Liraglutide: the daily GLP-1 (Saxenda, Victoza) and generics

Key takeaways

• Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 injection sold as Victoza (type 2 diabetes, up to 1.8 mg) and Saxenda (weight management, 3 mg); generics of both are FDA approved.^[5]
• In the SCALE trial, adults on liraglutide 3 mg lost 8.4 kg on average over 56 weeks vs 2.8 kg on placebo.^[8]
• In a head-to-head trial, daily liraglutide 3 mg led to 6.4% weight loss vs 15.8% with weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg.^[10]
• Nausea is the most common side effect (39.3% at 3 mg vs 13.8% placebo); there is a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.^[1]
• Novo Nordisk is discontinuing the Saxenda brand, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027, for portfolio reasons rather than safety.^[11]

In short: Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 injection, first approved in 2010. It is sold under two Novo Nordisk brands with different doses and uses: Victoza, for type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older (and to lower heart risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease), and Saxenda, for chronic weight management in adults and teens 12 and older. Generic versions of both are now FDA approved, and Novo Nordisk has announced it will discontinue the Saxenda brand, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027 (checked on DailyMed, Drugs@FDA and NovoCare on 2026-10-06).

This page is about the ingredient itself: how liraglutide works, how its brands and generics differ, what the major trials found, the side effects and warnings that apply to every liraglutide product, and what each version costs. For weight-management details specific to the 3 mg brand, see our Saxenda page. Everything here is general education. Please research carefully, speak with a licensed doctor and get a personal evaluation before starting, stopping or switching any medicine.

What liraglutide is and how it works

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the same family as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and, partly, tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro). GLP-1 is a hormone the gut releases after eating. The body’s own GLP-1 lasts only 1.5 to 2 minutes in the blood; liraglutide was engineered with a fatty-acid chain so that it binds to blood proteins and resists breakdown, giving it a half-life of about 13 hours.

According to the labels, liraglutide works in several ways. It helps the pancreas release insulin and lowers glucagon when blood sugar is high, which is the basis of its diabetes use. It slows stomach emptying. And it acts on areas of the brain involved in appetite: the Saxenda label states that liraglutide “lowers body weight through decreased calorie intake” and does not increase the calories the body burns over 24 hours. In other words, people tend to feel full sooner and eat less.

Brands and generics

Product	Approved for	Pen and highest daily dose	Status (checked 2026-10-06)
Victoza (Novo Nordisk)	Type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10+; heart-risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease	Multi-dose pen; up to 1.8 mg a day	Approved January 25, 2010
Generic liraglutide (Victoza equivalent)	Same as Victoza	Same	First generic approved December 23, 2024 (Hikma)
Saxenda (Novo Nordisk)	Chronic weight management in adults and teens 12+ (with body weight over 60 kg)	Multi-dose pen; 3 mg a day	Approved December 23, 2014; brand being discontinued, last shipments late January 2027
Generic liraglutide (Saxenda equivalent)	Same as Saxenda	Same	First approved August 27, 2025 (Teva); Drugs@FDA also lists Biocon and Orbicular

The key practical point: Victoza and its generics are diabetes products, and the Saxenda label notes that liraglutide below 3 mg a day has not been established for weight reduction. Saxenda and its generics are the weight-management products. Liraglutide is also part of Xultophy, a combination with insulin degludec for diabetes. The labels say liraglutide should not be combined with other liraglutide products or with other GLP-1 medicines.

Who it is labeled for

For weight management (Saxenda and its generics), the label covers adults with obesity, adults with overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, and children 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg (about 132 lb) and have obesity, always together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. Clinicians usually use BMI to define these groups; the NIH describes weight-management medicines as generally considered for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. For diabetes (Victoza and its generics), the label covers adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. Neither is for type 1 diabetes. Whether any version fits you is a decision for you and your clinician.

How it is taken, in general

Liraglutide is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a day, at any time of day, with or without meals. Every version starts at a low dose for one week and is increased weekly to reduce nausea; the weight-management dose is reached after about four weeks (up to eight weeks for teens). The Saxenda label adds two check-points: adults who have not lost at least 4% of their starting weight after 16 weeks should stop, because they are unlikely to benefit, and if more than 3 days of doses are missed, the step-up has to start again. Injection sites should be rotated within the same region, which the label says reduces the risk of a skin reaction called cutaneous amyloidosis. The Victoza label also warns never to share a pen between people, even if the needle is changed. Your prescriber sets the dose and schedule; never change them on your own.

