Liraglutide
Also known as: Victoza, Saxenda, NN2211
Liraglutide (also called Victoza or Saxenda) is an FDA-approved daily GLP-1 agonist. Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog with a single amino-acid substitution and a sixteen-carbon fatty acid attached through a glutamate spacer.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 204656-20-2
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 3751.2 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~13 hours
- FDA status
- Approved
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Last updated
- Aug 30, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- GLP-1 receptor
Research summary
FDA-approved once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, up to 1.8 mg) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, up to 3 mg).
Peptide Library's Liraglutide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Protocol
- Dosage Range
- Saxenda 0.6→3.0 mg daily; Victoza 0.6→1.8 mg daily
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Cycle
- Long-term as prescribed
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
- Reconstitution Guide
- Prefilled pen — no reconstitution
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Timing Notes
- Educational catalog only — not medical advice
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C172H265N43O51 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 3751.2 g/mol |
| CAS number | 204656-20-2 |
| Half-life | ~13 hours |
| Appearance | Clear solution in prefilled pen |
| Formulation | Prefilled Pen |
| PubChem CID | 16134956 |
| FDA UNII | 839I73S42A |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL4084119 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog with a single amino-acid substitution and a sixteen-carbon fatty acid attached through a glutamate spacer. The acyl chain drives reversible binding to serum albumin and promotes self-association at the injection site, which together slow absorption and clearance and extend the half-life from minutes to roughly thirteen hours, allowing once-daily administration. At the GLP-1 receptor it enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon when glucose is elevated, and slows gastric emptying. Appetite reduction is mediated centrally, through GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and brainstem, which is why the weight effect is separate from the glycaemic one.
Origin
Acylated human GLP-1 analog (Novo Nordisk).
Targets
Studies
- Effects of liraglutide on gastrointestinal functions and weight in obesity: A randomized clinical and pharmacogenomic trial
- Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes
- Efficacy and Safety of Liraglutide Added to Insulin Treatment in Type 1 Diabetes: The ADJUNCT ONE Treat-To-Target Randomized Trial
- Efficacy of Liraglutide for Weight Loss Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The SCALE Diabetes Randomized Clinical Trial
- Comparative Effectiveness of Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Orlistat, and Phentermine for Weight Loss in Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review
Regulatory & research status
Liraglutide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Permitted |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
Potential Side Effects
Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gallbladder events
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Liraglutide: frequently asked questions
What is Liraglutide?
FDA-approved once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes (Victoza, up to 1.8 mg) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, up to 3 mg).
How does Liraglutide work?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog with a single amino-acid substitution and a sixteen-carbon fatty acid attached through a glutamate spacer. The acyl chain drives reversible binding to serum albumin and promotes self-association at the injection site, which together slow absorption and clearance and extend the half-life from minutes to roughly thirteen hours, allowing once-daily administration.
Is Liraglutide FDA approved?
Yes. Liraglutide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What is the half-life of Liraglutide?
Reported half-life for Liraglutide is ~13 hours. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
Is Liraglutide banned in sport?
Liraglutide is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use.
What peptides are similar to Liraglutide?
Compounds most often compared with Liraglutide include Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide and Exenatide. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Saxenda labelExternal reference
- Effects of liraglutide on gastrointestinal functions and weight in obesity: A randomized clinical and pharmacogenomic trial — Obesity (Silver Spring), 2022External reference
- Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes — N Engl J Med, 2016External reference
- Efficacy and Safety of Liraglutide Added to Insulin Treatment in Type 1 Diabetes: The ADJUNCT ONE Treat-To-Target Randomized Trial — Diabetes Care, 2016External reference
- Efficacy of Liraglutide for Weight Loss Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The SCALE Diabetes Randomized Clinical Trial — JAMA, 2015External reference
- Comparative Effectiveness of Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Orlistat, and Phentermine for Weight Loss in Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review — Cureus, 2025External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · Version 1
This Liraglutide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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