Approved GLP-1 medicine

Liraglutide

Sold as Victoza, Saxenda. Also called NN2211, Liraglutide (rDNA origin).

Liraglutide copies a gut hormone called GLP-1. It helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows the stomach, and turns down hunger signals. A small fatty chain helps it stick to a blood protein, so one daily injection is enough. Its maker says it was the first once-daily GLP-1 medicine for obesity.

How strong is the evidence?

AnecdoteAnimalsHuman trialsApproved

Approved. Approved by a major regulator after large trials.Approved by major regulators (FDA, EMA and others) on the basis of large phase 3 programmes: LEAD (type 2 diabetes), LEADER (cardiovascular outcomes, 9,340 participants) and SCALE (weight management), plus a 56-week adolescent trial (251 participants).

Last verified 2026-09-29 · how we verify

Related structure

Experimental structure · cryo-EM 2.1 Å · PDB 6X18 (2020)RCSB entry ↗

Not Liraglutide itself. No structure of Liraglutide bound to its receptor has been published, so a related structure is shown for context.

The body's own GLP-1 hormone, not a drug. No PDB structure of liraglutide or dulaglutide bound to the GLP-1 receptor was found (RCSB search, 2026-09-29); this native-hormone complex is shown for context only. Nanobody Nb35 (chain N) omitted. Structure from Zhang et al., Mol Cell 2020. Colours are ours, not the molecule's.

Acts on: GLP-1 receptor
Taken as: Subcutaneous injection, once daily (pre-filled pen, used under a prescriber's supervision)
Half-life: About 13 hours after subcutaneous administration[src]
Molecular weight: 3751.2 Da (formula C172H265N43O51)[src]
First EU authorisation (Victoza): 30 June 2009, type 2 diabetes; Novo Nordisk A/S is the authorisation holder[src]
First FDA approval (Victoza): 25 January 2010, for blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes[src]

