Protocol
GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide)
GLP-1 RA · semaglutide · Wegovy · Ozempic · tirzepatide · Mounjaro · GLP-1/GIP dual agonist · incretin mimetics
This is the strongest human evidence base in the longevity-clinic drug universe, but the strength sits in cardiometabolic disease, not in ageing. The SELECT trial (17,604 adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease, no diabetes; ~40 months mean follow-up) found semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly cut the composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI and non-fatal stroke by 20% (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.90, p<0.001), with a supportive but hierarchically untested all-cause mortality signal (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.93) and mean 9.4% weight loss. Reducing MACE and incident diabetes in a high-risk population is a genuine healthspan-relevant outcome, and that is what justifies a clinical grade. What the evidence does NOT show: no trial has demonstrated that GLP-1 RAs extend lifespan, and none was designed to. Ageing-specific data is early and small. A randomised placebo-controlled study reported semaglutide slowed one validated epigenetic clock by roughly 9%, and a UC San Diego pilot reported telomere lengthening in about half of treated participants over 24 weeks; these are surrogate biomarkers, not outcomes, in small samples, and epigenetic-clock movement has never been validated as a proxy for lifespan. The first trial explicitly powered for healthspan endpoints in healthy older adults, VITAL-H (ARPA-H funded, UT Health San Antonio), was only announced in February 2026 and has not reported. Critically, essentially all outcome evidence comes from populations with obesity, diabetes or established cardiovascular disease. There is no outcome evidence supporting use in metabolically healthy, normal-weight adults, which is precisely the longevity-clinic use case, and no evidence base at all for the "microdosing for longevity" protocols some clinics market. Loss of lean mass with weight loss is a real and under-discussed risk in older adults. Verdict: clinical for cardiometabolic and weight outcomes in indicated populations; mechanism-to-preclinical for any anti-ageing claim specifically.
At a glance
- Evidence
- Clinical
- Singapore (HSA)
- Registered with HSA, indication depends on the product. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is HSA-registered for weight management in adults with BMI >=30, or >=27 with a weight-related comorbidity, and for adolescents aged 12+ with obesity and body weight above 60 kg, plus an indication for reducing cardiovascular risk in those with established cardiovascular disease (Singapore National Drug Formulary, SIN16744P). Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is HSA-registered as SIN16714P (registrant DKSH Singapore) for adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and exercise, as monotherapy where metformin is unsuitable or in combination; the government formulary entry retrieved lists ONLY the type 2 diabetes indication. Commercial Singapore clinic blogs claim HSA added a weight-management indication for Mounjaro in June 2025, but this could not be confirmed against any HSA or NDF source and should be treated as unverified. All are prescription-only medicines; not Medisave or MediShield Life claimable for weight management. HSA has also issued a safety review assessing possible suicidal ideation and self-harm signals with GLP-1 RAs.
- Australia (TGA)
- TGA-registered, and unusually for this category, registered for weight management rather than used off-label. Semaglutide was first TGA-registered in 2019 as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is ARTG-registered for chronic weight management and, from December 2024, for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in people with overweight or obesity without diabetes. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) was approved by the TGA on 11 September 2024 for chronic weight management as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, in adults with BMI >=30 or >=27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity, in addition to its existing type 2 diabetes registration. Neither Wegovy nor Mounjaro is PBS-subsidised for weight management; both are private prescription only. Note: the TGA's own ARTG and registration pages timed out on direct retrieval, so the indication wording and dates here are sourced from RACGP newsGP and Australian Prescriber rather than read off the TGA site directly.
- Offered at
- 1 clinic
Singapore
Health Sciences Authority
- HSA status
- Registered with HSA, indication depends on the product. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is HSA-registered for weight management in adults with BMI >=30, or >=27 with a weight-related comorbidity, and for adolescents aged 12+ with obesity and body weight above 60 kg, plus an indication for reducing cardiovascular risk in those with established cardiovascular disease (Singapore National Drug Formulary, SIN16744P). Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is HSA-registered as SIN16714P (registrant DKSH Singapore) for adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and exercise, as monotherapy where metformin is unsuitable or in combination; the government formulary entry retrieved lists ONLY the type 2 diabetes indication. Commercial Singapore clinic blogs claim HSA added a weight-management indication for Mounjaro in June 2025, but this could not be confirmed against any HSA or NDF source and should be treated as unverified. All are prescription-only medicines; not Medisave or MediShield Life claimable for weight management. HSA has also issued a safety review assessing possible suicidal ideation and self-harm signals with GLP-1 RAs.
- In our SG set
- Tracked in Singapore
- SG clinics
- None on file
Australia
Therapeutic Goods Administration
- TGA status
- TGA-registered, and unusually for this category, registered for weight management rather than used off-label. Semaglutide was first TGA-registered in 2019 as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is ARTG-registered for chronic weight management and, from December 2024, for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in people with overweight or obesity without diabetes. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) was approved by the TGA on 11 September 2024 for chronic weight management as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, in adults with BMI >=30 or >=27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity, in addition to its existing type 2 diabetes registration. Neither Wegovy nor Mounjaro is PBS-subsidised for weight management; both are private prescription only. Note: the TGA's own ARTG and registration pages timed out on direct retrieval, so the indication wording and dates here are sourced from RACGP newsGP and Australian Prescriber rather than read off the TGA site directly.
- In our AU set
- Tracked in Australia
- AU clinics
- 1
Evidence is not approvalAn evidence grade describes how strong the science is. A regulatory status describes whether a body has approved the intervention for an indication. They are different questions, answered separately above.
What it is
Plain-language explainer
GLP-1 receptor agonists are injectable prescription medicines that mimic the incretin hormone GLP-1, slowing gastric emptying, increasing satiety and improving glycaemic control. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) acts on the GLP-1 receptor alone; tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist. They are registered medicines for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, and are increasingly marketed by longevity clinics on the broader claim that they slow biological ageing, a claim that runs well ahead of the drugs' actual approved indications.
Categories
Protocol
Coverage
More on GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide).
Sources
What this profile is built on
- WEGOVY 0.25 MG/DOSE FlexTouch solution for injection [SIN16744P] · Singapore National Drug Formulary (Government of Singapore)
- MOUNJARO INJECTION 5MG/0.5ML [SIN16714P] · Singapore National Drug Formulary (Government of Singapore)
- HSA is assessing the potential risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm with GLP-1 receptor agonists · Health Sciences Authority, Singapore
- Mounjaro expanded to include weight management · RACGP newsGP
- Semaglutide for cardiovascular risk reduction in people who are overweight or have obesity without diabetes (new indication) · Australian Prescriber
- AusPAR: Mounjaro (tirzepatide) · Therapeutic Goods Administration
- SELECT: semaglutide to improve outcomes in patients with obesity and cardiovascular disease, also without diabetes · PubMed Central
- Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial · PubMed Central
- Study: Popular GLP-1 Drug May Slow Down Biological Aging · UC San Diego Today
- Medical Weight Loss Program · Everlab
- GLP-1 medications in Singapore · NOVI Health
- Guide to weight loss medication in Australia · Vively
Every entity profile on variis is sourced. Not medical advice.