LTP·01learntopeptide
Metabolic & GLP-1PeptideEvidence A3 cited

Liraglutide

GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (Saxenda/Victoza)

aka Victoza · Saxenda · NN2211

A GLP-1 receptor agonist research describes as effective for weight reduction and glycaemic control.

Molecular wt
3751g/mol
Formula
C172H265N43O51
CAS
204656-20-2
Half-life
13 h
established
Tmax
11 h
PubChem
16134956

Sequence

One-letter31 residues

HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRG

Three-letter

His-Ala-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys(N-epsilon-(gamma-L-glutamyl(N-alpha-hexadecanoyl)))-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Arg-Gly-Arg-Gly

Read this before quoting the sequence
31-residue backbone (FDA GSRS LIRAGLUTIDE, UNII 839I73S42A). It is human GLP-1(7-37) with Lys34 replaced by Arg and a palmitoyl (hexadecanoyl) group attached to Lys26 via a gamma-glutamyl spacer. The one-letter string above is the peptide backbone only and does not encode the acylation, which is essential to the molecule.
Source ↗

Mechanism of action

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the action of the natural hormone GLP-1, which increases insulin secretion in response to meals, decreases glucagon release, and slows gastric emptying. This leads to improved blood glucose control and reduced appetite.

What the evidence actually shows

Grade A

Numerous human trials have demonstrated liraglutide's efficacy in improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity. These studies consistently show significant benefits, though long-term safety data is still being gathered.

Regulatory status

Status
Approved prescription medicine. FDA: VICTOZA, NDA 022341 (Novo Nordisk), liraglutide 18 mg/3 mL solution, marketing status Prescription; SAXENDA, NDA 206321 (Novo), liraglutide 18 mg/3 mL solution, marketing status Prescription. Generic liraglutide injections from multiple manufacturers are also listed in DailyMed.
Approved as
Victoza (type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (chronic weight management); generics marketed.
Clinical stage
Approved and marketed.
WADA
Not named on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List; GLP-1 receptor agonists do not appear in any section of that list.
UK
licensed

In the UK, liraglutide is licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management in certain populations.

Source ↗

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life
13 h
Tmax
11 h
Absorption
subcutaneous
Elimination
both
Washout
3 days
Titration
0.6mg x1wk then 1.2mg then 1.8mg
Low-confidence pharmacokinetics
These figures are recorded as established rather than measured in a published PK study. Treat them as an order of magnitude. Anything downstream of them — accumulation, steady state, washout — inherits that uncertainty.

Dosing — what backs each figure

Liraglutide has fully established, FDA-approved human dosing: 0.6 mg subcutaneously once daily titrated weekly to a maximum of 1.8 mg for type 2 diabetes (VICTOZA) or 3 mg for chronic weight management (SAXENDA). It is chronic once-daily therapy, not a cycled compound.

ClinicalApproved labelling or a published human trial

  • VICTOZA: 0.6 mg subcutaneously once daily for one week, then increase to 1.2 mg once daily, then after at least one week increase to the maximum recommended 1.8 mg once daily. The 0.6 mg dose is a titration step only and is not effective for glycaemic control. Pediatric (>=10 y): start 0.6 mg once daily, increase in 0.6 mg increments after at least one week, maximum 1.8 mg once daily. Inject at any time of day, independently of meals, into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm

    Adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as an adjunct to diet and exercise · subcutaneous

    FDA-approved prescribing information, VICTOZA (liraglutide) injection, NDA 022341 ↗

  • SAXENDA: weekly escalation - week 1: 0.6 mg; week 2: 1.2 mg; week 3: 1.8 mg; week 4: 2.4 mg; week 5 onward: 3 mg once daily. Maximum 3 mg daily; may be reduced to 2.4 mg if intolerance occurs. Pediatric escalation may extend up to 8 weeks based on tolerability. Inject once daily at any time of day without regard to meals, into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm

    Adults with BMI >=30, or >=27 with a weight-related comorbidity; pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with body weight above 60 kg and BMI corresponding to adult 30 kg/m2 · subcutaneous

    FDA-approved prescribing information, SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection, NDA 206321 ↗

Handling and storage

Lyophilized
Not applicable - liraglutide is not supplied lyophilised. Saxenda is a 6 mg/mL solution in a prefilled pen. Per the FDA label: 'Prior to first use, SAXENDA should be stored in a refrigerator between 36F to 46F (2C to 8C). Do not store in the freezer or directly adjacent to the refrigerator cooling element. Do not freeze SAXENDA and do not use SAXENDA if it has been frozen.'
Reconstituted
In-use (after first use of the pen): 'the pen can be stored for 30 days at controlled room temperature 59F to 86F (15C to 30C) or in a refrigerator 36F to 46F (2C to 8C). Keep the pen cap on when not in use.'

Freeze-thaw: not tolerated. The label instructs not to freeze and not to use product that has been frozen. Figures above are from the US Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) prescribing information, section 16 How Supplied/Storage and Handling.

Source ↗
→ Reconstitution walkthrough→ Reconstitution calculator

Safety

Commonly reported
  • ·Nausea
  • ·Vomiting
  • ·Diarrhea
  • ·Constipation
Rarely reported
  • ·Pancreatitis
  • ·"Gallbladder disease"
  • ·"Renal impairment"
Contraindications
  • ·Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
  • ·Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
  • ·Hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any of its components
Drug interactions
  • ·May enhance the hypoglycemic effect of sulfonylureas and insulin

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, gallbladder events

Reported combinations

Reported as synergistic
  • ·Metformin
Reported as antagonistic
  • ·Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors

Combination claims in this dataset are largely unsourced and should be treated as folk knowledge until a citation appears beside them.

References (3)

Data provenance

Chemistry and citations on this page were checked against primary sources on 2026-08-14. Values that could not be verified were left blank rather than filled with a plausible guess.

Research use only
This profile is educational reference material. It is not medical advice, not a prescription, and not an endorsement of self-administration. Compounds discussed here are research chemicals and most are not approved for human therapeutic use.

Related in Metabolic & GLP-1

5-Amino-1MQ
A small molecule researched for blocking NNMT enzyme to boost NAD+ levels and fat metabolism.
Amycretin
Dual amylin/GLP-1 receptor agonist from Novo Nordisk. Single molecule.
AOD-9604
A modified hGH fragment researched for targeted fat breakdown without altering blood sugar or IGF-1.