What the trials showed

Weight (3 mg). In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015, 3,731 adults without diabetes were randomized to liraglutide 3 mg or placebo with diet and activity counseling. At 56 weeks, the liraglutide group had lost 8.4 kg on average versus 2.8 kg with placebo, and 63.2% versus 27.1% lost at least 5% of their weight. The Saxenda label reports this trial as an average loss of 7.4% versus 3.0%. A three-year extension in people with prediabetes found that 2% of the liraglutide group versus 6% of the placebo group were diagnosed with diabetes, with weight loss of 6.1% versus 1.9% at 160 weeks.

Weekly vs daily. In STEP 8 (JAMA, 2022), 338 adults were randomized to weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or daily liraglutide 3 mg for 68 weeks. Average weight loss was 15.8% with semaglutide and 6.4% with liraglutide (1.9% with pooled placebo), and more people stopped liraglutide early (27.6% vs 13.5%). Wegovy vs Saxenda covers this comparison in detail.

Placebo (pooled)1.9%

Liraglutide 3 mg daily6.4%

Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly15.8%

Average weight loss at 68 weeks in STEP 8 (head-to-head)

Item	Value
Placebo (pooled)	1.9%
Liraglutide 3 mg daily	6.4%
Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly	15.8%

338 adults with overweight or obesity, without diabetes, all with diet and activity counseling. Open-label design.

Source: Rubino DM et al., JAMA 2022 (STEP 8) (checked on October 6, 2026)

Heart (1.8 mg, diabetes). In LEADER, 9,340 adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease were randomized to liraglutide 1.8 mg (Victoza) or placebo for a median of 3.5 years. A major cardiovascular event occurred in 13.0% versus 14.9% (hazard ratio 0.87), which is the basis for Victoza’s heart-risk indication. That indication belongs to Victoza for people with type 2 diabetes; Saxenda does not carry it.

• Placebo
• Liraglutide

SCALE: lost 5% or more of weight (56 weeks)27.1%63.2%

SCALE: lost more than 10% (56 weeks)10.6%33.1%

SCALE extension: new diabetes diagnosis (160 weeks)6%2%

LEADER: major cardiovascular event (median 3.5 years)14.9%13%

Liraglutide trial results at a glance

Item	Placebo	Liraglutide
SCALE: lost 5% or more of weight (56 weeks)	27.1%	63.2%
SCALE: lost more than 10% (56 weeks)	10.6%	33.1%
SCALE extension: new diabetes diagnosis (160 weeks)	6%	2%
LEADER: major cardiovascular event (median 3.5 years)	14.9%	13%

SCALE used 3 mg (weight); LEADER used 1.8 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. For the last two rows, a shorter liraglutide bar is better.

Source: Pi-Sunyer X et al., NEJM 2015; le Roux CW et al., Lancet 2017; Victoza and Saxenda labels (LEADER) (checked on October 6, 2026)

Side effects

Digestive side effects are the most common and are dose related. In the Victoza diabetes trials, nausea affected 18% on 1.2 mg and 20% on 1.8 mg versus 5% on placebo. At the 3 mg weight dose (Saxenda trials), nausea affected 39.3% versus 13.8%, and about 68% of people reported some digestive symptom versus 39% on placebo. Nausea usually fades as treatment continues.

• Placebo (diabetes trials)
• 1.8 mg (Victoza)
• Placebo (weight trials)
• 3 mg (Saxenda)

Nausea5%20%13.8%39.3%

Diarrhea4%12%9.9%20.9%

Vomiting2%9%3.9%15.7%

Constipation1%5%8.5%19.4%

Dyspepsia1%7%2.7%9.6%

Common side effects by liraglutide dose (separate trial programs)

Item	Placebo (diabetes trials)	1.8 mg (Victoza)	Placebo (weight trials)	3 mg (Saxenda)
Nausea	5%	20%	13.8%	39.3%
Diarrhea	4%	12%	9.9%	20.9%
Vomiting	2%	9%	3.9%	15.7%
Constipation	1%	5%	8.5%	19.4%
Dyspepsia	1%	7%	2.7%	9.6%

Diabetes trials (Victoza) and weight trials (Saxenda) enrolled different people, so compare each dose with its own placebo.

Source: Victoza label Table 1 and Saxenda label Table 2 (DailyMed) (checked on October 6, 2026)

Other side effects on the labels include headache, injection-site reactions, tiredness, dizziness, indigestion, burping, reflux, low blood sugar (mainly with insulin or sulfonylureas) and a rise in heart rate. Reports after approval include hair loss and the skin condition cutaneous amyloidosis at injection sites. Our guide to GLP-1 side effects explains how they are usually managed.

