Side-by-side comparison
Semaglutide vs Liraglutide
Both are GLP-1 medicines from Novo Nordisk and both act on the same receptor. Liraglutide is the older of the two and is injected once a day; semaglutide lasts longer in the body and is given once a week, or as a daily tablet.
Last verified 2026-09-29 · how we verify
In plain English
The real difference
- Both act on the same target: the GLP-1 receptor.[src][src]
- Both are approved medicines.[src][src]
- Both come from the same company, Novo Nordisk.
- Semaglutide is taken as a once-weekly injection or once-daily tablet; liraglutide as a once-daily injection.
- Half-life (how long until half the drug has left the blood): Semaglutide, about 1 week (elimination half-life); the drug stays in the blood for about 5 weeks after the last injection; liraglutide, about 13 hours after subcutaneous administration.[src][src]
- Our sources include no head-to-head trial between them. Their results come from different trials, with different people, durations and methods, so the numbers below are not directly comparable.
Which one suits a person is a decision for them and their clinician.
Semaglutide and Liraglutide, side by side
| SemaglutideNovo Nordisk | LiraglutideNovo Nordisk | |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Molecule | Semaglutide | Liraglutide |
| Brand names | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus | Victoza, Saxenda |
| Maker | Same for both | |
| Acts onThe hormone receptors the drug switches on | Same for both GLP-1 receptor | |
| Approved to treat |
|
|
| How it is taken | Approved as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection (Ozempic, Wegovy) or as a once-daily oral tablet co-formulated with SNAC (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets, Wegovy tablets), prescribed and supervised by a clinician. | Subcutaneous injection, once daily (pre-filled pen, used under a prescriber's supervision) |
| Half-lifeHow long until half the drug has left the blood | About 1 week (elimination half-life); the drug stays in the blood for about 5 weeks after the last injection[src] | About 13 hours after subcutaneous administration[src] |
| Molecule size | Not in our verified data |
|
| Evidence and safety | ||
| Evidence level | Same for both | |
| Approvals and filings |
|
|
| Key trial resultsTrials test the molecule, not a brand; each result names its population |
| |
| Known safety signals |
|
|
| Legal status | ||
| United States | Approved FDA-approved as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy; compounded copies lost their shortage cover in 2025 and 503B is proposing a formal exclusion[src] Full detail → | Generics available Brand Victoza and Saxenda plus several FDA-approved generics; liraglutide is still on FDA's shortage list and Saxenda is being discontinued[src] Full detail → |
| United Kingdom | Approved Licensed in the UK: Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight management (now also as a tablet)[src] Full detail → | Generics available Licensed in the UK (Saxenda, plus generic liraglutide for weight management and type 2 diabetes since 2024)[src] Full detail → |
| European Union | Approved Authorised EU-wide for type 2 diabetes, weight management and MASH (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Kayshild)[src] Full detail → | Approved Authorised EU-wide (Victoza, Saxenda) plus two STADA liraglutide products authorised in July 2026[src] Full detail → |
| Australia | Approved Approved on the ARTG as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. PBS covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy is not yet PBS-listed. Compounded copies barred since 1 Oct 2024.[src] Full detail → | Generics available Approved as Victoza and Saxenda; generic liraglutide pens were added to the ARTG from March 2025. Compounded versions barred since 1 October 2024.[src] Full detail → |
| Canada | Generics available Approved as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy; generic semaglutide approved from April 2026 and on sale since May 2026[src] Full detail → | Approved Approved as Victoza (type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (weight management); no generic listed yet, 11 submissions pending[src] Full detail → |
Trial results come from separate studies unless a row says it is a head-to-head trial. Populations, durations and methods differ, so compare numbers across columns with care.
Go deeper
Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use any substance, and not an offer to supply. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own care.
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