Liraglutide
A GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda), the predecessor to semaglutide.
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What is Liraglutide?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% homology to native human GLP-1. It was the first GLP-1 agonist approved for weight management (Saxenda, 3mg daily) and is also approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 1.8mg daily). While largely superseded by semaglutide, it remains widely used with extensive long-term safety data.
Why People Talk About It
Weight loss (5-10% body weight)
StrongType 2 diabetes management
StrongCardiovascular risk reduction (LEADER trial)
StrongHow It Works
Like semaglutide, liraglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite, slow digestion, and improve blood sugar control. It requires daily injection because it has a shorter duration of action.
Common Questions
Safety Information
Common Side Effects
Cautions
- • Thyroid C-cell tumor warning
- • Pancreatitis risk
- • Gallbladder disease
- • Renal impairment monitoring
What We Don't Know
Well-characterized safety profile with 10+ years of post-marketing data.
Published Research
33 studiesLiraglutide for adults living with obesity
Safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in patients with weight regain or insufficient weight loss after metabolic bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Efficacy and safety of liraglutide for obesity and people who are overweight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Achieving a clinically relevant composite outcome of an HbA1c of <7% without weight gain or hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of the liraglutide clinical trial programme
Cost effectiveness of liraglutide in type II diabetes: a systematic review
The efficacy and safety of liraglutide in the obese, non-diabetic individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Liraglutide for Children 6 to <12 Years of Age with Obesity - A Randomized Trial
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of weight loss using liraglutide 3.0 mg for weight recurrence after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Genetic and physiological insights into satiation variability predict responses to obesity treatment
Weight Loss-Independent Effect of Liraglutide on Insulin Sensitivity in Individuals With Obesity and Prediabetes
Effects of Liraglutide, Empagliflozin and Their Combination on Left Atrial Strain and Arterial Function
Liraglutide in Obese or Overweight Individuals With Stable Bipolar Disorder
Bone Health After Exercise Alone, GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment, or Combination Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Effect of liraglutide on thigh muscle fat and muscle composition in adults with overweight or obesity: Results from a randomized clinical trial
Liraglutide for Lower Limb Perfusion in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease: The STARDUST Randomized Clinical Trial
Liraglutide Improves Myocardial Perfusion and Energetics and Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Glycemia and Gluconeogenesis With Metformin and Liraglutide: A Randomized Trial in Youth-onset Type 2 Diabetes
Liraglutide restores impaired associative learning in individuals with obesity
Combination of exercise and GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces severity of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and inflammation: a randomized controlled trial
Effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide, compared to caloric restriction, on appetite, dietary intake, body fat distribution and cardiometabolic biomarkers: A randomized trial in adults with obesity and prediabetes
Safety and Efficacy of Liraglutide, 3.0 mg, Once Daily vs Placebo in Patients With Poor Weight Loss Following Metabolic Surgery: The BARI-OPTIMISE Randomized Clinical Trial
Evaluating potential predictors of weight loss response to liraglutide in adolescents with obesity: A post hoc analysis of the randomized, placebo-controlled SCALE Teens trial
Efficacy of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Liraglutide and Semaglutide for the Treatment of Weight Regain After Bariatric surgery: a Retrospective Observational Study
Improvement of glycaemic control and treatment satisfaction by switching from liraglutide or dulaglutide to subcutaneous semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicentre, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group comparison study (SWITCH-SEMA 1 study)
Cotadutide promotes glycogenolysis in people with overweight or obesity diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial
Glycemia Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes - Glycemic Outcomes
Exploratory analysis of eating- and physical activity-related outcomes from a randomized controlled trial for weight loss maintenance with exercise and liraglutide single or combination treatment
Glycemia Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes - Microvascular and Cardiovascular Outcomes
Liraglutide for Weight Management in Children and Adolescents With Prader-Willi Syndrome and Obesity
Effects of liraglutide on gastrointestinal functions and weight in obesity: A randomized clinical and pharmacogenomic trial
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management
Liraglutide for weight management: a critical review of the evidence
Always consult a qualified clinician
This information is for educational purposes. Peptide therapy should be guided by a licensed healthcare provider. Connect with a Noho clinician
Research Insights
Related Peptides
Semaglutide
StrongBeginnerA GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, one of the most widely prescribed peptide drugs.
Tirzepatide
StrongBeginnerA dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for diabetes and weight management, producing the largest weight loss seen in clinical trials.
Exenatide
StrongBeginnerThe first GLP-1 receptor agonist, originally derived from Gila monster venom, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.
Quick Facts
- Class
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
- Evidence
- Strong
- Safety
- Well-Studied
- Updated
- Mar 2026
- Citations
- 33PubMed
Also known as
Tags
Related Goals
Evidence Score
Clinical Trials
View Clinical TrialsLinks to ClinicalTrials.gov for reference. Listing does not imply endorsement.
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