Zenagamtide, formerly called amycretin, is an investigational drug from Novo Nordisk that activates GLP-1, amylin, and calcitonin receptors. Ozempic (semaglutide) activates GLP-1 receptors and is already FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. They are not interchangeable products, and zenagamtide is not available by prescription.
The comparison also needs a brand distinction: Ozempic is the diabetes brand of injectable semaglutide. Wegovy (semaglutide) is the semaglutide brand approved for chronic weight management. Results from Wegovy obesity trials should not be described as Ozempic results.
Status at a glance
| Feature | Zenagamtide | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| Drug | Investigational GLP-1/amylin/calcitonin receptor agonist | Semaglutide GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Form | Weekly injection and daily tablet in development | Weekly injection |
| Development status | Phase 3 | FDA-approved |
| Approved use | None | Type 2 diabetes and labeled cardiovascular/kidney risk indications in specified adults |
| Obesity indication | Not approved | Ozempic is not the semaglutide obesity brand; Wegovy is |
Phase 2 evidence for injectable zenagamtide
A peer-reviewed 36-week phase 2 trial enrolled 262 adults with type 2 diabetes. In the on-treatment, without-rescue-medication observation, average weight loss was 14.6% at the highest tested weekly dose and 2.1% with placebo. HbA1c fell by up to 1.71 percentage points under the trial's efficacy estimand, which likewise used on-treatment data without rescue medication.
The paper's safety table reported withdrawal of trial treatment after an adverse event for 34% of participants in both the 20 mg and 40 mg groups, compared with 6% in the placebo group. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and altered skin sensation were among the adverse events observed. These phase 2 findings came from people with type 2 diabetes over 36 weeks. They do not establish long-term outcomes in an obesity population.
Ozempic does not have a single "15% weight loss" result that can be placed beside this number without context. The widely cited semaglutide obesity result comes from Wegovy 2.4 mg trials, not the Ozempic product and indication.
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Injectable phase 3: AMAZE 7
AMAZE 7 (NCT07668414) is the direct obesity comparison that this topic has been missing. The phase 3 study is designed to compare once-weekly injectable zenagamtide with once-weekly semaglutide in adults with obesity.
The registry lists:
- Estimated enrollment of 650 participants.
- Body-weight change at week 84 as the primary outcome.
- An estimated primary completion date of October 10, 2028.
This is a semaglutide comparator trial, but results are not available yet. It would be premature to call zenagamtide more effective than Ozempic or Wegovy.
Oral phase 3: AMAZE 9
AMAZE 9 (NCT07720271) is a recruiting phase 3 trial of once-daily oral zenagamtide versus placebo in adults with obesity. The registry lists about 950 participants, a 76-week primary endpoint, and estimated primary completion on June 27, 2028.
The oral formulation's trial record does not specify an absorption enhancer or fasting instructions. Those details should come from an eventual protocol or approved label, not predictions based on another oral drug.
Oral Wegovy and Foundayo are separate products
Wegovy tablets are oral semaglutide, not zenagamtide. Novo Nordisk announced that the Wegovy pill became available in the United States on January 5, 2026.
Foundayo (orforglipron) is another approved oral GLP-1 medicine. Its approval does not predict zenagamtide's dosing rules, efficacy, approval, or place in treatment.
When zenagamtide could become available
There is no confirmed launch order or approval year for either formulation. The oral and injectable phase 3 programs still need to produce results, and regulators would need to review any future application. Registry completion dates are study estimates, not launch dates.
People comparing treatment now should compare approved products under their actual labels. Zenagamtide remains a research drug, and products sold as "research" versions are not approved substitutes.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary.
Frequently asked questions
What is zenagamtide?
Zenagamtide, previously called amycretin, is Novo Nordisk’s investigational single-molecule GLP-1, amylin, and calcitonin receptor agonist. Weekly injectable and daily oral forms are in phase 3 development. Neither is FDA-approved.
How does zenagamtide compare with Ozempic?
Ozempic is an FDA-approved semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes. Zenagamtide is investigational and has no approved indication. Cross-trial weight-loss figures do not establish that one works better.
Is oral zenagamtide in phase 3?
Yes. The recruiting AMAZE 9 phase 3 trial plans to enroll about 950 adults and lists June 27, 2028 as its estimated primary completion date.
