Liraglutide

Overview

Liraglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist marketed as Victoza (type 2 diabetes, approved 2010) and Saxenda (chronic weight management, approved 2014). It was the first GLP-1 analog approved for obesity and carries an FDA boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Pediatric indications include type 2 diabetes in patients ≥10 years (Victoza) and obesity in patients ≥12 years with BMI ≥95th percentile (Saxenda).

Mechanism of Action

Liraglutide shares 97% homology with native GLP-1 and binds to the GLP-1 receptor to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppress glucagon release, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite via hypothalamic signaling. A C16 palmitic acid modification enables non-covalent albumin binding, extending its half-life to approximately 13 hours and supporting once-daily subcutaneous dosing.

Research Summary

The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015; PMID 26132939) demonstrated ~8% body-weight loss at 3.0 mg daily over 56 weeks, and the SCALE Diabetes trial (Davies et al., JAMA 2015; PMID 26284720) showed 6.0% weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes. The LEADER cardiovascular outcomes trial (Marso et al., NEJM 2016; PMID 27295427) demonstrated a 13% relative reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes with established CVD or high CV risk. A pediatric Phase 3 trial (Kelly et al., NEJM 2020; PMID 32233338) supported Saxenda's FDA approval for adolescents ≥12 years with obesity. While less effective than newer GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, liraglutide has the longest track record and most extensive real-world safety data. The daily dosing requirement is its main disadvantage versus weekly semaglutide.

Prescribers who offer Liraglutide

23 prescribers in our directory work with Liraglutide, each confirmed from their own website. Peptides like Liraglutide require a prescription from a licensed provider — telehealth options are available.

Reported Side Effects

• Nausea (very common, usually transient during titration)
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Constipation, dyspepsia, abdominal pain
• Headache, fatigue
• Injection-site reactions
• Hypoglycemia (when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas)
• Increased heart rate (2–3 bpm)
• Gallbladder disease (cholelithiasis/cholecystitis)
• Acute pancreatitis (rare but label warning)
• Acute kidney injury from volume depletion
• Anti-liraglutide antibody formation

Compare Liraglutide with Others

Research References

• A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes; Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015) (2015)
• Efficacy of Liraglutide for Weight Loss Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The SCALE Diabetes Randomized Clinical Trial (Davies et al., JAMA 2015) (2015)
• Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (LEADER; Marso et al., NEJM 2016) (2016)
• A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Liraglutide for Adolescents with Obesity (Kelly et al., NEJM 2020) (2020)

Frequently asked questions

Which prescribers offer Liraglutide with a prescription?

23 prescribers in the Disclosed Labs directory work with Liraglutide, each confirmed from their own website, with telehealth options available. Liraglutide requires a prescription from a licensed provider. Browse them at https://www.disclosedlabs.com/prescribers?peptide=Liraglutide.

How does Liraglutide work?

Liraglutide shares 97% homology with native GLP-1 and binds to the GLP-1 receptor to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppress glucagon release, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite via hypothalamic signaling. A C16 palmitic acid modification enables non-covalent albumin binding, extending its half-life to approximately 13 hours and supporting once-daily subcutaneous dosing.

What does the research say about Liraglutide?

The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015; PMID 26132939) demonstrated ~8% body-weight loss at 3.0 mg daily over 56 weeks, and the SCALE Diabetes trial (Davies et al., JAMA 2015; PMID 26284720) showed 6.0% weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes. The LEADER cardiovascular outcomes trial (Marso et al., NEJM 2016; PMID 27295427) demonstrated a 13% relative reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes with established CVD or high CV risk. A pediatric Phase 3 trial (Kelly et al., NEJM 2020; PMID 32233338) supported Saxenda's FDA approval for adolescents ≥12 years with obesity. While less effective than newer GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, liraglutide has the longest track record and most extensive real-world safety data. The daily dosing requirement is its main disadvantage versus weekly semaglutide.