Peptide reference
Liraglutide
Victoza ·Saxenda ·NN2211
What cited sources report about liraglutide
Liraglutide is a 31-amino-acid acylated analog of human GLP-1(7-37) developed by Novo Nordisk. It carries a palmitoyl (C16) fatty-acid moiety attached at lysine-26 through a γ-glutamic-acid spacer, which produces albumin binding and a half-life of approximately 13 hours that supports once-daily subcutaneous dosing. The molecule is marketed under two brand names in the United States: Victoza for type 2 diabetes (approved 2010) and Saxenda for chronic weight management (approved 2014). Liraglutide is FDA-approved, EMA-authorised, and approved in Canada and Australia; it has not been nominated to the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. The summaries below report what individual cited sources state.
FDA Drug Label — Victoza (revised October 14, 2025)
The DailyMed structured product label for Victoza (Novo Nordisk) lists two approved indications: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. The label describes glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon, and delayed gastric emptying.
VICTOZA is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
FDA Drug Label — Saxenda (revised February 25, 2026)
The DailyMed label for Saxenda (Novo Nordisk) covers the higher-dose (up to 3.0 mg daily) liraglutide product approved for chronic weight management. Approved populations include adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one weight-related comorbid condition, and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with body weight greater than 60 kg and obesity. The label notes that Saxenda must not be co-administered with other liraglutide products or other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
SAXENDA is a glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight
Peng et al. (2025) — Cardiovascular Diabetology
A 2025 post-hoc analysis re-examined individual-participant data from the LEADER cardiovascular outcomes trial of liraglutide and the SUSTAIN-6 trial of semaglutide, focusing on temporal and subgroup variation in mediation effects on cardiovascular outcomes. The authors characterized the share of cardiovascular benefit mediated through HbA1c, body weight, and blood pressure pathways and observed differences between drugs and patient subgroups.
PubChem CID 16134956 — National Center for Biotechnology Information
The PubChem compound record for liraglutide lists molecular formula C172H265N43O51, consistent with a 31-residue acylated GLP-1 analog. A palmitoyl (C16) fatty-acid moiety is attached via a γ-glutamic-acid spacer at lysine-26 — the structural feature underlying albumin binding and the daily dosing interval.
Coverage notes
Liraglutide was the second GLP-1 receptor agonist to reach the U.S. market (after exenatide) and the first whose pivotal cardiovascular outcomes trial (LEADER, 2016) reported a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. The LEADER, SUSTAIN-6, and Victoza pediatric (ELLIPSE) programs underpin the current label. Generic and follow-on liraglutide products began entering the U.S. market in 2024 after expiry of key Novo Nordisk patents; this page focuses on the originator label.