Liraglutide

Saxenda / Victoza

Liraglutide is an acylated analog of human GLP-1, modified with a C16 fatty acid chain that enables reversible albumin binding and extends the half-life to approximately 13 hours — sufficient for once-daily subcutaneous dosing. It was first approved by the FDA as Victoza for type-2 diabetes in 2010, and as Saxenda (at a higher 3 mg dose) for chronic weight management in 2014, becoming the first GLP-1 agonist with an obesity indication. Clinical trial data (SCALE) demonstrated approximately 6–8% mean weight reduction at 56 weeks, substantially less than the 15% produced by once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) that displaced it in 2021. Liraglutide remains in widespread use because of generic-entry timing (biosimilars available in some jurisdictions), prescriber familiarity, and its longer post-market safety record. Cardiovascular outcome data (LEADER trial, 2016) showed a 13% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in type-2 diabetes patients at high CV risk — an important first-in-class finding for GLP-1 agonism.