Liraglutide: Medicine Overview
Liraglutide is a daily GLP-1 receptor agonist sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight; this overview covers label indications, key trials and safety information.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What liraglutide is
Liraglutide was one of the first GLP-1 medicines taken for years by large numbers of people. The US label calls it an acylated human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% amino acid sequence homology to natural GLP-1(7-37). It is built from a yeast-made precursor, with one amino acid swapped and a fatty acid attached so it lasts longer. [1] Natural GLP-1 has a half-life of only 1.5 to 2 minutes because enzymes destroy it, while liraglutide resists those enzymes. [2] Its own elimination half-life is about 13 hours, which is why it is given daily rather than weekly. [1] See half-life and clearance and lipidation and other peptide modifications.Evidence labels used: approved medicine (a regulator reviewed it for a named use). Victoza and Saxenda contain the same molecule but are separate products with separate labels. See active ingredient, brand, formulation and indication.
What the trials showed
- Heart events (Victoza). The LEADER trial gave liraglutide or placebo to 9,340 adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease for a median of 3.5 years. Major heart events occurred in 13.0% versus 14.9% (hazard ratio 0.87). Death from cardiovascular causes was 4.7% versus 6.0%. [1] Not every individual component was statistically clear: non-fatal heart attack and stroke had intervals that included no effect. [1]
- Weight (Saxenda). A 56-week trial enrolled 3,731 adults with obesity or overweight plus a related condition, without type 2 diabetes. Among the subset with abnormal blood sugar, 56% lost at least 5% of body weight at 56 weeks versus 25% on placebo, and 28% versus 14% at 160 weeks among those still known. The label gives these for description only. [2]
- How it works on weight. The label says liraglutide lowers body weight by decreasing calorie intake and does not raise 24-hour energy expenditure. [2]
Weight and blood sugar are measured changes; heart events are outcomes people feel. LEADER measured heart outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Saxenda's trial reported weight, so it should not be read as showing the same heart benefit. See incretin-based medicines: which outcomes were measured.
Care context
Liraglutide is prescription-only. Any change in treatment belongs with a prescriber; this page is not prescribing advice. For compounded or unapproved copies, FDA says they do not go through its review for safety, effectiveness or quality. [7] See GLP-1 medicines overview.Frequently asked questions
Are Victoza and Saxenda the same?
They contain the same active ingredient but are approved for different uses: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight. [1][2]
Does liraglutide protect the heart?
In LEADER, major heart events were lower with Victoza in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. That result applies to that group. [1]
Why daily injections when some others are weekly?
Liraglutide's half-life is about 13 hours, while semaglutide's label lists about a week. [1][8]
Is liraglutide safe in pregnancy?
The Saxenda label says to discontinue when pregnancy is recognized, as weight loss offers no benefit and may cause fetal harm. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Brands and approved uses (read 2026-10-22)
| Product | US (FDA label) | EU (EMA page) |
|---|---|---|
| Victoza | Blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes; fewer major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease [1] | Insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes in adults, adolescents and children 10 and older [3] |
| Saxenda | Weight reduction and maintenance in adults and children 12 and older (over 60 kg) with obesity, or adults with overweight plus a weight-related condition [2] | Weight management in adults by body mass index, and in adolescents 12 and older with obesity and body weight above 60 kg [4] |
| Xultophy (liraglutide with insulin degludec) | Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control in adults [5] | Type 2 diabetes in adults [6] |
Both single-drug labels say liraglutide products should not be used together, and the Saxenda label adds any other GLP-1 receptor agonist. [1][2] Xultophy is a fixed combination, so its label is not interchangeable with either single product. [5]
Main safety information from the labels
- Boxed warning. In rats and mice liraglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors; whether it does in humans is unknown. It is contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. [1]
- Common effects. Victoza: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion and constipation. [1] Saxenda: also injection site reactions, headache, low blood sugar, fatigue and dizziness. [2]
- Serious warnings. Pancreatitis, kidney injury from dehydration, severe stomach and bowel reactions, serious allergic reactions and gallbladder disease. [1] In LEADER, acute gallbladder events were 3.1% versus 1.9% on placebo. [1]
- Low blood sugar. Risk rises with insulin or sulfonylureas; in children 10 and older, low blood sugar was higher on Victoza regardless of insulin or metformin use. [1]
- Heart rate. Saxenda's label asks clinicians to monitor heart rate at regular intervals. [2]
- Immune reactions. Hives and similar events were more common on Victoza (0.8%) than comparators (0.4%) in trials; see immunogenicity of peptide medicines. [1]
- Pregnancy. Weight loss offers no benefit in pregnancy and may harm the baby; the Saxenda label says to discontinue it once pregnancy is recognized. [2]
- Mood. The US Saxenda label's suicidal behavior and ideation section was removed in 02/2026. [2]
References
- Victoza (liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2025-11-17. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Saxenda (liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-06-15. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Victoza EPAR product page, European Medicines Agency. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Saxenda EPAR product page, European Medicines Agency. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec and liraglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2025-11-17. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Xultophy EPAR product page, European Medicines Agency. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Source. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, DailyMed listing dated 2026-06-10. Source. Read 2026-10-22.