Boxed warning and serious risks

The labels also warn about acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease (gallstones were reported in 2.2% versus 0.8% in the weight trials), low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, a faster resting heart rate, kidney injury from dehydration, severe digestive reactions, serious allergic reactions, and breathing in stomach contents during anesthesia or deep sedation. In January 2026 the FDA asked for the suicidal behavior and ideation warning to be removed from Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound after reviewing 91 placebo-controlled trials with 107,910 patients and finding no increased risk; mood changes should still always be reported to your clinician.

Who should not use it, interactions and pregnancy

Liraglutide is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2 and in anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to it. It is not recommended with severe gastroparesis. Because it slows stomach emptying, it can affect how other pills are absorbed; with insulin or sulfonylureas it raises the risk of low blood sugar. For weight management, the Saxenda label says weight loss offers no benefit during pregnancy and may harm the fetus, so it should be stopped when pregnancy is recognized. Discuss pregnancy plans and breastfeeding with your clinician.

Liraglutide compared with semaglutide

Both medicines belong to the same class and share the same boxed warning, but they differ in ways that matter day to day. Liraglutide has a half-life of about 13 hours, so it is injected every day; semaglutide stays in the body for about a week, so it is injected weekly (Wegovy, Ozempic) or taken as a daily tablet that is absorbed in small amounts (the Wegovy pill, Rybelsus). In the only head-to-head weight trial, STEP 8, weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg led to about two and a half times as much average weight loss as daily liraglutide 3 mg, with similar rates of digestive side effects. Liraglutide, on the other hand, now has FDA-approved generics, while semaglutide does not, which can make liraglutide the less expensive choice for some people. Our semaglutide page and semaglutide vs tirzepatide explain the newer molecules.

Children and teens

Liraglutide is one of the few GLP-1 medicines with pediatric approvals: Victoza for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes (added in June 2019), and Saxenda for children 12 and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg (added in December 2020). In the Saxenda teen trial, BMI fell by 4.29% versus a 0.35% rise on placebo over 56 weeks, and 43.3% versus 18.7% reduced their BMI by at least 5%. Teens on Saxenda had high rates of vomiting (34.4% vs 4.0% on placebo) and of symptomatic low blood sugar (15.2% vs 4.0%), so treatment for a young person should always involve a pediatric specialist and the whole family.

Cost: brand vs generic

Novo Nordisk’s list prices (wholesale acquisition cost) checked on 2026-10-06 were $1,349.02 for a 5-pen pack of Saxenda, $815.27 for a 3-pen pack of Victoza and $543.51 for a 2-pen pack. The Saxenda savings card closed to new enrollees on June 30, 2023. For a neutral view of brand versus generic, Medicaid’s National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) shows what pharmacies pay on average; it is not a retail price, but it shows that generic liraglutide costs pharmacies far less than the brands.

• Brand
• Generic

Saxenda-size 5-pen pack (3 mg weight dose)$1,306.89$738.72

Victoza-size 3-pen pack$790.38$275.69

What pharmacies pay per pack: brand vs generic liraglutide (NADAC)

Item	Brand	Generic
Saxenda-size 5-pen pack (3 mg weight dose)	$1,306.89	$738.72
Victoza-size 3-pen pack	$790.38	$275.69

NADAC per mL multiplied by the pack size (5 x 3 mL or 3 x 3 mL). Pharmacy acquisition cost, not what you pay; at 3 mg a day a 5-pen pack lasts 30 days.

Source: CMS data.medicaid.gov, NADAC 2026 (rates effective 2026-09-23), InstaTuck calculation (checked on October 6, 2026)

Insurance coverage differs by use. Medicare Part D can cover liraglutide for type 2 diabetes, but Medicare is prohibited by law from covering drugs used only for weight loss, and the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 2026 to December 2027) does not include liraglutide. Commercial plans vary. Our GLP-1 coverage guide and GLP-1 cost comparison tool can help you prepare questions for your plan and pharmacy.

Compounded products

With FDA-approved generics now available, there is little reason to consider compounded liraglutide. Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, and the FDA has reported problems with unapproved GLP-1 products, including dosing errors. If cost is the barrier, ask your clinician and pharmacist about the approved generic instead. Read more in compounded GLP-1s.

