Liraglutide

Also known as Victoza, Saxenda.

Approved-medicine listing only. This is not available from the Cellular Sequence shop. Licensed products require a prescriber and an ARTG-registered presentation.

At-a-glance profile

Classification: GLP-1 receptor agonist
Approval status: Approved medicine
Research status: Approved GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes and, at a higher-dose brand, chronic weight management.
Molecular formula: C172H265N43O51
Molecular weight: 3751.2 g·mol⁻¹
Sequence: Acylated GLP-1 analogue (Arg34, Lys26-palmitoyl); see PI for residue map.
Primary biological target: GLP-1 receptor
Half-life: Approximately 13 hours after subcutaneous injection (once-daily labelled products)
Routes investigated: Subcutaneous
Human evidence level: A — Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

What is it?

A well-established prescription peptide medicine. Different brands and doses correspond to diabetes versus weight-management indications.

Synthetic fatty-acid-acylated analogue of human GLP-1 developed for once-daily injection.

Mechanism of action

Established (labelled / textbook receptor pharmacology)

Liraglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor, enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, lowering glucagon, slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite. Class mechanism is established in product information.

Improves glucose-dependent insulin secretion and reduces appetite in labelled use.

What is it being studied for?

Type 2 diabetes
A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence
Has been investigated and approved for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes (brand-specific).^[1]
Weight management
A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence
SCALE programme investigated 3.0 mg once daily for chronic weight management in eligible adults.^[2]
Cardiovascular outcomes
A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence
LEADER examined major adverse cardiovascular events in high-risk type 2 diabetes.^[1]

Investigational findings are not proven clinical benefits unless an authority has labelled that indication.

Evidence level

Overall human evidence grade: A · Approved clinical use / strong human evidence

Human research

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled CVOT

Population: Type 2 diabetes with high cardiovascular risk
Participants: 9340
Compound: Liraglutide up to 1.8 mg
Dose / route: 1.8 mg once daily (diabetes) · Subcutaneous
Duration: Median 3.8 years
Primary outcome: Major adverse cardiovascular events

Primary composite was lower with liraglutide than placebo in this population.

Limitations: Diabetes CVOT doses, not the 3 mg obesity brand automatically.

^[1]

Preclinical research

Animal, cell and in-vitro findings are listed separately from human effects.

Classic GLP-1 analogue pharmacology; clinical evidence is the relevant standard.

Doses reported in published research

This section does not provide personalised medical dosing. Values are those reported in papers or protocols. Animal mg/kg doses are not converted to human doses.

Doses reported in human studies

LEADER
Dose: 1.8 mg
Route: Subcutaneous
Frequency: Once daily
Duration: Median 3.8 years
Population: High-risk type 2 diabetes
Purpose: Cardiovascular outcomes
^[1]
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes
Dose: 3.0 mg
Route: Subcutaneous
Frequency: Once daily
Duration: 56 weeks
Population: Adults with obesity or overweight plus comorbidity
Purpose: Weight-management efficacy
^[2]

Preclinical / animal study dosing

Insufficient reliable evidence identified.

Approved product dosing

Taken from regulator product information. This is not mixed with research-chemical schedules.

FDA · United States
Victoza / Saxenda (liraglutide) — brand depends on indication
Indication: Type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and chronic weight management (Saxenda) as labelled
Regimen: Once-daily subcutaneous injection; diabetes maximum typically 1.8 mg and obesity brand 3.0 mg after escalation (verify USPI).
FDA Prescribing Information — liraglutide products
TGA · Australia
ARTG-registered liraglutide
Indication: As per Australian PI
Regimen: Follow the current Australian Product Information.
TGA Product Information

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life: ~13 hours

Once-daily labelled products.

Safety

Gastrointestinal events are common.

Serious events. Pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and thyroid C-cell tumour warning in US labels (rodent).

Pregnancy / lactation. Not recommended; see PI.

Unknowns. Absence of a published harm signal is not evidence of safety.

Contraindications. As per Product Information; prescription-only medicine.

Regulatory status

Australia — TGA: Registered prescription medicine, brand- and indication-specific.
United States — FDA: Approved (separate brands/indications).
European Union — EMA: Authorised; see SmPC.

Citations

[1] Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes
Marso SP et al. Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes N Engl J Med. 2016. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1603827 PMID 27295427
PMID 27295427 DOI
[2] A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management
Pi-Sunyer X et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management N Engl J Med. 2015. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1411892 PMID 26132939
PMID 26132939 DOI

For educational and research reference only. This page summarises published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, prescribing information or a recommendation to use an investigational compound. Research doses shown describe doses reported in published studies and are not personalised dosing instructions.

Last reviewed 2026-09-13. Research areas: Metabolic · Compare peptides