Are retatrutide and orforglipron approved?

Retatrutide and orforglipron are investigational medicines. Retatrutide has published phase 2 evidence and ongoing phase 3 trials. Orforglipron has published phase 3 evidence and has been submitted for regulatory review for obesity, but is not yet FDA-approved.

What is the difference between a generic name and a brand name?

The generic name (active ingredient) is the standard scientific name. The brand name is the product name used by a manufacturer, which can differ by country, indication, and formulation.

What does the black triangle (▼) mean in the UK?

In the UK, the black triangle indicates a medicine under additional monitoring, where reporting suspected side effects is especially encouraged.

Why are there multiple brand names for the same GLP-1 ingredient?

Different indications, formulations (injection vs tablet), and country-specific approvals often lead to different brand names for the same active ingredient.

What does “research use only” mean for GLP-1 products sold online?

It often refers to unapproved products sold with disclaimers. Regulators have warned consumers about unapproved GLP-1 drugs sold in this way because quality and safety are unknown.

Healthcount

GLP-1 glossary

Q: What does SNAC mean in GLP-1 pill discussions?

SNAC (salcaprozate sodium) is an absorption enhancer used in oral semaglutide formulations to help the medicine be absorbed.

A searchable, plain-English reference for GLP-1 medicines (generic + brand names), emerging pipeline drugs, and the words you’ll see in clinics, prescribing notes, and online.

A drug directory (UK + US brand names, plus key global names)
A pipeline watchlist (retatrutide, orforglipron, CagriSema and other “next-gen” terms)
Clear definitions for acronyms, prescribing language, and maintenance vocabulary
Safety and sourcing terms (UK + US) so you can spot red flags quickly

This page is general information and isn't medical advice. If you need personal guidance, speak to your prescriber, pharmacist, or clinician.

Trust & updates:This glossary is compiled from MHRA Drug Safety Updates, NICE guidance, FDA approvals/labels, peer-reviewed publications, and sponsor regulatory-status statements. Last updated: March 2026. If a term is missing, treat this as a living glossary — it's updated when new UK guidance or approvals are published.

Why this glossary exists

GLP-1 language is messy: brand names vary by country, some drugs are approved for diabetes but discussed for weight loss, and the pipeline is moving fast (so you keep seeing new names in headlines). This glossary is designed to be the one page you can come back to when you see an unfamiliar term and just want the straight definition. For background on how GLP-1 medicines work, see our introductory page.

Drug directory: approved medicines Drug directory: in development / pipeline Acronyms & shorthand Mechanisms & hormone terms Prescribing & pathway terms Safety & sourcing terms Maintenance terms FAQs

Drug directory: approved medicines

The same active ingredient can have different brand names depending on the country, indication, and format. Use your browser find (\u2318F / Ctrl+F) to search for a specific name.

Active ingredient	Class	Brand names (UK)	Brand names (US)	Notes
Semaglutide	GLP-1 RA	Ozempic, Rybelsus▼, Wegovy▼	Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy (injection + tablets)	Same ingredient, different products/labels depending on indication/format
Tirzepatide	Dual GIP/GLP-1 (“twincretin”)	Mounjaro▼	Mounjaro (diabetes), Zepbound (weight management)	Dual-hormone agonist rather than “GLP-1 only”
Liraglutide	GLP-1 RA	Victoza, Saxenda	Victoza, Saxenda	Older daily GLP-1 option; still widely referenced
Dulaglutide	GLP-1 RA	Trulicity	Trulicity	Often mentioned in diabetes contexts
Exenatide	GLP-1 RA	Bydureon (historical)	Byetta, Bydureon	MHRA notes exenatide is no longer marketed in the UK
Lixisenatide	GLP-1 RA	(not currently)	Adlyxin	MHRA notes lixisenatide is no longer authorised in the UK
Insulin degludec + liraglutide	Fixed-ratio combo	Xultophy	Xultophy	Combo product (basal insulin + GLP-1 RA)
Insulin glargine + lixisenatide	Fixed-ratio combo	Suliqua (historical)	Soliqua 100/33	UK authorisation status has changed (see MHRA DSU)

Drug directory: in development / pipeline

These are the names people search a lot, but they may not be approved, and status can change quickly. Check the “Last updated” date above.

