{"id":"liraglutide","name":"Liraglutide","aliases":["Saxenda","Victoza","GLP-1 receptor agonist","daily GLP-1"],"url":"https://lyoresearch.com/compounds/liraglutide","class":{"id":"glp-1-agonists","name":"GLP-1 and incretin agonists","url":"https://lyoresearch.com/classes/glp-1-agonists"},"summary":"Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist and the drug that proved the class. In the 3,731-person SCALE trial it produced 8.0% weight loss at 56 weeks against 2.6% on placebo, and in the 9,340-person LEADER trial it cut major cardiovascular events by 13% and cardiovascular death by 22% in people with type 2 diabetes. It is approved almost everywhere, now generic, and less effective than the weekly drugs that followed it.","overall_grade":"A","overall_grade_meaning":"established in humans","human_trials":"20+ RCTs","regulatory_status":"Approved (Saxenda, Victoza)","molecule":{"formula":"C172H265N43O51","molecular_weight":"3751","cas":"204656-20-2","pubchem_cid":16134956,"note":null},"pharmacokinetics":{"basis":"label","route":"Subcutaneous injection, once daily","half_life":"About 13 hours","licensed_regimen":"0.6 mg daily for 1 week, increase by 0.6 mg weekly (1.2, 1.8, 2.4 mg); maintenance 3 mg daily from week 5","product":"Saxenda","source":{"title":"Saxenda prescribing information (DailyMed)","url":"https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3946d389-0926-4f77-a708-0acb8153b143"}},"outcomes":[{"outcome":"Body weight (adults)","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":false,"human_studies":"5 SCALE RCTs","evidence":"SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 3,731 adults, 56 weeks: −8.0% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus −2.6% on placebo; 63% versus 27% lost at least 5%, 33% versus 11% at least 10%.","references":[{"citation":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2015; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892"}],"verbatim":{"text":"At week 56, patients in the liraglutide group had lost a mean of 8.4±7.3 kg of body weight, and those in the placebo group had lost a mean of 2.8±6.5 kg (a difference of -5.6 kg; 95% confidence interval, -6.0 to -5.1; P<0.001, with last-observation-carried-forward imputation).","citation":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892"}},{"outcome":"Major cardiovascular events","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"small","adverse":false,"human_studies":"1 large outcome RCT","evidence":"LEADER, 9,340 people with type 2 diabetes, median 3.8 years: MACE 13.0% versus 14.9% (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.79–0.97); cardiovascular death HR 0.78; all-cause death HR 0.85.","references":[{"citation":"Marso SP, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2016; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1603827","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603827"}],"verbatim":{"text":"The primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the liraglutide group (608 of 4668 patients [13.0%]) than in the placebo group (694 of 4672 [14.9%]) (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.97; P<0.001 for noninferiority; P=0.01 for superiority).","citation":"Marso SP, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER).","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603827"}},{"outcome":"Blood glucose (HbA1c)","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":false,"human_studies":"LEAD programme, 6 RCTs","evidence":"The original approval basis (Victoza, 2009–2010): HbA1c reductions of roughly 1–1.5 percentage points across the LEAD trials.","references":[{"citation":"Liraglutide (Victoza) prescribing information and the LEAD trial programme.","where":"FDA label","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022341"}]},{"outcome":"Body weight (adolescents 12–17)","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"small","adverse":false,"human_studies":"1 RCT","evidence":"SCALE Teens, 251 adolescents, 56 weeks: BMI standard-deviation score −0.23 versus −0.00; the first GLP-1 approval for under-18s.","references":[{"citation":"Kelly AS, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of liraglutide for adolescents with obesity (SCALE Teens).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2020; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1916038","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1916038"}],"verbatim":{"text":"Liraglutide was superior to placebo with regard to the change from baseline in the BMI standard-deviation score at week 56 (estimated difference, -0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.37 to -0.08; P = 0.002).","citation":"Kelly AS, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of liraglutide for adolescents with obesity (SCALE Teens).","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1916038"}},{"outcome":"Body weight (children 6–11)","grade":"B","grade_meaning":"probable, not settled","effect_size":"moderate","adverse":false,"human_studies":"1 RCT","evidence":"SCALE Kids, 82 children, 56 weeks: BMI −5.8% versus +1.6% on placebo. One small trial; not yet a licensed indication in most jurisdictions.","references":[{"citation":"Fox CK, et al. Liraglutide for children 6 to <12 years of age with obesity (SCALE Kids).