No. 024 · Metabolic · Weight Loss Peptide
Liraglutide
Also known as: NN2211VictozaSaxenda
- FDA approved 2010
- WADA — not listed
2D structure from PubChem CID 16134956 (Liraglutide), matched by molecular formula. Hydrogens on carbon are implied.
- Nonpolar 16
- Polar 7
- Positive charge 4
- Negative charge 4
Each dot is a residue placed around the ring from N- to C-terminus; its distance from the centre reflects its chemistry.
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.
Last reviewed · editorial policy · markdown
Evidence
- D In vitro
- C Animal
- B Human pilot
- A RCT
- S Approved
TIER S — Approved by the FDA or EMA for at least one indication.
Phase 3 RCTs (LEAD, SCALE, LEADER); FDA-approved in 2010 for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and in 2014 for weight management (Saxenda).
Tiers rate the strength of published evidence — not effectiveness, safety, or a recommendation.
At a glance
- Residues
- 31 amino acids, N→C
- Molecular weight
- 3,751.2 Da
- Formula
- C172H265N43O51
- Discovered
- 2000 First reported by Novo Nordisk scientists (Knudsen et al., J Med Chem 2000).
- Routes studied
- Subcutaneous Routes used in published research
- FDA
- Approved (2010) Victoza, Saxenda Approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014).
- WADA
- Not on the Prohibited List
Sequence
Note GLP-1(7–37) analogue with Arg at position 28 (Lys34); K20 (Lys26) carries a palmitoyl (C-16) chain attached via a γ-Glu spacer.
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.
Research status FDA-approved as Victoza (T2D) and Saxenda (obesity); long-term safety data available
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. Some come from controlled human trials; others may be from smaller or preclinical studies — check the studies below.
- 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).
Unknowns. Trial safety data apply to the populations, formulations and conditions studied.
Informational only — not medical advice. peptidemeta publishes no dosing, protocols, or sourcing. Talk to a qualified clinician about any treatment decision.
Studies [2]
- Clinical trial 2016
Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes
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.
- Clinical trial 2015
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management
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.
Status sources
Sources behind the tier, regulatory status, sequence and dates on this page.
- Drugs@FDA — Victoza (NDA 022341) accessdata.fda.gov
- Drugs@FDA — Saxenda (NDA 206321) accessdata.fda.gov
- KEGG DRUG D06404 — liraglutide (sequence, formula, MW) kegg.jp
- Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015 (SCALE RCT) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Knudsen et al., J Med Chem 2000 (discovery) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cite this entry
peptidemeta. (2026). Liraglutide. In peptidemeta: The peptide library, ranked by evidence. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://peptidemeta.com/p/liraglutide/
@misc{peptidemeta-liraglutide,
title = {Liraglutide},
author = {{peptidemeta}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://peptidemeta.com/p/liraglutide/}},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-08}
} Accessed date reflects when you opened this page. Cite primary studies for scientific claims.