Liraglutide Vs. Semaglutide: Drug Comparison

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Saxenda^®. The information below is about brand name Saxenda. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Saxenda (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. It works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which helps regulate appetite and food intake, leading to reduced caloric consumption and weight loss. Administered once daily, Saxenda is used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, and it should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Wegovy^®. The information below is about brand name Wegovy. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Wegovy (semaglutide) is an injectable medication approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. It works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which regulates appetite and food intake, leading to reduced calorie consumption and significant weight loss. Wegovy is administered once weekly and is intended to be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. It should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis and is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding individuals​.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Saxenda (liraglutide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in:

  • Adult patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:

    • 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or

    • 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia)

  • Pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with:

    • Body weight above 60 kg and

An initial BMI corresponding to 30 kg/m² for adults (obese) by international cut-offs

Wegovy (semaglutide) is indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight

• To reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in:

  • Adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity

  • Adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition

• Typically taken as an injection once daily

• Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or 3 mg per injection

• Typically taken as an injection once weekly

• Comes in single-dose pens that deliver 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, or 2.4 mg per injection

Most common adverse reactions, reported in greater than or equal to 5% are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Injection site reactions

• Headache

• Low blood sugar

• Indigestion

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Abdominal pain

• Increased lipase

• Upper abdominal pain

• Fever

• Inflammation of the digestive system

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in adults or pediatric patients aged 12 years and older are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Abdominal pain

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Indigestion

• Dizziness

• Abdominal distension

• Belching

• Low blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Flatulence

• Inflammation of the digestive system

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn)

• Inflammation of the nasal cavities and back of the throat

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any excipients in Saxenda

• Pregnancy

• Drug interactions: Saxenda delays gastric emptying. May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of the excipients in Wegovy

• Drug interactions: Wegovy delays gastric emptying. May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Thyroid C-cell tumors

• Acute pancreatitis

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Low blood sugar: Can occur in adults when Saxenda is used with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., a sulfonylurea) or insulin

• Heart rate increase

• Renal impairment

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Suicidal behavior and ideation

• Acute pancreatitis

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with insulin or an insulin secretagogue may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Diabetic retinopathy complications in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Heart rate increase

• Suicidal behavior and ideation

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. When pregnancy is recognized, discontinue Wegovy

• Females and males of reproductive potential: Discontinue Wegovy at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy because of the long half-life of semaglutide

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Saxenda causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Saxenda is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

In rodents, semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether Wegovy causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Wegovy is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

*This information is from the label for brand name Saxenda^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Saxenda, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient liraglutide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Wegovy^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient semaglutide.