Liraglutide
Saxenda
- Made by
- Novo Nordisk
- FDA approval
- December 2014
- Indication
- Chronic weight management
- Dose ceiling
- 3.0 mg daily
- Typical loss
- ~5–8% body weight at 56 weeks (SCALE trial)
- Cash list
- $1,350 list
Side by side · Updated April 2026
Saxenda vs. Wegovy
Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists. Beyond that they differ in molecule, FDA indication, dose ceiling, and — most importantly to most people reading this — what the scale actually does over the long run.
Liraglutide vs SemaglutideChronic weight management… vs. Chronic weight management…
GLP-1
Semaglutide
Wegovy
- Made by
- Novo Nordisk
- FDA approval
- June 2021 (obesity); March 2024 (cardiovascular risk reduction)
- Indication
- Chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with comorbidity; cardiovascular risk reduction
- Dose ceiling
- 2.4 mg weekly
- Typical loss
- ~14.9% mean body weight at 68 weeks in STEP-1 (vs 2.4% placebo); ~17% in adolescents (STEP TEENS)
- Cash list
- $1,350 list (often $0–$25 with commercial coverage)
The honest answer
Which one actually wins
Same family (Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 line for obesity), generations apart. Saxenda is daily liraglutide (~5–8% mean weight loss). Wegovy is weekly semaglutide (~15%). Saxenda is now mostly relevant for patients who can't tolerate weekly drugs — the daily titration sometimes works for people whose stomach can't handle a once-weekly bolus.
Side by side
Saxenda vs Wegovy, ten metrics
MetricSaxendaWegovy
Molecule
SaxendaLiraglutide
WegovySemaglutide
Receptor(s)
SaxendaGLP-1
WegovyGLP-1
Manufacturer
SaxendaNovo Nordisk
WegovyNovo Nordisk
FDA approval
SaxendaDecember 2014
WegovyJune 2021 (obesity); March 2024 (cardiovascular risk reduction)
Indication
SaxendaChronic weight management
WegovyChronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with comorbidity; cardiovascular risk reduction
Delivery
SaxendaSubcutaneous injection, once daily
WegovySubcutaneous injection, once weekly
Dose ceiling
Saxenda3.0 mg daily
Wegovy2.4 mg weekly
Titration
Saxenda1 week per step
Wegovy4 weeks per step (16 weeks to maintenance)
Typical loss
Saxenda~5–8% body weight at 56 weeks (SCALE trial)
Wegovy~14.9% mean body weight at 68 weeks in STEP-1 (vs 2.4% placebo); ~17% in adolescents (STEP TEENS)
Cash list
Saxenda$1,350 list
Wegovy$1,350 list (often $0–$25 with commercial coverage)
On patent until
SaxendaOff-patent; generic forms now available for daily liraglutide
Wegovy2031 (US composition of matter)
Where to get it
Full provider table →Providers offering Liraglutide or Semaglutide
Real journeys