Active Ingredient, Brand, Formulation and Indication: Why They Are Different Things
Ozempic vs Wegovy and similar pairs explained: how active ingredient, brand, formulation and approved indication differ, with US and EU label examples and what off-label means.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they are different products with different labels and different approved uses. [1][2] Four ideas are often blurred together, so this page keeps them apart. It explains words; it does not tell anyone what to take or whether to change a medicine. That is a decision for you and your prescriber. See also talking with a health professional.
| Term | Plain meaning | Example from the labels |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | The molecule that does the work | Semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide |
| Brand | The name a company sells a product under | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus |
| Formulation | The product form: injection or tablet, device, added ingredients, strength | Semaglutide injection pen vs semaglutide tablet with an absorption enhancer [3] |
| Indication | The use a regulator approved, in a named group of people | Type 2 diabetes vs weight reduction [1][2] |
One molecule, several brands
The table shows how the same molecule appears in different products. For each molecule, see the full overview: semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide.| Active ingredient | Brands and forms (US labels read) | Approved uses differ by brand |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Ozempic injection; Wegovy injection; Rybelsus tablets; Ozempic tablets; Wegovy tablets [1][2][3] | Ozempic injection: type 2 diabetes plus heart and kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Wegovy: weight, heart risk and a liver condition [1][2] |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro; Zepbound [4][5] | Mounjaro: type 2 diabetes. Zepbound: weight and sleep apnea [4][5] |
| Liraglutide | Victoza; Saxenda; Xultophy (combined with an insulin) [6][7][8] | Victoza: type 2 diabetes. Saxenda: weight. Xultophy: type 2 diabetes [6][7][8] |
Why names alone can mislead
- Same brand, different form. The US tablet label covers both Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets, so "Ozempic" can mean an injection or a tablet. The label says the tablets "are not substitutable on a mg-to-mg basis", meaning strengths do not carry over between products. [3]
- Same molecule, different brand and group of people. Wegovy injection is labeled for children 12 and older with obesity, while the Ozempic injection label says safety and efficacy have not been established in children. [2][1]
- Different countries, different packaging of the same idea. In the US tirzepatide has two brands, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The EMA page for Mounjaro covers both type 2 diabetes and weight management in one product. [9] EU Wegovy is described for weight management in adults and in adolescents 12 and older with obesity and body weight above 60 kg. [10]
- Combination products. Xultophy combines liraglutide with insulin degludec and Soliqua combines lixisenatide with insulin glargine; each is its own product with its own label, not the same as the single drug. [8][11]
- Do not double up. The Wegovy label says it should not be used with other semaglutide products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist. [2]
For the wider problem of look-alike names, see why similar names do not mean equivalent products.
How to read a medicine name on paper
When comparing information, check four things in order: the active ingredient, the exact brand and form, the approved indication in your country, and the regulator named. If any of them differs, results from one product cannot be assumed for another.Frequently asked questions
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same drug?
They share semaglutide but have separate US labels, indications and devices. [1][2]
Is Mounjaro the same as Zepbound?
Both contain tirzepatide; in the US Mounjaro is labeled for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight and sleep apnea. [4][5]
Can a brand have an injection and a tablet?
Yes. The US semaglutide labels show both injection and tablet forms, including tablets sold as Ozempic and Wegovy. [3][2]
What does off-label mean?
Using an approved drug for something not on its approved label. FDA has not determined it is safe and effective for that use. [12]
Can I swap one for another?
This page does not advise switching. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist, who can see the exact products and your situation.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
How to read the evidence labels
Labels used on this page: approved medicine means a named regulator (FDA in the US, EMA in the EU) reviewed it for the stated use. Everything below was read from the regulator on 2026-10-22 and can change.
Approved, off-label and investigational
- Approved use (on-label). Before approval a company must show the drug is safe and effective for its intended uses; FDA notes "safe" does not mean no side effects. The label gives the diseases it is approved for and information on risks. [12]
- Off-label use. Using an approved drug for a use, a way of giving it, or an amount not approved. FDA says providers generally may prescribe off-label when they judge it medically appropriate, but FDA has not determined the drug is safe and effective for the unapproved use. [12]
- Investigational use. Being tested in trials. Results can be negative: two phase 3 trials of oral semaglutide in early Alzheimer's disease found no slowing of progression, and the trials were stopped. Label: no good evidence of benefit for that use. [13]
More detail is in approved vs off-label vs investigational use and what medicine approval means.
Approved product vs compounded or unapproved copy
References
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-06-10. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-06-30. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Rybelsus and Ozempic (semaglutide) tablets prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-08-19. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, DailyMed listing dated 2026-09-02. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, DailyMed listing dated 2026-09-02. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Victoza (liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2025-11-17. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Saxenda (liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-06-15. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec and liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2025-11-17. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Mounjaro EPAR product page, European Medicines Agency. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Wegovy EPAR product page, European Medicines Agency. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine and lixisenatide) prescribing information, Sanofi, DailyMed listing dated 2026-03-20. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs "Off Label", U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Cummings JL et al. Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials. Lancet 2026;407:2167-2179. PMID 41865758. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Source. Read 2026-10-22.