Semaglutide and Tirzepatide compared: chemistry, targets and regulatory records
Semaglutide is a lipidated GLP-1 analogue acting at the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide is a larger lipidated peptide acting at both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. The comparison covers chemistry, receptor targets and regulatory position only.
Research-use information. This page summarises published literature and regulator records. It is not guidance for use, not medical advice, and not a statement that any material is suitable for use in people or animals.
How do Semaglutide and Tirzepatide differ on the facts?
| Fact | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Lipidated GLP-1 analogue (31 residues) | Lipidated dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (39 residues) |
| Length | 31 residues | 39 residues |
| Molecular formula | C187H291N45O59 | C225H348N48O68 |
| Average molecular weight | 4114 g/mol | 4813 g/mol |
| Receptor or pathway background | Incretin and glucagon receptors | Incretin and glucagon receptors |
| FDA (Drugs@FDA) | 6 applications listed (Prescription, Discontinued, None (Tentative Approval)) | 2 applications listed (Prescription) |
| EMA (centrally authorised) | 5 authorised | 1 authorised |
| MHRA (Products) | Product documents found (271) | Product documents found (106) |
| WADA 2026 list | Not named | Not named |
| Studies in our library | 4 | 2 |
| PubMed records for the search terms | 210 | 157 |
| Registered studies (ClinicalTrials.gov) | 778 | 296 |
Data dates: chemistry checked against PubChem 2026-10-05; regulatory records 2026-10-05; WADA list 2026-10-05; PubMed counts 2026-10-05.
What do the cited papers say differs between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide?
- Receptor targets differ: semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist; tirzepatide is an agonist at both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, described as imbalanced and biased in a receptor pharmacology paper.[2],[1]
- Both carry a fatty diacid chain (C18 for semaglutide, C20 for tirzepatide, per the catalog) and have a verified PubChem molecular formula.
- Medicinal products containing either substance are authorised by the US FDA, the European Commission and the MHRA. The research materials are not those medicines.
Nothing on this page ranks one compound above the other or states what either does for a person.
Which studies are cited on this page?
[1] Willard FS, Douros JD, Gabe MB, Showalter AD, Wainscott DB, Suter TM, et al.. Tirzepatide is an imbalanced and biased dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. JCI Insight. 2020;5.
Measured receptor binding and signalling of tirzepatide at the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, reporting imbalanced and biased agonism.
[2] Knudsen LB, Lau J. The Discovery and Development of Liraglutide and Semaglutide. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:155.
Historical review of the discovery and development of liraglutide and semaglutide.