Name	What it is	Format	Status snapshot
Retatrutide	“Triple agonist” (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon)	Weekly injection	Phase 2 published; phase 3 ongoing
Orforglipron	Oral, small-molecule (non-peptide) GLP-1 agonist	Daily tablet	Phase 3 published; submitted for obesity in 2025; not yet FDA-approved
CagriSema	Semaglutide + cagrilintide (amylin analogue) combo	Weekly injection	In large phase 3 programmes / trials
Survodutide	GLP-1 + glucagon dual agonist	Weekly injection	Global phase 3 programmes described by sponsor
Pemvidutide	GLP-1 + glucagon dual agonist	Weekly injection	Investigational; published clinical studies and ongoing development
Mazdutide (IBI362)	GLP-1 + glucagon dual agonist	Weekly injection	Published obesity trial evidence (China-focused)
Ecnoglutide (Xianweiying)	GLP-1 agonist (region-specific)	Weekly injection	Approved for weight management in China
VK2735	Dual GLP-1/GIP candidate (Viking)	Oral + injection (being studied)	Phase 3 initiation reported in 2025
Maritide (Amgen)	GLP-1-pathway candidate	Injection	Pipeline programmes described in updates (status can shift)
MET-097i (Metsera)	Once-monthly GLP-1 injection candidate	Monthly injection	Mid-stage results reported; late-stage development expected
Danuglipron (Pfizer)	Oral small-molecule GLP-1 candidate	Tablet	Development discontinued (liver safety)
Lotiglipron (Pfizer)	Oral GLP-1 candidate	Tablet	Development discontinued (liver safety)

Acronyms & shorthand

GLP-1 — Glucagon-like peptide-1 (a gut hormone involved in appetite and glucose regulation).

GLP-1 RA — GLP-1 receptor agonist (a medicine class).

GIP — Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (another incretin hormone).

GCGR — Glucagon receptor (often referenced in “triple agonist” discussions).

INN / USAN — The standard generic name systems (international / US).

SmPC — Summary of Product Characteristics (UK/EU clinician label).

PIL — Patient Information Leaflet (UK/EU).

CVOT — Cardiovascular outcomes trial.

MACE — Major adverse cardiovascular events.

HbA1c — A longer-term measure of blood glucose control.

BMI — Body mass index.

▼ Black triangle — “Additional monitoring” symbol in the UK (see Safety section below).

“Twincretin” — A nickname for dual GIP/GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide.

“Triple G” / “Triple agonist” — Shorthand often used for retatrutide.

Mechanisms & hormone terms

Incretin — Hormones released after eating that help regulate insulin and appetite (GLP-1 and GIP are key examples).

Dual agonist — One drug that activates two receptors (e.g., GLP-1 + GIP).

Triple agonist / triagonist — Activates three receptors (e.g., GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon).

Amylin — A hormone co-released with insulin; “amylin analogues” are being combined with GLP-1 drugs in next-gen programmes (e.g., CagriSema combines semaglutide with cagrilintide).

SNAC (salcaprozate sodium) — An absorption enhancer used in oral semaglutide formulations to help the medicine be absorbed.

Peptide vs non-peptide — Most classic GLP-1 medicines are peptides (injections); some next-gen options are small-molecule, non-peptide pills (e.g., orforglipron).

Gastric emptying — How quickly food leaves the stomach (GLP-1 medicines often slow this, contributing to fullness).

Satiety — The feeling of fullness.

Prescribing & pathway terms

Indication — What a medicine is officially approved to treat.

Label / “on-label” — Used within its approved indication.

Off-label — Prescribed outside the approved indication (this is clinician-led, and the evidence/risks matter).

Titration / dose escalation — Gradually increasing dose to improve tolerability (common in GLP-1 pathways).

Re-titration — Restarting at a lower dose after a break and increasing again (your prescriber advises).

