GLP-1 Drug Names Decoded: The "-glutide" Suffix and Every Agent Listed
Direct answer: The suffix "-glutide" is the INN (International Nonproprietary Name) stem assigned by the World Health Organization to GLP-1 receptor agonist peptides. Every approved peptide GLP-1 agonist carries it — semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, albiglutide — and so do pipeline peptides like retatrutide. Non-peptide small-molecule GLP-1 agonists (orforglipron) use a different stem convention and do not end in "-glutide."
| Drug name fact | Value |
|---|---|
| INN stem for GLP-1 peptide agonists | -glutide |
| Approved "-glutide" drugs (as of 2026) | 5 (semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, albiglutide) |
| Glutide that starts with "r" (pipeline) | Retatrutide |
| Non-peptide GLP-1 agonist (no "-glutide") | Orforglipron |
| Dual agonist with "-tide" stem (not "-glutide") | Tirzepatide |
Key Takeaways
- "-glutide" = peptide GLP-1 agonist: The stem is applied by the WHO to identify the drug class. If the generic name ends in -glutide, it activates the GLP-1 receptor as a peptide analogue.
- Retatrutide is the glutide that starts with "r": It is a triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon receptors) in Phase 3 trials. Phase 2 data showed 24.2% weight loss at 48 weeks.
- Tirzepatide does not end in "-glutide": Its stem "-tide" reflects peptide structure but it is classified under a different INN stem because it is a dual agonist — not a pure GLP-1 agent.
- Brand names are separate: Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Victoza, Mounjaro, Zepbound, and Foundayo are trade names; the generics (semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, orforglipron) are the INNs.
- Same generic, multiple brands: Semaglutide is sold as Ozempic (diabetes), Wegovy (obesity injectable), and Rybelsus/Wegovy pill (oral) — same molecule, different doses and delivery formats.
Understanding the naming system is the fastest way to decode any GLP-1 drug name you encounter in a prescription, trial paper, or news report. The sections below map the entire class.
The "-glutide" suffix: what it means and why it exists
The International Nonproprietary Name (INN) system, managed by the WHO, assigns standardized stems to drug classes so that a generic name carries structural and mechanistic information. For GLP-1 receptor agonist peptides, the designated stem is -glutide — derived from "glucagon-like peptide."
When a pharmaceutical company develops a new GLP-1 peptide agonist and submits it for INN designation, the WHO appends "-glutide" to a unique prefix chosen for that molecule. The prefix is typically arbitrary (semantic rather than structural), while the suffix is the classification signal. This is why semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, and albiglutide all share the same ending: they are all peptide drugs acting at the GLP-1 receptor.
The stem convention applies specifically to peptide analogues of GLP-1. Non-peptide molecules — small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists like orforglipron — do not carry the "-glutide" stem because they belong to a structurally distinct category, even though they activate the same receptor.
Every "-glutide" drug name: the complete list
The following table lists all approved and late-stage pipeline GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs that carry the "-glutide" INN stem, along with their brand names, approval status, and primary indications.
| Generic (INN) | Brand name(s) | Approval status | Primary indication(s) | Subcategory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Ozempic; Wegovy; Rybelsus | FDA approved | T2D; obesity (chronic weight management) | Long-acting GLP-1 agonist |
| Liraglutide | Victoza (1.8mg); Saxenda (3mg) | FDA approved | T2D; obesity | Long-acting GLP-1 agonist |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | FDA approved | T2D | Long-acting GLP-1 agonist |
| Exenatide | Byetta (twice daily); Bydureon (weekly) | FDA approved | T2D | Short-acting / extended-release GLP-1 agonist |
| Albiglutide | Tanzeum / Eperzan | Approved (withdrawn from market 2018 for commercial reasons) | T2D | Long-acting GLP-1 agonist |
| Retatrutide | (no brand yet) | Phase 3 trials | Obesity | Triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon) |
| Efpeglenatide | (no U.S. brand) | Approved in some markets | T2D | Long-acting GLP-1 agonist |
| Semaglutide (oral 50mg) | Wegovy pill | FDA approved (2023 obesity indication) | Obesity | Oral GLP-1 agonist |
Retatrutide: the glutide that starts with "r"
Retatrutide is the most-searched "-glutide" drug in early-stage queries because it is the only prominent pipeline agent whose name starts with "r." It is developed by Eli Lilly and is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials under the program name TRIUMPH.
