glp1versus

Bydureon BCise vs Wegovy

exenatide extended-release (GLP-1 receptor agonist) vs semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) — a complete side-by-side comparison.

AstraZenecaNovo Nordisk

Bydureon BCise weight loss

2.3%

Wegovy weight loss

16.9%

Bydureon BCise dosing

Once weekly

Wegovy dosing

Once weekly

Reviewed by Dr. Elena Vance, DOLast reviewed 13 sources cited

Quick Summary

Bydureon BCise (exenatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are both glp-1 receptor agonists. In clinical trials, Wegovy showed greater weight loss (16.9% vs 2.3%).

See the comparison table below for detailed side-by-side data.

Bydureon BCise vs Wegovy: Full Comparison

FeatureBydureon BCise(exenatide extended-release)Wegovy(semaglutide)
Active Ingredientexenatidesemaglutide
Drug ClassGLP-1 receptor agonistGLP-1 receptor agonist
ManufacturerAstraZenecaNovo Nordisk
FDA Approved2012-01-272021-06-04
Approved Indications
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjunct to diet and exercise)
  • Chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity
  • Chronic weight management in patients aged 12+ with BMI at 95th percentile or greater
  • Reduction of risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke) in adults with established CVD and either obesity or overweight (March 8, 2024)
Routesubcutaneous injectionsubcutaneous injection
FrequencyOnce weeklyOnce weekly
Starting Dose2 mg weekly0.25 mg weekly
Maintenance Dose2 mg weekly2.4 mg weekly
Max Dose2 mg weekly7.2 mg weekly (Wegovy HD, approved March 19, 2026)
Weight Loss (%)2.3%16.9%
A1C Reduction1.3%N/A (not indicated for diabetes)
Key TrialDURATION-1 (30 weeks)STEP 1 (68 weeks)
List Price$800-$950/month$1,349-$1,650/month
With Insurance$25-$100/month (varies by plan)$25-$250/month (varies by plan; many plans exclude weight-loss drugs)
Savings CardLimited savings programs available$0/month for eligible patients (NovoCare savings program)

Side Effects: Bydureon BCise vs Wegovy

Side EffectBydureon BCiseWegovy
Nausea11%44%
Diarrhea9%30%
Injection site nodule10-17%Not reported
Headache8%14%
Vomiting4%24%
Constipation6%24%
Pancreatitis (rare)<1%<1%
Abdominal painNot reported20%
FatigueNot reported11%
Gallbladder eventsNot reported2.6%

Severity scale: 1 (mild) to 5 (serious). Based on FDA prescribing information and clinical trial data.

Related Comparisons

Bydureon BCise vs OzempicWegovy vs OzempicBydureon BCise vs MounjaroWegovy vs MounjaroBydureon BCise vs ZepboundWegovy vs ZepboundBydureon BCise vs RybelsusWegovy vs Rybelsus

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

FDA & Regulatory

  1. Bydureon BCise FDA Drugs@FDA approval record — FDA
  2. Wegovy FDA Drugs@FDA approval record — FDA

Clinical Trial Records

  1. DURATION-1 clinical trial record — ClinicalTrials.gov
  2. STEP 1 clinical trial record — ClinicalTrials.gov

Peer-Reviewed Literature

  1. Drucker DJ et al. Exenatide once weekly versus twice daily for treatment of type 2 diabetes (DURATION-1). Lancet 2008;372:1240-1250 — The Lancet
  2. Wilding JPH et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021;384:989-1002 — New England Journal of Medicine
  3. Lincoff AM et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes (SELECT). N Engl J Med 2023;389:2221-2232 — New England Journal of Medicine

Safety Communications

  1. FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems in adults with obesity or overweight (March 8, 2024) — FDA
  2. FDA approves fourth product under National Priority Voucher Program: higher dose Wegovy (Wegovy HD, March 19, 2026) — FDA

Manufacturer Information

  1. Bydureon BCise patient website (AstraZeneca) — AstraZeneca
  2. Wegovy patient and healthcare provider website — Novo Nordisk

Reference Entries

  1. Exenatide entry on Wikipedia — Wikipedia
  2. Semaglutide entry on Wikipedia — Wikipedia

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions. See our full medical disclaimer.