Inside the body

What Liraglutide does, step by step

Watch the 3D journey →

01Bloodstream
Stays in the blood for a day
Native GLP-1 is destroyed in minutes. Liraglutide has a fatty chain that clumps it together under the skin and lets it stick to a blood protein. It is also hard for the body's enzymes to break down. So it lasts long enough for one injection a day.
For experts
Native GLP-1 has a half-life of 1.5-2 minutes because of DPP-4 and neutral endopeptidase degradation. Liraglutide is stable against both enzymes. Its once-daily profile results from self-association that delays absorption, plasma protein binding above 98%, and enzymatic stability, giving a half-life of about 13 hours after subcutaneous administration. The palmitate-gamma-Glu side chain was selected as the optimal combination for protraction.[src][src]
02Pancreas
Switches on insulin, quiets glucagon
In the body, liraglutide switches on the same receptor as the natural hormone. This makes the pancreas release insulin, but mostly when blood sugar is already high. It also lowers glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar.
For experts
Liraglutide binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor, a Gs-coupled receptor that activates adenylyl cyclase and raises cAMP. It stimulates insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, which lowers blood glucose. Consistent with this, HbA1c fell in the LEAD trials, e.g. -1.12% with liraglutide vs -0.79% with exenatide in LEAD-6.[src][src]
03Brain
Reaches appetite centres (animal evidence)
In rats and mice, liraglutide reaches a brain area called the hypothalamus that helps control hunger. In mice it was taken up by nerve cells linked to feeling full. Tests on brain slices suggest GLP-1 signals switch these 'full' cells on and quiet 'hungry' cells. This detail comes from animal studies only.
For experts
In rodents, peripherally administered liraglutide reaches hypothalamic regions regulating appetite. Secher et al. found fluorescently labelled liraglutide in circumventricular organs and bound to neurons in the arcuate nucleus of mice, where it was internalised in POMC/CART neurons; uptake required GLP-1R (absent in Glp1r knockout mice). In mouse brain slices, GLP-1 directly stimulated POMC/CART neurons and indirectly inhibited NPY/AgRP neurons via GABA-dependent signalling. In rats, liraglutide-dependent weight loss did not require GLP-1 receptors in the vagus nerve, area postrema or paraventricular nucleus. The FDA label notes that in rats the specific regions mediating the appetite effect were not identified. Animal-only mechanistic evidence.[src][src]
04Brain
Changes how food cues register (human imaging)
In people, brain scans show that liraglutide changes how some brain areas react to pictures of food. This fits with eating fewer calories. But scans are not a full explanation, and in one study the effect was no longer seen after 12 weeks.
For experts
The label states that liraglutide lowers body weight through decreased calorie intake and does not increase 24-hour energy expenditure. In a randomised crossover fMRI study of 20 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, 10 days of liraglutide reduced responses to food pictures in insula and putamen versus insulin glargine; no differences between liraglutide and insulin glargine were observed after 12 weeks. Imaging findings are correlational and small-sample.[src][src]
05Stomach
Slows stomach emptying, partly and temporarily
Liraglutide makes the stomach empty more slowly, so food stays longer and it can change how fast other oral medicines get absorbed. In one study this slowing faded in about half of people who first showed it.
For experts
Liraglutide delays gastric emptying; the label advises caution with concomitant oral medicines whose absorption may be affected. In a post-hoc analysis (research letter) of a randomised placebo-controlled trial in 67 liraglutide-treated adults with obesity, 57% developed marked delay within 5 weeks; about half of those had persistent delay at week 16 while the rest normalised (tachyphylaxis), and delay persisted in 30% of the whole group.[src][src]
06Fat tissue
Fewer calories in, lower body weight
Because people eat less, body weight goes down. In a 56-week trial in people without diabetes, those on the weight-management version lost more on average than those on placebo. Weight loss is not the same for everyone.
For experts
In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (n=3,731, 56 weeks), mean weight loss was 8.4 kg with liraglutide vs 2.8 kg with placebo (difference -5.6 kg; 95% CI -6.0 to -5.1); 63.2% vs 27.1% lost at least 5% of body weight. Weight loss follows reduced calorie intake rather than increased energy expenditure.[src][src]
07Heart
Fewer major heart events in high-risk diabetes
In a large trial of adults with type 2 diabetes who were at high risk of heart problems, fewer people on liraglutide had a heart attack, stroke or heart-related death than people on placebo. Scientists do not yet know exactly how this happens.
For experts
In LEADER (9,340 participants, median follow-up 3.8 years), the primary composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke occurred in 13.0% with liraglutide vs 14.9% with placebo (HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.97; P=0.01). Cardiovascular death was 4.7% vs 6.0% (HR 0.78). The trial was not designed to establish the mechanism.[src][src]

For experts

The detail

Liraglutide is an acylated GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% sequence homology to human GLP-1(7-37): Lys34 is replaced by Arg, and a C16 fatty acid (palmitic acid) is attached to Lys26 through a glutamic acid spacer. Self-association at the injection site, more than 98% plasma protein binding and resistance to DPP-4 and neutral endopeptidase give a plasma half-life of about 13 hours after subcutaneous injection (endogenous GLP-1: 1.5-2 minutes), supporting once-daily use; Tmax is about 11 hours and absolute bioavailability about 55%. Molecular weight is 3751.2 Da (C172H265N43O51). Mechanism: GLP-1R activation raises cAMP via Gs, stimulating insulin and suppressing glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner, delaying gastric emptying and lowering calorie intake without raising 24-hour energy expenditure. Marketed by Novo Nordisk as Victoza (type 2 diabetes; LEADER cardiovascular outcomes trial) and Saxenda (chronic weight management; SCALE programme). It carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours seen in rodents. Generic versions have been approved in the US.

