Liraglutide

Victoza · Saxenda

Weight LossApprovedApprovedPrescriptionSubQ

Popular for:Weight loss, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular protection

510

Registered Trials

606

Trial Publications

5,328

PubMed References

Approved

Evidence Level

Overview

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014). The short version: people usually care about it for weight loss, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular protection, but the strength of the evidence depends heavily on indication and study type.

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 2010) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 2014). It was the first GLP-1 agonist approved specifically for weight loss and has the longest safety track record among the GLP-1 medication class.

Liraglutide requires daily injection due to its approximately 13-hour half-life, which distinguishes it from newer weekly GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Clinical trials demonstrated 5-10% body weight reduction, which is lower than newer-generation GLP-1 drugs but supported by the most extensive long-term safety data.

Research Snapshot

What the evidence says

Approved

Liraglutide currently shows 510 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov, 606 PubMed trial publications (551 RCT-tagged), and 5,328 PubMed references matching the stored source query. Treat PubMed references as literature surface area, not a count of clinical trials.

Known vs uncertain

Known signals

  • 510 registered trials are tracked from ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records.
  • 606 PubMed clinical-trial publications are indexed.
  • 551 PubMed randomized controlled trial publications are indexed.
  • 5,328 PubMed references are tracked separately from trial counts and can include animal, in-vitro, review, mechanism, or clinical records.

Open questions

  • Evidence strength may vary by indication, route, formulation, and population.
  • Public anecdotes can highlight interest or concern but do not establish clinical efficacy.
  • Regulatory status and compounding access can change independently from the research literature.

Mechanism of Action

Liraglutide is a modified GLP-1 analog (97% homology to human GLP-1) with a fatty acid chain that enables albumin binding, extending its half-life to ~13 hours.

Key Research Benefits

FDA-approved for both diabetes (Victoza) and weight loss (Saxenda)
Longest safety track record among GLP-1 medications
5-10% body weight reduction in clinical trials
Studied for cardiovascular risk reduction (LEADER trial)
Researched for neuroprotective effects

Clinical Evidence Summary

Research Pipeline

Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved

510

Registered Trials

606

Trial Publications

551

RCT Publications

5,328

PubMed References

ClinicalTrials.govPubMed ESearchExact-name queryChecked May 3, 2026

Registered trials are ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records. Trial publications are PubMed records tagged as clinical trials or randomized controlled trials. PubMed references are broader source-query matches and can include animal studies, in-vitro work, reviews, mechanism papers, and trial publications.

510

Registered trials

606

Trial publications

551

RCT publications

5,328

PubMed references

1,495

Reviews

268

Meta-analyses

Registered trials source

Jun 1, 2026

Liraglutide

Uses the exact compound name as a ClinicalTrials.gov intervention query.

View source

Publication counts source

May 3, 2026

Liraglutide

Uses the exact display name.

View source

FDA-approved: Victoza (diabetes, 2010), Saxenda (weight loss, 2014). Prescription required. Available through pharmacies and telehealth clinics.

Key PubMed References

5,328 PubMed references · showing top 23 by relevance

View all on PubMed

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Liraglutide in Equine Inflammatory Joint Models.

In Vitro

Scheike AS, Plomp S, Fugazzola MC, et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025

PMID: 39904754

Metabolic resilience: liraglutide's potential in alleviating depressive symptoms.

Human Study

Gammoh O, Qnais E, Aljabali AAA, et al. · Molecular biology reports · 2025

PMID: 40471368

Activation of cyclooxygenase-2 signaling mediates liraglutide-induced adipose lipolytic activity.

In Vitro

Li J, Wu H, Ma W, et al. · European journal of pharmacology · 2025

PMID: 40935112

GLP-1R-positive neurons in the lateral septum mediate the anorectic and weight-lowering effects of liraglutide in mice.

Review

Chen Z, Deng X, Shi C, et al. · The Journal of clinical investigation · 2024

PMID: 39225090

Liraglutide attenuates angiotensin II-induced aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm via inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization in APOEmice.

Human Study

Zhang K, Li R, Matniyaz Y, et al. · Biochemical pharmacology · 2024

PMID: 38548245

Anecdotes & Sentiment

Public discussion, not clinical evidence

This section summarizes what people are talking about in public sources. It can be useful for spotting questions, hype cycles, and recurring concerns, but it is separate from the evidence sections above.

No curated public-discussion themes are live for Liraglutide yet.

Side Effects & Safety

- Nausea (most common, especially at initiation) - Diarrhea and constipation - Injection site reactions - Potential pancreatitis risk (rare) - Gallbladder-related events

Nausea (most common, especially at initiation)
Diarrhea and constipation
Injection site reactions
Potential pancreatitis risk (rare)
Gallbladder-related events

Known Interactions

No curated interaction entry is live for Liraglutide yet.

Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.

Comparison Pages

Comparison pages

All

No comparison page is linked yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Disclaimer

This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Regulatory status can vary by compound, formulation, indication, and jurisdiction. Check official labeling, registry records, and qualified professional guidance before making any health-related decision. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.