Weight-Loss and Metabolic Compounds: The Full Category
The approved GLP-1 medicines, the newer incretin and amylin drugs in development, and the compounds sold for fat loss outside them.
Which of these has the most human evidence? See Best Peptides for Weight Loss, Ranked by Human Evidence.
GLP-1 and related medicines
aka Ozempic · Wegovy · Rybelsus
FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes in adults (Ozempic injection and tablets, Rybelsus), including cardiovascular risk reduction and, for the Ozempic injection, kidney-disease progression; and as Wegovy injection and tablets for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with obesity or overweight. The Wegovy injection is also approved for weight management from age 12 and for MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis in adults.
Strong human evidenceFDA-approved · prescription only
aka Mounjaro · Zepbound
FDA-approved to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older, and to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro), and for chronic weight management and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea in adults with obesity (Zepbound).
Strong human evidenceFDA-approved · prescription only
aka Saxenda · Victoza
FDA-approved as a once-daily injection under two brands: Saxenda, for chronic weight management alongside diet and exercise in adults and in children 12 years and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg, and Victoza, for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older, and for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
Strong human evidenceFDA-approved · prescription only
aka Foundayo · LY3502970
FDA-approved as Foundayo, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity, or adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related condition.
Strong human evidenceFDA-approved · prescription only
aka LY3437943
Investigational in Phase 3 trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes and related conditions. Not approved for any indication in the US. Sold outside the trial system as an unapproved research chemical, often alongside semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Moderate human evidenceResearch use only
aka BI 456906
An investigational injectable peptide, not approved for any use. Its sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim, is studying it in Phase 3 trials for chronic weight management and, in a separate programme, for MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis). It is also sold directly to consumers as a research chemical outside those trials.
Moderate human evidenceResearch use only
aka IBI362 · LY3305677
Approved in China for chronic weight management and for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Not FDA-approved in the United States, where it is sold to consumers as a research-chemical vial.
Moderate human evidenceResearch use only
aka CagriSema (combined with semaglutide)
Investigational amylin analogue studied alone and, more prominently, combined with semaglutide as the fixed-dose combination CagriSema, for chronic weight management. Not approved for any indication in the US; the combination is under FDA review following the sponsor's New Drug Application.
Moderate human evidenceResearch use only
aka LY3841136
Investigational obesity treatment in Eli Lilly's clinical trial pipeline. Not approved anywhere, not commercially available anywhere, and accessible only through clinical trial enrollment - though it is sold to consumers as an unregulated research-chemical vial under the same name.
Limited human dataUnapproved drug
GLP-1 and related medicines: side by side
Doses for unapproved compounds are common practice, not trial-established.
| Compound | Main use | Evidence | Usual dose | US status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes in adults (Ozempic injection and tablets, Rybelsus), including cardiovascular risk reduction and, for the Ozempic injection, kidney-disease progression; and as Wegovy injection and tablets for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with obesity or overweight. The Wegovy injection is also approved for weight management from age 12 and for MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis in adults. | Strong human evidence | FDA label | FDA-approved · prescription only |
| Tirzepatide | FDA-approved to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older, and to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro), and for chronic weight management and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea in adults with obesity (Zepbound). | Strong human evidence | FDA label | FDA-approved · prescription only |
| Liraglutide | FDA-approved as a once-daily injection under two brands: Saxenda, for chronic weight management alongside diet and exercise in adults and in children 12 years and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg, and Victoza, for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older, and for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. | Strong human evidence | FDA label | FDA-approved · prescription only |
| Orforglipron | FDA-approved as Foundayo, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity, or adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related condition. | Strong human evidence | FDA label | FDA-approved · prescription only |
| Retatrutide | Investigational in Phase 3 trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes and related conditions. Not approved for any indication in the US. Sold outside the trial system as an unapproved research chemical, often alongside semaglutide and tirzepatide. | Moderate human evidence | 2-12 mg, once weekly, starting at 2 mg and titrating up every 4 weeks to a 4-12 mg maintenance dose | Research use only |
| Survodutide | An investigational injectable peptide, not approved for any use. Its sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim, is studying it in Phase 3 trials for chronic weight management and, in a separate programme, for MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis). It is also sold directly to consumers as a research chemical outside those trials. | Moderate human evidence | 0.6-6 mg, once weekly, starting around 0.6 mg; the phase 2 trial titrated over about 20 weeks to a 2.4-4.8 mg maintenance dose, while the published phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial randomizes to a higher 3.6 or 6.0 mg maintenance target using a slower, flexible up-titration | Research use only |
| Mazdutide | Approved in China for chronic weight management and for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Not FDA-approved in the United States, where it is sold to consumers as a research-chemical vial. | Moderate human evidence | 3-9 mg, once weekly, titrated upward from a lower starting dose | Research use only |
| Cagrilintide | Investigational amylin analogue studied alone and, more prominently, combined with semaglutide as the fixed-dose combination CagriSema, for chronic weight management. Not approved for any indication in the US; the combination is under FDA review following the sponsor's New Drug Application. | Moderate human evidence | 0.25-4.5 mg, once weekly, titrating from a 0.25-0.6 mg starting dose up to a 2.4-4.5 mg maintenance dose | Research use only |
| Eloralintide | Investigational obesity treatment in Eli Lilly's clinical trial pipeline. Not approved anywhere, not commercially available anywhere, and accessible only through clinical trial enrollment - though it is sold to consumers as an unregulated research-chemical vial under the same name. | Limited human data | No consistent protocol | Unapproved drug |
Other fat-loss compounds
aka Tyr-hGH Fragment 177-191 · AOD9604 · HGH Fragment 176-191
Originally developed as an anti-obesity drug candidate; its developer reported that its Phase IIb human obesity trial did not succeed, and development for that indication was discontinued. Now sold to consumers as a research-chemical fat-loss product.