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2024; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2407379","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2407379"}],"verbatim":{"text":"At week 56, the mean percentage change from baseline in BMI was -5.8% with liraglutide and 1.6% with placebo, representing an estimated difference of -7.4 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], -11.6 to -3.2; P<0.001).","citation":"Fox CK, et al. Liraglutide for children 6 to <12 years of age with obesity (SCALE Kids).","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2407379"}},{"outcome":"GI side effects","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"large","adverse":true,"human_studies":"All trials","evidence":"Nausea in roughly 40% at the 3.0 mg dose in SCALE, vomiting and diarrhoea common; about 10% stopped for adverse events versus 4% on placebo.","references":[{"citation":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2015; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892"}],"verbatim":{"text":"The most frequently reported adverse events with liraglutide were mild or moderate nausea and diarrhea.","citation":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892"}},{"outcome":"Gallbladder events","grade":"A","grade_meaning":"established in humans","effect_size":"small","adverse":true,"human_studies":"SCALE + LEADER","evidence":"Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis were more frequent on liraglutide (2.5% versus 1.0% in SCALE), a class effect partly explained by rapid weight loss.","references":[{"citation":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2015; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892"},{"citation":"Marso SP, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2016; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1603827","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603827"}]}],"regions":[{"region":"European Union","status":"Approved, prescription-only","note":"Victoza (2009) and Saxenda (2015) authorised via the EMA; generics authorised from 2024."},{"region":"United States","status":"Approved, prescription-only","note":"Victoza (2010), Saxenda (2014); first generic liraglutide launched 2024. Compounded copies are not permitted now that approved generics exist."},{"region":"United Kingdom","status":"Licensed, prescription-only","note":"Victoza and Saxenda licensed; Saxenda available on the NHS through specialist weight-management services."},{"region":"Australia","status":"Registered, Schedule 4","note":"Victoza and Saxenda on the ARTG. Compounded GLP-1 copies unlawful since 1 October 2024."},{"region":"Canada","status":"Authorised, prescription-only","note":"Victoza and Saxenda carry a DIN."},{"region":"Sport (WADA)","status":"Not prohibited","note":"Not on the 2026 Prohibited List."}],"faq":[{"q":"Is liraglutide as good as semaglutide for weight loss?","a":"No. In the head-to-head STEP 8 trial, semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly produced 15.8% weight loss at 68 weeks against 6.4% for liraglutide 3.0 mg daily. Liraglutide's advantages are price, availability and a longer safety record."},{"q":"Does liraglutide protect the heart?","a":"In people with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk, yes: LEADER showed a 13% relative reduction in major cardiovascular events and a 22% reduction in cardiovascular death over a median 3.8 years. That trial did not include people without diabetes."},{"q":"Is there a generic?","a":"Yes. Generic liraglutide for diabetes reached the US market in 2024 and for obesity in 2025, with EU generics from 2024. It is the only GLP-1 obesity drug currently off patent."},{"q":"Can children take it?","a":"It is approved for adolescents from 12 on the strength of SCALE Teens. For children aged 6–11 there is one 82-child trial (SCALE Kids, 2024) showing a 7-point BMI difference versus placebo; regulators are reviewing that age group."}],"references":[{"cite":"Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2015; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892","note":"3,731 adults, 56 weeks."},{"cite":"Marso SP, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2016; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1603827","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1603827","note":"9,340 patients, median 3.8 years."},{"cite":"Liraglutide (Victoza) prescribing information and the LEAD trial programme.","where":"FDA label","url":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022341","note":"HbA1c data from six phase 3 trials."},{"cite":"Kelly AS, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of liraglutide for adolescents with obesity (SCALE Teens).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2020; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1916038","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1916038","note":"251 adolescents, 56 weeks."},{"cite":"Fox CK, et al. Liraglutide for children 6 to <12 years of age with obesity (SCALE Kids).","where":"N Engl J Med, 2024; DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2407379","url":"https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2407379","note":"82 children, 56 weeks."}],"last_reviewed":"2026-09-03","literature_searched_to":"2026-09-03","changelog":[{"date":"2026-09-03","note":"Initial publication from the SCALE, LEADER and paediatric trials."}],"license":"CC BY 4.0 — cite as “LYO Research” with a link.","methodology":"https://lyoresearch.com/methodology"}