Discontinuation — Stopping for an extended period (often operationalised as ~28+ days in pathway analytics).

Reinitiation — Restarting after discontinuation.

Adherence — Taking doses as prescribed.

Persistence — Staying on the medicine over time (even if adherence isn’t perfect).

For more on discontinuation and restart patterns, see stop–start cycles and why people stop GLP-1.

Safety & sourcing terms

Black triangle (▼) — In the UK this marks medicines under additional monitoring (you’ll see this on some GLP-1 products).

Yellow Card — The UK scheme for reporting suspected side effects; MHRA regularly reminds patients and clinicians to report.

Pancreatitis — A recognised rare risk signal that MHRA has issued strengthened warnings about (important term people see in safety updates).

Counterfeit / fake pens — Illegal imitation injection pens (MHRA has warned the public about fake Ozempic/Saxenda pens and broader risks).

“Research use only” GLP-1s — Unapproved products sold online with that label; FDA has warned consumers about these being of unknown quality and potentially harmful.

Compounded GLP-1 — Custom-made versions prepared by compounders (mostly a US-centric term); FDA has issued multiple policy updates and warnings as shortages changed.

A note on sourcing

If you see GLP-1 medicines sold online with labels like “research use only”, “not for human use”, or at unusually low prices, these are red flags. Use licensed pharmacies and regulated prescribers. If in doubt, check with your pharmacist or the MHRA. See also our clinical boundaries page.

Maintenance terms

Maintenance — the phase after initial weight loss where the focus is sustaining progress. See GLP-1 maintenance.

Drift — subtle changes that suggest maintenance is under strain (missed doses, appetite return, less structure).

Drift detection — spotting those early signals before weight clearly changes. See drift detection.

Stop–start cycle — repeated stopping and restarting (often linked to re-titration burden and weight fluctuations). See stop–start cycles.

Weight regain — regaining weight after weight loss; commonly discussed after treatment withdrawal. See weight regain after stopping.

How Healthcount helps

Healthcount is measurement-led: it watches your trend line rather than every daily wobble, and nudges you when the signals suggest drift (without daily food logging). It does not prescribe, diagnose, or advise dose changes. Learn more about how it works.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

UK list of GLP-1 / GLP-1+GIP medicines (and black triangle notation)
MHRA Drug Safety Update (UK safety language; class membership; Yellow Card reminders; UK marketing/authorisation notes)
FDA approvals/labels for US brand names (Zepbound; Wegovy tablets)
Peer-reviewed publications for emerging medicines (retatrutide; orforglipron) and sponsor regulatory-status statements
Pipeline definitions and sponsors/trial registries where available (CagriSema, survodutide, etc.)

Last updated: March 2026. This glossary is reviewed when new UK guidance, approvals, or pipeline updates are published.

Supporting GLP-1 maintenance at scale

If you're an insurer or employer running a GLP-1 pathway and need long-term outcomes oversight, contact us about a pilot.

Read about GLP-1 maintenance Request pilot

GLP-1 glossary

Why this glossary exists

Contents

Drug directory: approved medicines

Drug directory: in development / pipeline

Acronyms & shorthand

Mechanisms & hormone terms

Prescribing & pathway terms

Safety & sourcing terms

A note on sourcing

Maintenance terms

How Healthcount helps

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Related reading

Supporting GLP-1 maintenance at scale

GLP-1 glossary

Why this glossary exists

Contents

Drug directory: approved medicines

Drug directory: in development / pipeline

Acronyms & shorthand

Mechanisms & hormone terms

Prescribing & pathway terms

Safety & sourcing terms

A note on sourcing

Maintenance terms

How Healthcount helps

Frequently asked questions

Is this glossary “UK only”?

Are retatrutide and orforglipron approved?

Why are there so many brand names?

What does the ▼ symbol mean in the UK?

What’s the safest way to verify a medicine name?

I saw “research peptides” online — what does that mean?

Why does “SNAC” keep coming up for pills?

What’s the difference between adherence and persistence?

Sources

Related reading

Supporting GLP-1 maintenance at scale