What is Liraglutide’s Trade Name? Understanding Its Market Identity
The active ingredient in popular GLP-1 weight loss injections is known by brand names like Saxenda and Victoza. Our experts explain more about this clinically backed drug here.
When researching different weight loss treatments, you’ll come across many drug names that you might not be familiar with. While at first it might seem like there are endless different medications to understand, many of them are simply different brand names for the same treatment. Here, we’ll explain what liraglutide is and all the various names you might hear for this popular weight loss treatment.
What is liraglutide?
Liraglutide is the name of the active ingredient in many popular brands of weight loss medication, including Saxenda and Victoza, as well as compounded* or generic liraglutide. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. [1]
How does liraglutide work for weight loss?
The body naturally releases a hormone called GLP-1 when we eat. GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide mimic this hormone, which controls blood sugar levels, slows down digestion, reduces appetite and tells your brain you are full. This causes you to eat less, which aids weight loss. [1]
Taken as a daily injection, liraglutide has been shown in clinical trials to help people lose an average of 8% of their body weight in just over a year (56 weeks). This weight loss was achieved alongside a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and regular physical exercise. [2] You can read more about liraglutide’s uses and benefits here.
What’s the difference between Saxenda, Victoza and Compounded Liraglutide?
All of these medications share the same active ingredient – liraglutide. The difference lies in what each brand is approved to treat. Saxenda is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for weight loss, while Victoza is approved to treat type 2 diabetes. [1] This distinction matters because it determines what your health insurance will cover. For example, if you’re seeking liraglutide for weight loss through insurance, Saxenda will be the only option.
It’s also possible to get a generic version of the treatment, called Compounded* Liraglutide with B12. It allows you to access the same active ingredient for up to 90% less than branded treatments. The treatment is made by a specialized compounding pharmacy, accredited by NAPB and LegitScript, which guarantees strict adherence to FDA and state regulations. However, Compounded Liraglutide with B12 is not FDA-approved, so is not available using your insurance.
As well as being more affordable, compounded drugs can be adjusted to better suit customers’ needs. We add vitamin B12 to ours to minimize nausea – a common side effect of GLP-1 weight loss treatments.
If you’d like to find out more about GLP-1 weight loss treatments, or want to learn what treatment is suitable for you, just visit our website.
*Compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law but are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
References
- Liraglutide: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings [Internet]. Drugs.com. 2024. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/liraglutide.html
- Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, Greenway F, Halpern A, Krempf M, et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2015 Jul 2;373(1):11–22. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892