Liraglutide
Victoza
- Made by
- Novo Nordisk
- FDA approval
- January 2010
- Indication
- Type 2 diabetes
- Dose ceiling
- 1.8 mg daily
- Typical loss
- ~2–4% body weight at 6 months
- Cash list
- $520–$960 list
Side by side · Updated April 2026
Victoza vs. Saxenda
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 LiraglutideType 2 diabetes… vs. Chronic weight management…
GLP-1
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
The honest answer
Which one actually wins
Same molecule (liraglutide), different doses. Victoza is the diabetes formulation (max 1.8 mg daily). Saxenda is the obesity formulation (max 3.0 mg daily). Generic liraglutide arrived in 2024, opening lower-cost access to the underlying molecule for both indications.
Side by side
Victoza vs Saxenda, ten metrics
MetricVictozaSaxenda
Molecule
VictozaLiraglutide
SaxendaLiraglutide
Receptor(s)
VictozaGLP-1
SaxendaGLP-1
Manufacturer
VictozaNovo Nordisk
SaxendaNovo Nordisk
FDA approval
VictozaJanuary 2010
SaxendaDecember 2014
Indication
VictozaType 2 diabetes
SaxendaChronic weight management
Delivery
VictozaSubcutaneous injection, once daily
SaxendaSubcutaneous injection, once daily
Dose ceiling
Victoza1.8 mg daily
Saxenda3.0 mg daily
Titration
Victoza1 week per step
Saxenda1 week per step
Typical loss
Victoza~2–4% body weight at 6 months
Saxenda~5–8% body weight at 56 weeks (SCALE trial)
Cash list
Victoza$520–$960 list
Saxenda$1,350 list
On patent until
VictozaOff-patent. Generic liraglutide approved 2024 (Teva) — first generic GLP-1 in the US.
SaxendaOff-patent; generic forms now available for daily liraglutide
Where to get it
Full provider table →