Limited human dataUnapproved drug
aka Fragment 176-191 · Frag 176-191 · HGH Frag
Sold to consumers as a research-chemical fat-loss product, marketed on the claim that this slice of growth hormone carries its fat-metabolising activity without the growth-promoting or blood-sugar effects of the whole hormone. Never developed into an approved drug under this exact sequence.
Animal / lab onlyUnapproved drug
aka FTPP · Prohibitin-Targeting Peptide 1 · Prohibitin-TP01
Developed at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a targeted anti-obesity drug candidate that induces apoptosis in the blood vessels feeding white fat. A first-in-human Phase 1 trial in men with prostate cancer and obesity was terminated early with no published results, and it is now sold to consumers as an unregulated research-chemical weight-loss product.
Animal / lab onlyUnapproved drug
aka 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium · 5-Amino-1MQ iodide · 5A1MQ
An NNMT-inhibiting research chemical marketed for fat loss and metabolic health. Every efficacy result I could locate comes from mouse studies; no published human trial exists.
Animal / lab onlyUnapproved drug
aka NS 2330 · Tesomet (fixed-dose combination with metoprolol)
Originally developed for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease; weight loss observed as a side effect in those trials led to its repositioning as an obesity candidate. It has completed placebo-controlled obesity trials but remains unapproved everywhere, and is now also sold as a grey-market research chemical.
Limited human dataUnapproved drug
Other fat-loss compounds: side by side
Doses for unapproved compounds are common practice, not trial-established.
| Compound | Main use | Evidence | Usual dose | US status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOD-9604 | Originally developed as an anti-obesity drug candidate; its developer reported that its Phase IIb human obesity trial did not succeed, and development for that indication was discontinued. Now sold to consumers as a research-chemical fat-loss product. | Limited human data | 250-500 mcg, once daily, fasted (some protocols run 5 days on, 2 days off) | Unapproved drug |
| HGH Fragment 176-191 | Sold to consumers as a research-chemical fat-loss product, marketed on the claim that this slice of growth hormone carries its fat-metabolising activity without the growth-promoting or blood-sugar effects of the whole hormone. Never developed into an approved drug under this exact sequence. | Animal / lab only | 200-500 mcg, once or twice daily, fasted | Unapproved drug |
| Adipotide | Developed at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a targeted anti-obesity drug candidate that induces apoptosis in the blood vessels feeding white fat. A first-in-human Phase 1 trial in men with prostate cancer and obesity was terminated early with no published results, and it is now sold to consumers as an unregulated research-chemical weight-loss product. | Animal / lab only | No consistent protocol | Unapproved drug |
| 5-Amino-1MQ | An NNMT-inhibiting research chemical marketed for fat loss and metabolic health. Every efficacy result I could locate comes from mouse studies; no published human trial exists. | Animal / lab only | 50-150 mg, once daily | Unapproved drug |
| Tesofensine | Originally developed for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease; weight loss observed as a side effect in those trials led to its repositioning as an obesity candidate. It has completed placebo-controlled obesity trials but remains unapproved everywhere, and is now also sold as a grey-market research chemical. | Limited human data | 0.25-1 mg, once daily, in the morning, titrated upward over several weeks | Unapproved drug |