Comparison · Updated
Liraglutide VS Tirzepatide
Short answer
Liraglutide and Tirzepatide have the same evidence tier: both are tier S (Approved).
Liraglutide is FDA-approved (Victoza, Saxenda, 2010); Tirzepatide is FDA-approved (Mounjaro, Zepbound, 2022).
Neither Liraglutide nor Tirzepatide is on the WADA Prohibited List.
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Side by side
| Field | Liraglutide | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence tier | S Tier S · Approved | S Tier S · Approved |
| Tier rationale | Phase 3 RCTs (LEAD, SCALE, LEADER); FDA-approved in 2010 for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and in 2014 for weight management (Saxenda). | Phase 3 RCT programmes (SURPASS, SURMOUNT); FDA-approved in 2022 for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and in 2023 for weight management (Zepbound). |
| FDA status | Approved (2010) Victoza, SaxendaApproved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014). | Approved (2022) Mounjaro, ZepboundApproved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro, 2022) and chronic weight management (Zepbound, 2023). |
| Other approvals | None listed | None listed |
| WADA | Not on the Prohibited List | Not on the Prohibited List |
| Family | Metabolic | Metabolic |
| Residues | 31amino acids | 39amino acids |
| Molecular weight | 3,751.2 Da | 4,813.5 Da |
| Formula | C172H265N43O51 | C225H348N48O68 |
| Discovered | 2000First reported by Novo Nordisk scientists (Knudsen et al., J Med Chem 2000). | 2018Discovery and first clinical data published by Eli Lilly as LY3298176 (Coskun et al., Mol Metab 2018). |
| Routes studied | Subcutaneous | Subcutaneous |
| 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. | Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist built on a 39-amino-acid peptide backbone with a C20 fatty diacid moiety enabling albumin binding and once-weekly dosing. It enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic appetite centers to reduce food intake. |
| Safety notes | FDA-approved with long-term safety data (LEADER trial: median 3.8 years follow-up). | FDA-approved with extensive Phase III safety data (SURPASS and SURMOUNT programs). |
| Cited studies | 2 studies | 3 studies |
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Questions
- Which has stronger evidence, Liraglutide or Tirzepatide?
- Liraglutide and Tirzepatide have the same evidence tier: both are tier S (Approved). Liraglutide: Phase 3 RCTs (LEAD, SCALE, LEADER); FDA-approved in 2010 for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and in 2014 for weight management (Saxenda). Tirzepatide: Phase 3 RCT programmes (SURPASS, SURMOUNT); FDA-approved in 2022 for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and in 2023 for weight management (Zepbound). Tiers rate the strength of published evidence, not effectiveness.
- Is Liraglutide FDA-approved?
- Liraglutide is FDA-approved (Victoza, Saxenda, 2010). Approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014).
- Is Tirzepatide FDA-approved?
- Tirzepatide is FDA-approved (Mounjaro, Zepbound, 2022). Approved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro, 2022) and chronic weight management (Zepbound, 2023).
- Are Liraglutide and Tirzepatide banned in sport?
- Neither Liraglutide nor Tirzepatide is on the WADA Prohibited List.
- How do Liraglutide and Tirzepatide 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. Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist built on a 39-amino-acid peptide backbone with a C20 fatty diacid moiety enabling albumin binding and once-weekly dosing.