# Liraglutide

> Evidence tier S — Approved · Metabolic · reviewed 2026-11-08
> Source page: https://peptidemeta.com/p/liraglutide/

Also known as: NN2211, Victoza, Saxenda

## Quick answers

**What is Liraglutide?**

A GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda).

**How strong is the evidence for Liraglutide?**

Tier S (approved) on the peptidemeta evidence scale. Phase 3 RCTs (LEAD, SCALE, LEADER); FDA-approved in 2010 for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and in 2014 for weight management (Saxenda).

**Is Liraglutide FDA-approved?**

Yes. The FDA approved Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) in 2010. Approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014).

**Is Liraglutide banned in sport?**

No. Liraglutide is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

**How does Liraglutide work?**

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% homology to native GLP-1, modified with a C16 palmitoyl fatty acid chain enabling albumin binding and once-daily pharmacokinetics. It enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, delays gastric emptying, and reduces appetite through hypothalamic GLP-1 receptor activation.

**What is known about the safety of Liraglutide?**

8 years follow-up). Most common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting.

## Key facts

- **Evidence tier:** S (Approved)
- **FDA:** approved 2010 (Victoza, Saxenda)
- **WADA:** not on the Prohibited List
- **Peptide:** yes
- **Sequence:** HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRG (31 residues)
- **Formula:** C172H265N43O51
- **Molecular weight:** 3751.2 g/mol
- **Discovered:** 2000 — First reported by Novo Nordisk scientists (Knudsen et al., J Med Chem 2000).
- **Routes studied:** Subcutaneous

## Overview

A GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda). It was the first GLP-1 agonist approved specifically for obesity treatment.

## Mechanism

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% homology to native GLP-1, modified with a C16 palmitoyl fatty acid chain enabling albumin binding and once-daily pharmacokinetics. It enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, delays gastric emptying, and reduces appetite through hypothalamic GLP-1 receptor activation.

## Effects reported in research

_Reported outcomes, not promises; see the evidence tier._

- Moderate sustained weight loss
- Improved blood glucose regulation
- Reduced appetite and caloric intake
- Lower cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients

## Safety & unknowns

FDA-approved with long-term safety data (LEADER trial: median 3.8 years follow-up). Most common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting. Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors. Pancreatitis risk noted. In LEADER (type 2 diabetes, high cardiovascular risk), major cardiovascular events were reduced by 13% (HR 0.87) and cardiovascular death by 22% (HR 0.78).

## Studies

- Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al. (2015). *A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management*. New England Journal of Medicine. Clinical trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26132939/
  In the 56-week SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes RCT in 3731 patients, mean weight loss was 8.4 kg with liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 2.8 kg with placebo.
- Marso SP, Daniels GH, Brown-Frandsen K, et al. (2016). *Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes*. New England Journal of Medicine. Clinical trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27295427/
  In the LEADER RCT in 9340 patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk (median follow-up 3.8 years), liraglutide lowered the primary cardiovascular outcome (HR 0.87) and cardiovascular death (HR 0.78) versus placebo.

## Status sources

- [Drugs@FDA — Victoza (NDA 022341)](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=022341)
- [Drugs@FDA — Saxenda (NDA 206321)](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=206321)
- [KEGG DRUG D06404 — liraglutide (sequence, formula, MW)](https://www.kegg.jp/entry/D06404)
- [Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015 (SCALE RCT)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26132939/)
- [Knudsen et al., J Med Chem 2000 (discovery)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10794683/)

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Educational reference only — not medical advice. No dosing information is published. Tiers rate the strength of published evidence, not effectiveness or safety.