From the Guidelines
Semaglutide (Ozempic) is more effective than dulaglutide (Trulicity) for weight loss, with studies showing that semaglutide can result in mean weight losses of 10-15% of initial body weight over 26-68 weeks, compared to dulaglutide [ 1 ].
Key Differences
- Dose and Potency: Semaglutide's higher dose and potency may contribute to its superior efficacy in promoting weight loss [ 1 ].
- Weight Loss Outcomes: In clinical trials, semaglutide 2.4mg administered subcutaneously once weekly has been shown to result in greater weight loss compared to dulaglutide 1.5mg and 3mg [ 1 ].
- Mechanism of Action: Both medications work by stimulating insulin secretion and reducing glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, improving satiety, and promoting weight loss [ 1 ].
Clinical Implications
- Weight Management: Semaglutide and dulaglutide are both effective for weight management, but semaglutide may be a better option for patients who require more significant weight loss [ 1 ].
- Lifestyle Modifications: Both medications demonstrate significant weight reduction benefits when used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications [ 1 ].
From the Research
Comparative Efficacy of Dulaglutide and Semaglutide for Weight Loss
- The comparative efficacy of dulaglutide (Trulicity) and semaglutide (Ozempic) for weight loss has been studied in several clinical trials 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that semaglutide had a greater mean weight loss compared to dulaglutide (-2.85,95% CI = -5.59,0.11) 4.
- A head-to-head trial compared semaglutide with dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and found that semaglutide was superior to dulaglutide in reducing body weight, with a mean weight loss of 4.6 kg (SE 0.28) with semaglutide 0.5 mg compared to 2.3 kg (0.27) with dulaglutide 0.75 mg (ETD -2.26 kg [-3.02 to -1.51]; p<0.0001) 6.
- Another study found that semaglutide demonstrated increased numerical weight loss compared to dulaglutide, but tirzepatide, a dual-agonist, produced greater weight loss compared to semaglutide 4.
- The safety profiles of semaglutide and dulaglutide were similar, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most frequently reported adverse event 6.
Key Findings
- Semaglutide has been shown to be superior to dulaglutide in reducing body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes 4, 6.
- The mean weight loss with semaglutide was greater than with dulaglutide in several clinical trials 4, 6.
- Tirzepatide, a dual-agonist, produced greater weight loss compared to semaglutide 4.
- The safety profiles of semaglutide and dulaglutide were similar, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most frequently reported adverse event 6.