Semaglutide
(Ozempic/Wegovy/Rybelsus)

1980s-2000s

The Incretin Discovery

Learning the Gut's Language

Scientists had long noticed something strange. When you eat sugar, your body releases more insulin than if you inject the same amount directly into your blood. Something in the gut was amplifying the signal.

In the 1980s, researchers discovered the answer: incretin hormones. When food hits your intestines, cells release GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which tells the pancreas to make more insulin. It also tells the brain you're full.

The problem was that natural GLP-1 breaks down in minutes. To make it useful as a medicine, scientists needed to find a version that lasted longer. The race was on to build a better molecule.

2005-2012

Building a Better Molecule

From Lizard Spit to Lab Design

The first GLP-1 drugs came from an unlikely source: Gila monster saliva. The venomous lizard produced a hormone similar to GLP-1 that lasted longer in the body. Exenatide (Byetta), approved in 2005, required twice-daily injections.

Novo Nordisk took a different approach. They modified human GLP-1 itself, adding chemical groups that protected it from breaking down. Liraglutide (Victoza), approved in 2010, needed only one daily injection.

But the team wanted more. What if they could make a molecule that lasted a whole week? By 2012, they had created semaglutide — a GLP-1 analog with a fatty acid chain that let it bind to proteins in the blood and stick around for days.

2017-2021

The Approvals

From Diabetes to Obesity

In December 2017, the FDA approved semaglutide as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. It worked brilliantly — better blood sugar control with fewer injections than competitors. But doctors noticed something else: their patients were losing significant weight.

Novo Nordisk launched the STEP trials, testing higher doses specifically for weight loss. The results stunned the medical world. Patients lost an average of 15% of their body weight — more than any previous drug. Some lost over 20%.

In June 2021, the FDA approved the higher-dose formulation as Wegovy for chronic weight management. For the first time, a drug was producing weight loss comparable to some bariatric surgeries.

2022-2023

The Phenomenon

When Medicine Meets Culture

Semaglutide became more than a drug — it became a cultural moment. Celebrities lost weight visibly. Social media buzzed with transformation photos. Demand exploded, creating shortages that left diabetic patients unable to fill their prescriptions.

The backlash was fierce. Critics called it 'the easy way out' and worried about side effects. Insurance companies balked at covering a drug that cost over $1,000 per month. Some questioned whether weight loss should be medicalized at all.

But for millions of patients who had tried everything else, semaglutide was life-changing. The drug forced society to confront uncomfortable questions about obesity, willpower, and what it means to need medical help.

2024-Present

Beyond Weight Loss

A Platform for Health

The story of semaglutide is far from over. In 2024, studies showed it reduces heart attacks and strokes by 20% in high-risk patients — even those who aren't losing weight. It may help with kidney disease, fatty liver, and even addiction.

In December 2025, the FDA approved the oral version (Rybelsus) for weight loss, eliminating the need for injections. Novo Nordisk is testing next-generation versions that could produce even greater weight loss with fewer side effects.

Competitors are racing to catch up. But semaglutide has already changed the world. It proved that obesity is a biological condition, not a character flaw — and that with the right treatment, millions can find relief.