If you take Saxenda now

Novo Nordisk says the Saxenda discontinuation is a portfolio decision, “not the result of any safety or quality-related concerns,” and asks patients to talk with their health care provider about alternatives. Options to discuss include an approved generic liraglutide 3 mg product, weekly injections such as Wegovy or Zepbound, daily pills such as the Wegovy pill or Foundayo, and non-GLP-1 pills such as Qsymia or Contrave. Plan any switch with your prescriber; do not stop or change on your own. Our weight-loss injections guide, the medications hub and stopping a GLP-1 can help you prepare, and protein plus strength training help protect muscle during weight loss; see muscle loss on GLP-1s.

FDA status and approved uses

Indication	Labeled population	For weight	Approved	Source
Adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control (Victoza and generics)	Adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes	No	January 25, 2010	Source
Reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (Victoza)	Adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease	No	August 25, 2017	Source
Reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term, with reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity (Saxenda and generics)	Adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbid condition; pediatric patients 12+ with body weight above 60 kg and obesity	Yes	December 23, 2014	Source

From the FDA label. Who a medicine is labeled for is not the same as whether it fits you; only a clinician can decide that.

How it is taken (in general)

Once-daily subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, any time of day, without regard to meals. Starts low for one week and increases weekly (weight dose reached in about 4 weeks; up to 8 weeks in teens). Saxenda label: stop if less than 4% weight loss after 16 weeks (adults); restart the escalation if more than 3 days are missed; rotate sites; never share pens. Follow your prescriber.

This is what the label describes in general, never a personal dose or schedule. Follow your prescriber.

What studies showed

Trial	Population	Duration	Outcome as reported
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes NCT01272219	3,731 adults with BMI 30+ (or 27+ with comorbidity), no diabetes	56 weeks	Weight -8.4 kg vs -2.8 kg with placebo; 63.2% vs 27.1% lost 5% or more.[8]
SCALE 3-year extension (prediabetes) NCT01272219	2,254 adults with prediabetes	160 weeks	Diabetes diagnosed in 2% vs 6%; weight -6.1% vs -1.9%.[9]
STEP 8 NCT04074161	338 adults with overweight or obesity, no diabetes	68 weeks	Weight -6.4% with liraglutide 3 mg vs -15.8% with semaglutide 2.4 mg (pooled placebo -1.9%).[10]
LEADER NCT01179048	9,340 adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease	Median 3.5 years	Major adverse cardiovascular events 13.0% with liraglutide 1.8 mg vs 14.9% with placebo (hazard ratio 0.87).[2]

Average results from trials; individual results vary. Results from different trials cannot be compared directly.

Side effects

Common side effect	How often (label)
Nausea	39.3% vs 13.8% placebo (3 mg); 20% vs 5% (1.8 mg)
Diarrhea	20.9% vs 9.9% (3 mg); 12% vs 4% (1.8 mg)
Constipation	19.4% vs 8.5% (3 mg); 5% vs 1% (1.8 mg)
Vomiting	15.7% vs 3.9% (3 mg); 9% vs 2% (1.8 mg)
Dyspepsia	9.6% vs 2.7% (3 mg); 7% vs 1% (1.8 mg)
Headache	13.6% vs 12.6% (3 mg); 10% vs 7% (1.8 mg)

Serious risks

• Thyroid C-cell tumors (boxed warning, seen in rodents)
• Acute pancreatitis
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Hypoglycemia with insulin or insulin secretagogues
• Heart rate increase
• Acute kidney injury due to volume depletion
• Severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions; not recommended in severe gastroparesis
• Serious hypersensitivity reactions
• Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation

Warnings and who should not use it

Boxed warning

Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors: liraglutide causes dose- and duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in rats and mice. It is unknown whether it causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans. Contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients on the risk and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

Who should not use it (per the label)

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any excipient

Interactions, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Drug or class	What the label says
Oral medications	Delayed gastric emptying may affect absorption; monitor.
Insulin or insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas)	Higher risk of hypoglycemia; dose reduction of those medicines may be needed.
Other liraglutide-containing products or GLP-1 receptor agonists	Coadministration not recommended.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Saxenda label: animal studies suggest fetal risk; weight loss offers no benefit in pregnancy and may cause fetal harm; discontinue when pregnancy is recognized. No data on human milk; liraglutide was present in rat milk. Discuss with the prescriber.

