A long-acting synthetic analog of the gut hormone GLP-1. It is one of the most extensively studied peptides, with large published phase 3 human trials and many rodent studies.
Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor, the same receptor used by the body's own GLP-1 hormone, and is modified to last much longer in circulation [1]. In mice, researchers measured changes in hypothalamic appetite genes (Agrp, Npy, Pomc) and liver and fat lipid-metabolism genes, and found that transferring gut microbes from treated mice carried over some effects [3]. A 2026 mouse study proposes that GLP-1 receptor neurons in the brainstem relay anti-inflammatory signals to the brain; this pathway has not been confirmed in humans [4].
| Study | Model | Reported result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1, phase 3 [1] | Human 1,961 adults, randomized 2:1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 68 weeks | Phase 3 trial; see publication. | Peer-reviewed NEJM 2021 |
| SELECT, outcomes trial [2] | Human 17,604 adults aged 45+, randomized, placebo-controlled, mean follow-up 39.8 months | Primary endpoint: composite of major cardiovascular events. Completed and published | Peer-reviewed NEJM 2023 |
| Metabolism and gut microbiota [3] | Mouse High-fat diet model (60% fat) with fecal microbiota transfer to antibiotic-treated mice | Researchers reported metabolic and microbiome measurements vs untreated high-fat-diet mice; microbe transfer reproduced some effects. | Peer-reviewed Front Pharmacol 2025 |
| Brain inflammation model [4] | Mouse LPS-induced neuroinflammation model, male mice, single-cell sequencing of hippocampus | Less neutrophil entry into the brain, lower cytokine release, and reduced inflammatory gene signatures in microglia, endothelial cells and pericytes | Peer-reviewed Nat Commun 2026 |
Human trials are listed for research context only; outcomes are reported in the linked publications. Animal and lab results do not establish effects in humans.
PureLab does not supply this compound. This page summarizes published research only.