Unlike pure GLP-1 agonists, retatrutide is a triple receptor agonist — it activates the GLP-1 receptor, the GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor, and the glucagon receptor simultaneously. The glucagon receptor component is what distinguishes it from tirzepatide (GLP-1 + GIP only): glucagon receptor agonism increases energy expenditure and fat oxidation on top of the appetite suppression produced by GLP-1 and GIP activation.
Phase 2 data (published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 2023) showed 24.2% mean body weight loss at 48 weeks at the 12mg dose — the highest figure reported for any GLP-1-class drug at the time of publication. Phase 3 results, expected in 2025–2026, will determine whether this translates to approval.
Retatrutide carries the "-glutide" stem because its primary scaffold is a peptide GLP-1 analogue, even though its pharmacology extends beyond the GLP-1 receptor.
GLP-1 drug names that do NOT end in "-glutide"
Two significant agents in the broader GLP-1 drug landscape do not carry the "-glutide" stem, for different structural reasons.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound)
Tirzepatide ends in "-tide" — the generic INN stem for peptides — rather than "-glutide." This is because tirzepatide is classified as a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, not a pure GLP-1 agonist. The WHO assigned it a different stem to reflect its co-primary GIP mechanism. Functionally it activates the GLP-1 receptor, so it is clinically grouped with GLP-1 receptor agonists — but its naming follows the dual-agonist classification.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound for obesity; Mounjaro for T2D) showed 22.5% mean body weight loss at 72 weeks in the SURMOUNT-1 trial at the 15mg dose, making it the highest-efficacy approved agent in the class.
Orforglipron (Foundayo)
Orforglipron is a non-peptide, small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist — it activates the GLP-1 receptor without being a peptide analogue of GLP-1. Because the "-glutide" stem applies specifically to peptide GLP-1 analogues, orforglipron received a different INN designation. Its name ends in "-glipron," which the WHO uses for this structural subcategory.
Orforglipron (brand: Foundayo, approved in the U.S. in 2025) can be taken orally with or without food — no fasting window required — because it has no peptide backbone to be digested. Phase 3 data showed approximately 14.7% weight loss at 36 weeks.
Brand vs. generic names: a complete mapping
The same generic drug often has multiple brand names at different doses or for different indications. The table below maps every major brand name to its generic.
| Brand name | Generic (INN) | Dose / format | Approved indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg — subcutaneous weekly | Type 2 diabetes |
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | 2.4mg — subcutaneous weekly | Obesity / chronic weight management |
| Rybelsus | Semaglutide | 3mg, 7mg, 14mg — oral daily | Type 2 diabetes |
| Wegovy (pill) | Semaglutide | 50mg — oral daily | Obesity / chronic weight management |
| Victoza | Liraglutide | 1.2mg, 1.8mg — subcutaneous daily | Type 2 diabetes |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide | 3mg — subcutaneous daily | Obesity / chronic weight management |
| Trulicity | Dulaglutide | 0.75mg, 1.5mg, 3mg, 4.5mg — subcutaneous weekly | Type 2 diabetes |
| Byetta | Exenatide | 5mcg, 10mcg — subcutaneous twice daily | Type 2 diabetes |
| Bydureon / Bydureon BCise | Exenatide extended-release | 2mg — subcutaneous weekly | Type 2 diabetes |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | 2.5–15mg — subcutaneous weekly | Type 2 diabetes |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | 2.5–15mg — subcutaneous weekly | Obesity / chronic weight management |
| Foundayo | Orforglipron | 3–36mg — oral daily | Obesity / type 2 diabetes |
Key naming conventions to remember
- Same generic = same molecule. Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide. The brand name signals dose and indication, not a different drug.
- Higher dose does not always equal a different brand. Semaglutide 2mg (Ozempic) and semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy) are the same molecule at slightly different doses under different brand names for different indications.
