2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Wegovy costs about half as much.

 

And that price differential is only going to increase because Trump has ordered US companies to raise drug prices outside the US dramatically.  For example, Mounjaro in the UK has gone from £122 to £330 ($165 to $445) per month for the highest dose.  Wegovy is produced by a Danish company, and so isn't subject to Trump's diktats.

8 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Wegovy costs about half as much.

 

Though its less effective - thus it depends how effective you want the results to be.

Also - dosages are not exactly comparable as their efficacy differs - A patient also has to consider 'working up' to an effective dose as hitting higher levels immediately would lead to unfavourable side effects such as constipation, headaches etc so going straight onto a 10mg pen with 2.5ml doses (Mounjaro) or the Wegovy equivalent would have some side effects (nauseasa, constipation, the trots).

 

Wegovy & Ozempic (semaglutide) both are a GLP-1 agonist where as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a Dual GLP-1 + GIP agonist.

 

Simple explanation: 

GLP-1 = Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, is a hormone your gut makes after eating.

It helps:

- Signal the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high.

- Reduce glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar).

- Slow stomach emptying → feel fuller longer.

- Reduce appetite by acting on the brain’s hunger centres.

Drugs like semaglutide mimic GLP-1 to get those effects.

 

GIP = Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide, another gut hormone.

When added to GLP-1 activity, GIP may:

- Further enhance insulin release after meals.

- Reduce appetite even more strongly.

- Improve fat metabolism and energy balance.

Tirzepatide hits two pathways instead of one, which is why in trials it often produces greater weight loss and glucose control than GLP-1 agonists alone.

 

Thus: The Dual GLP-1 + GIP agonist is more effective as it not only (in laymans terms) 'prevents or blocks hunger and provides a full feeling' it also assists with fat metabolism.

 

 

There is also a 'new player' on the block called Retatrutide - which is a Triple Agonist (still in clinical trials) - 

It targets three incretin hormones at once:

- GLP-1

- GIP

- Glucagon receptor (GCGR)

Early trial results (2023–24) show that its very effective, more so than tirzepatide.

Regarding the third hormone Glucagon - Normally glucagon raises blood sugar, but controlled stimulation may increase energy expenditure (burning more calories) while the GLP-1/GIP parts keep blood sugar safe.

 

It’s being nicknamed the potential “next-gen super drug” for obesity, but it’s not yet on the market (probably still a few years away).

 

The simple Analogy would be: 

- GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide) = one turbocharger.

- Dual GLP-1 + GIP (tirzepatide) = twin-turbo.

- Retatrutide = triple-turbo prototype — early data suggest it may leave the others in the dust (but not yet available).