GLP-1 Receptor Agonist List: The Class, Compound by Compound

Last reviewed: May 12, 2026 Last updated: May 12, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings , CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance. His work has included scaling healthcare startups, leading CLIA lab integrations, and helping expand consumer access to precision health tools.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

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A search for a "GLP-1 receptor agonist list" usually wants a clear roster: which compounds belong to the class, which are pure GLP-1 agents, which are dual or investigational, and how they fit together. This guide provides that inventory as of April 2026, then adds the mechanism, safety, and genetics that give the list meaning.

The FDA-approved compounds

As of April 2026, the FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists are exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda), dulaglutide (Trulicity), lixisenatide (historically, now discontinued in the U.S.), and semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus). Each brand carries its own approved indications, so the same molecule under a different name is not automatically interchangeable for coverage purposes.

Dual and investigational agents

The GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist is tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), which engages a second incretin receptor alongside the GLP-1 receptor. Beyond the approved list, the investigational triple agonist retatrutide (GLP-1/GIP/glucagon) has Phase 3 data but is not FDA-approved, and oral non-peptide agents such as orforglipron are in late-stage development. Neither investigational compound is a purchasable product.

What the class is

Glucagon-like peptide-1 is an incretin hormone from intestinal L-cells that stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and signals satiety. Native GLP-1 lasts only minutes because DPP-4 degrades it. The compounds on this list are engineered to resist that degradation, holding the receptor active from hours to days.

The FDA-approved indications behind the names

Indications vary by compound and product: type 2 diabetes (most products), chronic weight management (Wegovy, Saxenda, Zepbound), cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Rybelsus), and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (Zepbound, December 2024). The FDA label governs what is prescribed for which indication.

What every compound on the list shares

All FDA-approved GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 agents carry the boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk seen in rodent studies, and are contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Gastrointestinal effects are most common and peak during titration; pancreatitis, gallbladder events, and dehydration-linked kidney injury are reported but uncommon.

The genetics beneath the roster

No list captures the variable that differs most across people: their own biology. Variants in FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 shape baseline GLP-1, appetite regulation, and energy balance, and are pathway-level rather than drug-specific. The PlexusDx Precision Peptide Genetic Test maps 14 pathways, 49 peptides, 150+ genetic insights across them, and PlexusDx offers semaglutide and tirzepatide through its Weight Management Protocols. See What Is GLP-1? and GLP-1 Drugs for more.

How to read a class list

A roster of compounds is only useful if you read it with the right questions. The most important distinctions are not brand names but mechanism and status: which agents are pure GLP-1 receptor agonists, which add GIP or glucagon activity, and which are approved versus investigational. Two entries can look similar on a list and behave differently in practice because of those categories.

The second thing a list cannot show is indication. The same molecule can appear under multiple brands approved for different uses, so being on the list does not mean interchangeable. When you compare compounds, pair each name with its approval status and its FDA-approved indication, and the list stops being a jumble of names and becomes a map of the class.

One more caution about lists in general: they change. Approvals expand, indications are added, and investigational compounds either advance or fall away, so any roster is a snapshot of a moment rather than a permanent record. The mechanism and the categories, pure agonist, dual agonist, approved, investigational, are the durable framework, while the specific names beneath them keep shifting. Treat the list as a way to organize your understanding, then confirm the current status of any compound with a provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which drugs are on the GLP-1 receptor agonist list?

As of April 2026 the FDA-approved list includes exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide (discontinued in the U.S.), and semaglutide. Tirzepatide is a GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist that also engages the GIP receptor. Investigational agents such as retatrutide and orforglipron are still in development and are not FDA-approved products you can be prescribed today.

Is tirzepatide a GLP-1 receptor agonist?

Tirzepatide is a GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist: it activates the GLP-1 receptor and also the GIP receptor, a related incretin target. It is often grouped with the class in casual usage, but technically it represents a distinct dual-receptor category alongside the pure GLP-1 agonists on the list.

Are the brand names interchangeable?

Not for coverage purposes. The same molecule can appear under different brands with different FDA-approved indications, so a brand approved for diabetes is not automatically substitutable for one approved for weight management. Your prescriber matches the specific brand to the appropriate indication.

How does the genetic test relate to the list?

The Precision Peptide Genetic Test does not rank the compounds or predict response to any of them. It analyzes pathway-level variants in FTO and MC4R, and TCF7L2 that shape baseline biology, giving context that applies across every agent on the list rather than a drug recommendation.

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Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance. References are included at the end of the article when scientific, medical, or health-related claims are discussed.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.