Ozempic — what's the difference?

Same molecule (semaglutide), different FDA indications and maximum doses. Ozempic: type 2 diabetes, max 2.0 mg. Wegovy: chronic weight management and CVD risk reduction, max 2.4 mg. Insurance pathways differ significantly.

Does Wegovy reduce heart attacks and strokes?

Yes, in the population studied. SELECT showed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke) in adults with established CVD and overweight or obesity without diabetes. This led to the March 2024 FDA expansion for cardiovascular risk reduction.

Is Wegovy approved for teenagers?

Yes. In December 2022, the FDA expanded the Wegovy label to include adolescents 12 years and older with obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex). The STEP TEENS trial supported this approval.