COMPARISON
Exenatide vs Semaglutide
6 attributes held for at least one of the two. 6 differ. Each value carries the register it came from and the date that register was read.
Answer
Exenatide is authorised or registered in 5 and Semaglutide in 10 of the 10 registers read. Exenatide: highest phase Phase 2. Semaglutide: highest phase Phase 4 (after approval). 11 registered trials include both.
States no view on which is preferable, safer or more effective. Not medical advice.
| Exenatide | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered trials differs | 383 clinicaltrials.gov · 2026-10-03 | 861 clinicaltrials.gov · 2026-10-03 |
| FDA label differs | FDA-approved: Byetta openfda · 2026-10-03T17:23:44.062Z | FDA-approved: OZEMPIC openfda · 2026-10-03T17:23:44.062Z |
| EU authorisation differs | Withdrawn ema · 2026-10-03 | Authorised ema · 2026-10-03 |
| EU authorised on differs | Not checked no record of "authorisedOn" for exenatide | 2018-02-08 ema · 2026-10-03 |
| EU withdrawn on differs | 2024-11-20 ema · 2026-10-03 | Not checked no record of "withdrawnOn" for semaglutide |
| ATC code differs | A10BJ01 ema · 2026-10-03 | A10BJ06 ema · 2026-10-03 |
SIDE EFFECTS
Most common side effects, each beside its own placebo
| Side effect | Exenatide | placebo | Semaglutide | placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache | 1.9% | 1.3% | 4.0% | 2.1% |
| Constipation | 0.8% | 0.3% | 8.9% | 2.8% |
| Dyspepsia | 0.8% | 0.3% | 5.3% | 1.2% |
| Non-cardiac chest pain | 1.1% | 1.0% | - | - |
| Osteoarthritis | 0.9% | 1.0% | - | - |
| Dizziness | 0.8% | 0.4% | - | - |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 0.7% | 0.7% | - | - |
| Fatigue | 0.6% | 0.1% | - | - |
| Back pain | 0.5% | 0.6% | - | - |
| Sinusitis | 0.5% | 0.2% | - | - |
| Nausea | - | - | 19.5% | 4.5% |
| COVID-19 | - | - | 17.0% | 17.8% |
| Diarrhoea | - | - | 11.8% | 4.5% |
| Vomiting | - | - | 8.6% | 1.6% |
| Nasopharyngitis | - | - | 7.5% | 6.1% |
| Decreased appetite | - | - | 6.3% | 1.3% |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | - | - | 2.7% | 1.9% |
Trial register Exenatide: 24 placebo-controlled trials; Semaglutide: 50. Each peptide is compared with placebo in its own trials, not with the other: a dash means the event is not in that peptide's top list. Exenatide side effects · Semaglutide side effects
LEGAL STATUS
Approval in each country read
| Country | Exenatide | Semaglutide | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | FDA-approved | FDA-approved | Regulator FDA |
| European Union | Withdrawn | Authorised | Regulator EMA |
| United Kingdom | Authorised | Authorised | Regulator MHRA |
| Canada | Authorised | Authorised | Regulator Health Canada |
| Australia | Status unknown | Registered | TGA |
| Switzerland | Not on the register | Authorised | Regulator Swissmedic |
| Brazil | Registado | Registado | Regulator ANVISA |
| Serbia | Not on the register | Authorised | Regulator ALIMS |
| Singapore | Not on the register | Registered | Regulator HSA |
| Turkey | Ruhsatli | Ruhsatli | Regulator TITCK |
HEAD TO HEAD
11 registered trials include both
| NCT05220917 | Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Four Second Line Pharmacological Strategies in Type 2 Diabetes Study ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · updated 2026-08-13 |
|---|---|
| NCT07702461 | Determination of Resistance Training Status for Patients on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists RECRUITING · updated 2026-07-24 |
| NCT05356104 | GLP-1 Analogue in Preventing Progression of Small Vessel Disease (GAPP-SVD) RECRUITING · updated 2026-06-05 |
| NCT07309094 | Clinical, Morphometric and Biochemical Effects on Adiposopathy Associated With the Use of GLP-1RA in CKD RECRUITING · updated 2025-12-30 |
| NCT05670379 | Assessment of Safety, Tolerability and Drug Levels of Exenatide Implant COMPLETED · updated 2025-09-23 |
| NCT07188545 | Using Secondary Data to Evaluate Sex-based Heterogeneity of GLP-1 Agonists and SGLT2 Inhibitors on Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health (CKMH) Outcomes in Rea ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · updated 2025-09-23 |
| NCT06449235 | Real-World Evaluation of Omarigliptin for Type 2 Diabetes Meliitus in Bangladesh UNKNOWN · updated 2024-07-16 |
| NCT05136287 | SEMAGLUTIDE VERSUS GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS. EFFECTIVENESS , SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS 2. OBSERVATIONAL, PROSPECTIVE AND MULT COMPLETED · updated 2024-02-28 |
| NCT05161429 | BESTMED: Observational Evaluation of Second Line Therapy Medications in Diabetes UNKNOWN · updated 2023-06-22 |
| NCT01511393 | An Active Surveillance Program for Cases of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION · updated 2023-06-13 |
| NCT01885208 | Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide Once-weekly Versus Exenatide ER 2.0 mg Once-weekly as add-on to 1-2 Oral Antidiabetic Drugs (OADs) in Subjects With Type 2 Di COMPLETED · updated 2019-06-13 |
Values reproduce public registers on the dates shown. This comparison states no view on which compound is preferable, safer or more effective. Not medical, legal or regulatory advice.
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