- Generic names are stable; brand names change. If a drug loses patent protection and generics enter the market, the INN (semaglutide, liraglutide, etc.) is what persists.
Full efficacy and classification comparison
| Generic (INN) | Brand | Route | Frequency | Receptor target(s) | Weight loss (key trial) | Stem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide | Byetta / Bydureon | Subcutaneous | Twice daily / weekly | GLP-1R | ~2–3 kg | -glutide |
| Liraglutide | Victoza / Saxenda | Subcutaneous | Daily | GLP-1R | ~8% at 56 wks (SCALE) | -glutide |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | Subcutaneous | Weekly | GLP-1R | ~3–5 kg | -glutide |
| Semaglutide | Ozempic / Wegovy / Rybelsus | Subcutaneous / Oral | Weekly / Daily | GLP-1R | ~15% at 68 wks (STEP 1) | -glutide |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro / Zepbound | Subcutaneous | Weekly | GLP-1R + GIPR | 22.5% at 72 wks (SURMOUNT-1) | -tide |
| Orforglipron | Foundayo | Oral | Daily | GLP-1R | ~14.7% at 36 wks | -glipron |
| Retatrutide | (pipeline) | Subcutaneous | Weekly | GLP-1R + GIPR + GCGR | 24.2% at 48 wks (Phase 2) | -glutide |
How GLP-1 drug naming works in practice
When you see a drug name ending in "-glutide," you can immediately conclude:
- It is a peptide analogue of GLP-1.
- It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — it activates the receptor that GLP-1 naturally activates.
- It requires injection in almost all cases (peptides are digested orally unless special delivery technology is used, as with oral semaglutide).
When you see a drug that activates the GLP-1 receptor but does NOT end in "-glutide" (tirzepatide, orforglipron, retatrutide excluded from this rule since it does end in -glutide), the drug is either a dual/triple agonist (tirzepatide) or a small-molecule non-peptide (orforglipron).
This naming structure is consistent and reliable — it is the same framework used in clinical literature, prescribing information, and regulatory filings worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "-glutide" mean in drug names? It is the WHO INN stem for GLP-1 receptor agonist peptides. All peptide GLP-1 agonists have an INN ending in -glutide: semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, albiglutide, retatrutide.
What is the glutide that starts with "r"? Retatrutide. It is a triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon receptors) developed by Eli Lilly, currently in Phase 3 trials. Phase 2 data showed 24.2% weight loss at 48 weeks — the highest figure published for any GLP-1-class agent to date.
Why doesn't tirzepatide end in "-glutide"? Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist — its primary INN classification is as a dual agonist peptide, not a pure GLP-1 analogue. The WHO assigned it the "-tide" stem (generic peptide) rather than "-glutide" (GLP-1 peptide). It still acts on the GLP-1 receptor and is grouped clinically with GLP-1 RAs.
Are Ozempic and semaglutide the same drug? Yes. Ozempic is the brand name; semaglutide is the generic (INN). Wegovy is also semaglutide — the same molecule at a higher dose (2.4mg vs. 1–2mg) with an obesity indication.
Is there a GLP-1 drug that does not require injection? Yes, two: oral semaglutide (Rybelsus for diabetes; Wegovy 50mg pill for obesity) and orforglipron (Foundayo). The Wegovy pill requires a 30-minute fasting window before dosing. Orforglipron can be taken with or without food, which is a practical advantage.
Are all "-glutide" drugs approved for weight loss? No. Only specific agents at specific doses carry an FDA obesity indication: semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy), liraglutide 3mg (Saxenda), and semaglutide 50mg pill (Wegovy pill). Dulaglutide and exenatide are approved for type 2 diabetes only. Tirzepatide (Zepbound) and orforglipron (Foundayo) are also approved for obesity but do not carry the "-glutide" stem.
What GLP-1 drugs are in the pipeline? Retatrutide (Eli Lilly, Phase 3) is the most advanced pipeline "-glutide" agent. Several other triple agonists and next-generation peptides are in Phase 1 and 2 development.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any medication.
