Metformin vs Semaglutide: what is the difference?
Metformin is a tiny molecule that cuts glucose production in the liver, while semaglutide is a copy of the gut hormone GLP-1 that also curbs appetite.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
Side by side
| Metformin | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 129.16 g/molC4H11N5 | 4,114 g/molC187H291N45O59 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 3 | 57 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Diabetes medicines | Diabetes medicines |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amines | Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, Amines, Aromatics, Amides, Phenols, Ethers |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem | Warning | Danger |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
| Oral LD50Measured HSDB via PubChem | 1,000 mg/kgpure metformin, rat, oral | Not recorded |
| A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChem; ECHA via PubChem
- Oral LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 4091 (Metformin) and 56843331 (Semaglutide).
In more detail
These are both treatments for type 2 diabetes and they are barely comparable as molecules. Metformin is tiny, four carbons and five nitrogens at 129.16, descended from a compound in goat's rue, and it works mainly by reducing glucose production in the liver and improving insulin sensitivity. Semaglutide is a peptide of 31 amino acids at 4114, a modified copy of the gut hormone GLP-1 with a fatty acid chain attached so it binds albumin and lasts a week rather than minutes. Semaglutide slows stomach emptying and acts on appetite centres, which is why it also produces substantial weight loss, and metformin does so only slightly. Metformin is taken by mouth and remains the usual first-line choice; semaglutide is normally injected, with one oral formulation.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Metformin and Semaglutide?
- Metformin is a tiny molecule that cuts glucose production in the liver, while semaglutide is a copy of the gut hormone GLP-1 that also curbs appetite.
- Is Metformin bigger than Semaglutide?
- Semaglutide is the heavier molecule, 4,114 g/mol against 129.16 g/mol for Metformin. Metformin is C4H11N5 and Semaglutide is C187H291N45O59.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.