Peptide Therapeutics|Beginner3 min

How GLP-1 Drugs Work (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)

Watch the four-mechanism action of GLP-1 peptide drugs — from injection to pancreas to stomach to brain. An interactive visual guide to the biggest peptide breakthrough in medicine.

How GLP-1 Drugs Work (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)

Semaglutide, tirzepatide & the four-pathway mechanism

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Injection & Circulation

A once-weekly peptide enters the bloodstream

GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are injected subcutaneously, usually once a week.

The peptide has a fatty-acid side chain (lipidation) that lets it bind reversibly to albumin in the blood. This dramatically slows clearance by the kidneys and extends the half-life from about 2 minutes (native GLP-1) to roughly 7 days.

From the bloodstream, the drug reaches four major tissues: the pancreas, stomach, gut, and brain — where it activates the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R).

Key Point

The fatty-acid tail is the engineering trick that turns a fragile natural hormone into a weekly medication.

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What You'll Learn

1Why semaglutide lasts 1 week while natural GLP-1 lasts only minutes
2How GLP-1 triggers glucose-dependent insulin release in the pancreas
3Why slowed gastric emptying amplifies weight loss
4How GLP-1 drugs cross into the brain to suppress appetite

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