Cost, insurance and savings

Price	Amount	Basis	Checked on
List price	1,349.02 USD	WAC, Saxenda 5-pen package (5 x 3 mL)	October 6, 2026
List price	815.27 USD	WAC, Victoza 3-pen package	October 6, 2026
List price	543.51 USD	WAC, Victoza 2-pen package	October 6, 2026
Other	738.72 USD	NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost, generic liraglutide 5-pen pack (15 mL; rate effective 2026-09-23)	October 6, 2026
Other	275.69 USD	NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost, generic liraglutide 3-pen pack (9 mL; rate effective 2026-09-23)	October 6, 2026

Prices change often and depend on pharmacy, plan and location. Insurance can change what you pay. Every price shows the date we checked it.

Stopping and keeping results

Trials show that weight often returns after these medicines are stopped. Plan any change with your prescriber. Stopping a GLP-1: what trials show and how people keep results

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist

• Is generic liraglutide, a weekly GLP-1 or a different medicine the best fit for my goals and budget?
• If I take Saxenda now, what is our plan before the brand is discontinued?
• How will we know by week 16 whether it is working for me?
• Do my diabetes medicines or other pills need to be adjusted?
• Do I have any history, such as thyroid cancer, MEN 2, pancreatitis or gallstones, that changes the risks?

Frequently asked questions

Is liraglutide the same as Saxenda?

Saxenda is a brand of liraglutide at 3 mg a day for chronic weight management. Victoza is a brand of liraglutide up to 1.8 mg a day for type 2 diabetes. Generic liraglutide versions of both are FDA approved.

Is there a generic for Saxenda?

Yes. The FDA approved the first generic liraglutide referencing Saxenda on August 27, 2025 (Teva), and Drugs@FDA lists other approved generic makers. Ask your pharmacist which version you receive.

Is Saxenda being discontinued?

Novo Nordisk has announced it will discontinue the Saxenda brand, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027, and says the decision is not due to safety or quality concerns. Talk with your clinician about alternatives.

How much weight do people lose on liraglutide?

At the 3 mg weight dose, the SCALE trial found an average loss of 8.4 kg (about 18 lb) over 56 weeks vs 2.8 kg with placebo. The weekly medicine semaglutide led to more weight loss in a head-to-head trial.

Can Victoza be used for weight loss?

Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight management. The Saxenda label states that liraglutide doses below 3 mg a day have not been established for weight reduction.

How is liraglutide different from semaglutide?

Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists. Liraglutide has a half-life of about 13 hours and is injected daily; semaglutide lasts about a week and is taken weekly as an injection or daily as a tablet. In STEP 8, semaglutide 2.4 mg led to greater weight loss.

What are the most common side effects of liraglutide?

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, indigestion, headache and injection-site reactions. Nausea usually lessens over time. Serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder disease.

Does liraglutide have a boxed warning?

Yes, about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. It should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2.

Does Medicare cover liraglutide for weight loss?

Medicare is prohibited by law from covering drugs used only for weight loss, and the 2026-2027 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge does not include liraglutide. Part D may cover Victoza or its generics for type 2 diabetes.

Official sources

• Prescribing information (FDA label)
• FDA approval letter or page
• Manufacturer information

References

1. SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection: prescribing information. Novo Nordisk, via DailyMed, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Drug label
2. VICTOZA (liraglutide) injection: prescribing information. Novo Nordisk, via DailyMed. (accessed October 6, 2026) Drug label
3. Liraglutide injection (Teva): prescribing information. Teva Pharmaceuticals; DailyMed (NLM), 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Drug label
4. Drugs@FDA: Victoza, NDA 022341, approval history. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
5. Drugs@FDA: Saxenda, NDA 206321 (original approval 2014-12-23). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
6. Drugs@FDA: liraglutide (Teva), ANDA 214568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
7. FDA Approves First Generic of Once-Daily GLP-1 Injection to Lower Blood Sugar in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
8. Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al.. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes). New England Journal of Medicine, 2015. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1411892 · PMID 26132939 · NCT01272219 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
9. le Roux CW, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al.. 3 years of liraglutide versus placebo for type 2 diabetes risk reduction and weight management in individuals with prediabetes. The Lancet, 2017. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30069-7 · PMID 28237263 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
10. Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, et al.. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight (STEP 8). JAMA, 2022. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23619 · PMID 35015037 · NCT04074161 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
11. Saxenda: cost information and discontinuation notice. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare). (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
12. Saxenda pricing (wholesale acquisition cost). Novo Nordisk. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
13. Victoza pricing (wholesale acquisition cost). Novo Nordisk. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
14. NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) 2026. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (data.medicaid.gov). (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
15. FDA requests removal of suicidal behavior and ideation warning from GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
16. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for providers. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
17. A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity. KFF, 2024. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
18. Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
19. FDA’s concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page

Facts checked on October 6, 2026

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.