This page compares Semaglutide and Tirzepatide at a high level. It does not provide dosing guidance or treatment recommendations.
High-level overview
- Semaglutide: primarily framed as a GLP-1 receptor agonist.
- Tirzepatide: framed as a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Both are discussed in metabolic-health contexts, but the additional GIP agonism in tirzepatide changes the mechanistic framing and may affect how outcomes differ in specific trials.
Mechanisms and biology
At a simplified level, GLP-1 receptor agonism is associated with appetite and glycemic effects, while dual agonists add a second incretin receptor. Mechanistic differences matter most when they translate into measurable, durable outcomes (not just short-term biomarkers).
Evidence landscape
For regulated medicines in this class, evidence often includes large randomized trials in type 2 diabetes and obesity, plus ongoing outcomes research. When reading, pay attention to endpoints (HbA1c, weight, cardiometabolic markers), duration, and the population studied.
Safety and context
Many safety discussions overlap across incretin therapies (notably gastrointestinal adverse effects and contraindication considerations), but the precise risk profile is product- and patient-specific.
How to dive deeper
- Semaglutide overview · benefits · side effects · research
- Tirzepatide overview · benefits · side effects · research
- Compare more pages: compare hub
References & searches
If you want to validate claims, start with primary literature searches: