Ozempic vs Mounjaro: A GLP-1 Field Guide

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.

A PlexusDx Education Hub field guide for readers who want the whole incretin category in view, not just two names. Browse the Peptides & GLP-1 Education Hub

This is an independent editorial comparison; PlexusDx has no commercial relationship with the manufacturers of the products discussed.

Ozempic and Mounjaro anchor most GLP-1 conversations, but they sit inside a crowded field of related compounds. As of April 2026, this guide places both within that landscape — mapping approvals, decoding the trial acronyms, framing safety across the class, and pointing to the genetic baseline beneath every option.

Placing Ozempic and Mounjaro in the wider incretin field

Ozempic (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) is a GLP-1 pathway compound, and Mounjaro (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly) is another. Tirzepatide is a GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist; semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide are GLP-1-selective; retatrutide is an investigational GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonist that is not FDA-approved as of April 2026. All engage the GLP-1 receptor and shape gastric emptying, glucose excursions, and satiety.

A map of FDA approvals across the class

Approval status is indication-specific. Ozempic (semaglutide) is approved for type 2 diabetes (2017); Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) for chronic weight management (2021); Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) for type 2 diabetes (2019); Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes (2022); Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management (2023) and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (2024, SURMOUNT-OSA); Trulicity (dulaglutide) for type 2 diabetes (2014); and Victoza (liraglutide) for type 2 diabetes (2010). Retatrutide remains investigational.

The clinical-trial alphabet soup, decoded

Each program targeted a specific question. STEP studied semaglutide for weight management; SUSTAIN and SELECT covered semaglutide for diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes; SURMOUNT and SURPASS covered tirzepatide for weight and diabetes; SURMOUNT-OSA addressed sleep apnea; LEAD and LEADER covered liraglutide; AWARD covered dulaglutide. Head-to-head data is limited — SUSTAIN 7 and SURPASS-2 are notable exceptions — so read outcomes per-trial rather than as class-wide claims.

Safety signals shared across every incretin drug

All FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists and GIP/GLP-1 dual agonists carry the class boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk seen in rodent studies, and all are contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Gastrointestinal side effects lead the common list; rare serious events include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and dehydration-related acute kidney injury.

List prices across the branded field

As of April 2026, list prices for the FDA-approved brands range roughly $815 to $1,620 per month at U.S. list (manufacturer published pricing). Where a given prescription lands within that band — and what a person actually pays — depends on insurance coverage, the FDA indication on the prescription, manufacturer savings card eligibility, and whether a compounded alternative is available through a licensed compounding pathway.

The genetic baseline beneath the whole category

Whatever a clinician prescribes, the upstream genetics are shared. Variants in FTO (appetite regulation and adiposity set-point), GLP1R (the receptor every GLP-1 compound engages), MC4R (central to energy balance), and TCF7L2 (linked to glucose homeostasis and GLP-1 secretion) shape the terrain any compound works across. They are pathway-level and do not predict response to a single drug. PlexusDx offers semaglutide and tirzepatide through its Weight Management Protocols — as Semaglutide Injection, Semaglutide Oral, Tirzepatide Injection, and Tirzepatide Oral — and the Precision Peptide Genetic Test reads 14 pathways, 49 peptides, 150+ genetic insights, including FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2.

More from the Hub: what semaglutide is used for, using semaglutide, so-called natural alternatives, and what semaglutide is.

Editorial note: this article is educational. PlexusDx offers semaglutide and tirzepatide through its Weight Management Protocols and does not sell, prescribe, or recommend any other therapeutic peptide in the GLP-1 category beyond those two, including dulaglutide, liraglutide, retatrutide, cagrilintide, and related compounds. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test shows how your genes influence peptide-related pathways and does not predict response to any specific medication. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any peptide protocol.

Start with the biology: take the Precision Peptide Genetic Test, or explore the Weight Management Protocols. Browse the Peptides & GLP-1 Education Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

How many GLP-1 brands are on the market right now?

As of April 2026, the FDA-approved field includes semaglutide brands Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus; tirzepatide brands Mounjaro and Zepbound; plus dulaglutide as Trulicity and liraglutide as Victoza. Each carries its own indication and approval date, which is why the category looks larger than the Ozempic-versus-Mounjaro framing suggests.

Is retatrutide something I can get?

No. Retatrutide is an investigational triple agonist that is not FDA-approved as of April 2026, and PlexusDx does not sell, prescribe, or recommend it. It appears in the field map only for context; it is not an available treatment, and this article provides no dosing or sourcing information for it.

Does the genetic test predict which brand I'll respond to?

No. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test does not predict response to Ozempic, Mounjaro, or any product. It reads pathway-level variants — FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 — that describe baseline GLP-1 and energy-balance biology, the upstream context that applies across the entire branded field.

Why is there such a wide list-price range?

The roughly $815 to $1,620 monthly band reflects different manufacturers, molecules, and indications across the branded field as of April 2026. A single product's list price sits somewhere in that range, and actual cost depends on coverage, savings cards, the prescribed indication, and compounded-alternative availability.

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.