Peptide Atlas — health, wellness & peptide resources
Peptide Library
Metabolic Health & Weight Management

Liraglutide

Also referenced as: Victoza, Saxenda

A daily GLP-1 receptor agonist and the reference point against which newer incretin drugs are measured.

Evidence grade
AStrong Clinical Evidence

Strong Clinical Evidence

Regulatory status
FDA Approved for Specific Indication

Approved for type 2 diabetes and, at a higher dose, for weight management. Approval for those indications says nothing about unapproved uses.

Human data
Yes

Registered clinical trials exist

Last reviewed
September 1, 2026

Overview

Liraglutide was among the first GLP-1 analogues to reach wide clinical use. Its evidence base is deep and long, including a dedicated cardiovascular outcome trial.

Because it requires daily injection and produces smaller average weight reductions than weekly agents, clinical use has shifted, but it remains scientifically important.

Why It's Being Studied

  • Glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes.
  • Weight management, including in adolescents.

Mechanism of Action

In plain language

A daily version of the same gut-hormone mimicry used by newer weekly injections.

Technical detail

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analogue with 97% homology to native GLP-1, acylated with a palmitic acid chain via a glutamic acid spacer, giving a half-life of roughly 13 hours through albumin binding and self-association.

Research Areas & Routes Studied

Areas studied
  • Glycaemic control
  • Body weight
  • Cardiovascular outcomes
Routes used in research
  • Subcutaneous injection

Evidence Summary

Long-established randomised trial evidence, cardiovascular outcome data and approved labels with years of post-marketing experience.

Human clinical evidence

  • The LEADER trial reported reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes.
  • SCALE trials reported mean weight reduction of roughly 8% at 56 weeks versus placebo.

Observational evidence

  • Extensive post-marketing data across large populations.

Reported Adverse Events in Research

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea; gallbladder events.
  • Pancreatitis reports; boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours in the US.

Limitations of Current Evidence

  • Daily dosing reduces adherence relative to weekly agents.
  • Average weight effect is smaller than that of newer multi-agonists.

Research References

  • Randomised controlled trial2016

    Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (LEADER)

    Marso SP, et al. · New England Journal of Medicine
    Main finding
    Lower rate of cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiovascular events.
    View Study
  • Prescribing label

    Liraglutide prescribing information

    View Source
This page is an educational research summary. It is not medical advice, does not recommend human use, and does not provide individualised dosing. Many compounds discussed here are research use only and are not approved medicines.