Evidence: Approved by major regulators (FDA, EMA and others) on the basis of large phase 3 programmes: LEAD (type 2 diabetes), LEADER (cardiovascular outcomes, 9,340 participants) and SCALE (weight management), plus a 56-week adolescent trial (251 participants).[src][src][src][src]

Known safety signals

Boxed warning: liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumours in rats and mice at clinically relevant exposures; whether it does so in humans, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, is unknown. It is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2.[src]
In adult weight-management trials the most frequent adverse reactions were nausea (39.3% vs 13.8% placebo), diarrhoea (20.9% vs 9.9%), constipation (19.4% vs 8.5%) and vomiting (15.7% vs 3.9%).[src]
9.8% of adults on the weight-management version stopped because of adverse reactions vs 4.3% on placebo; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea were the most common reasons.[src]
Label warnings include acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycaemia when combined with insulin or insulin secretagogues, increased heart rate, acute kidney injury from volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal reactions, hypersensitivity, suicidal behaviour and ideation (weight-management label), and pulmonary aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation.[src]
In the 56-week adolescent trial (251 participants aged 12-17), gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in 64.8% with liraglutide vs 36.5% with placebo, and 10.4% vs 0% stopped treatment because of adverse events.[src]
The Saxenda label states that it may cause fetal harm and that treatment should be discontinued when pregnancy is recognised; it also delays gastric emptying, which may affect absorption of oral medicines.[src]

Around the world

Is Liraglutide legal where you live?

Country	Status	What it means	Verified
Australia	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.Details →source	2026-09-29
Brazil	Approved	Approved as Victoza (diabetes) and Saxenda (weight), with Brazilian versions and new genericsDetails →source	2026-09-29
Canada	Approved	Approved as Victoza (type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (weight management); no generic listed yet, 11 submissions pendingDetails →source	2026-09-29
China	Generics available	Approved, with Chinese-made biosimilar versions on the market since 2023 and insurance cover for type 2 diabetes.Details →source	2026-09-29
European Union	Approved	Authorised EU-wide (Victoza, Saxenda) plus two STADA liraglutide products authorised in July 2026Details →source	2026-09-29
India	Approved	Approved in India since 2010 (Victoza) for type 2 diabetes; a weight-management version was recommended for an Indian maker in 2025Details →source	2026-09-29
Japan	Approved	Approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, and Xultophy with insulin); no separate weight-loss liraglutide product foundDetails →source	2026-09-29
Mexico	Approved	Approved as Victoza (diabetes), Saxenda (weight) and Xultophy; several generic and biocomparable applications pendingDetails →source	2026-09-29
New Zealand	Approved	Victoza and Saxenda approved; three generics have consent but are not marketed; Victoza funded for type 2 diabetesDetails →source	2026-09-29
United Arab Emirates	Approved	Marketed in the UAE as Saxenda for obesity care according to Novo Nordisk's UAE professional portal; EDE register entry not verifiedDetails →source	2026-09-29
United Kingdom	Generics available	Licensed in the UK (Saxenda, plus generic liraglutide for weight management and type 2 diabetes since 2024)Details →source	2026-09-29
United States	Generics available	Brand Victoza and Saxenda plus several FDA-approved generics; liraglutide is still on FDA's shortage list and Saxenda is being discontinuedDetails →source	2026-09-29

Who makes it

Novo NordiskDanish drugmaker that markets semaglutide (as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and the Wegovy pill) and liraglutide (as Victoza and Saxenda) for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Its pipeline also includes cagrilintide (with semaglutide as CagriSema, for which the company listed a US regulatory decision as an upcoming milestone in its August 2026 report) and amycretin (called zenagamtide in its 2026 reports), which are investigational. Novo Nordisk files annual reports and quarterly announcements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its own figures are quoted below.

Recent history

2026-04-30
FDA proposes to bar bulk compounding of semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide by outsourcing facilities
2025-08-28
FDA approves and Teva launches the first generic GLP-1 for weight loss in the US
2014-12-23
FDA approves Saxenda (liraglutide) for chronic weight management
2010-01-25
FDA approves Victoza (liraglutide) for type 2 diabetes

Full timeline →

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A private log for your GLP-1 medicine, weekly pen or daily tablet.

If a clinician has prescribed liraglutide for you, GLP1 Base is a private place to record the shots, side effects, refills and costs you choose to log, and to turn those logs into a report for your appointments.

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Retain: GLP-1 Muscle Care

A calm GLP-1 journal for protein, strength and the trends you log.

If you take liraglutide, Retain keeps your protein, strength-training, weight and lean-mass entries in one journal. It describes what you log; it does not measure or promise muscle retention.