Victoza®

About Victoza®

Victoza® (liraglutide) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Daily injection. Same active ingredient as Saxenda®, different dose and FDA-approved indication.

Manufacturer / source: Novo Nordisk

How it compares

For tirzepatide forms head-to-head, see comparison page. For trial data, see clinical research.

Brand context & FDA status

Victoza is Novo Nordisk's brand name for liraglutide for type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved on January 25, 2010 — the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to receive a cardiovascular risk reduction indication (added in 2017 based on LEADER trial results). Same molecule as Saxenda (higher dose for obesity).

Mechanism of action

Daily GLP-1 receptor agonist. Glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression, slowed gastric emptying, central appetite signaling. Half-life approximately 13 hours.

Clinical efficacy data

The LEAD trial program established Victoza's glycemic efficacy with A1C reductions in the range of 1.0–1.5%. The LEADER cardiovascular outcomes trial (NEJM 2016) demonstrated a 13% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes at high CV risk, supporting the 2017 CV indication expansion.

FDA-approved indications

FDA-approved indications: (1) glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes; (2) cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Not FDA-approved for weight management (see Saxenda).

Dosing & titration

Daily subcutaneous injection. Start at 0.6 mg daily for one week (initiation dose), increase to 1.2 mg daily. If additional glycemic control is needed, increase to maximum 1.8 mg daily after at least one week at 1.2 mg.

Safety profile & adverse events

Most common adverse events: nausea, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, constipation. Boxed warning: thyroid C-cell tumor risk. Contraindications: MTC, MEN 2. Monitor: pancreatitis, hypoglycemia (especially with insulin or sulfonylureas), gallbladder events, kidney injury.

Cost & access in 2026

Victoza list price is approximately $1,000 per month. Widely covered by commercial insurance and Medicare Part D for type 2 diabetes with prior authorization. Increasingly displaced in practice by weekly GLP-1s (semaglutide, tirzepatide) due to their once-weekly convenience and stronger efficacy.

Frequently asked questions

Why daily rather than weekly?

Liraglutide's half-life requires daily dosing. Newer GLP-1s (semaglutide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide) have been engineered with longer half-lives to enable once-weekly administration.

Does Victoza help with weight loss?

Victoza produces modest weight loss in many patients as a secondary effect, but it is not FDA-approved for weight management. Saxenda — same active ingredient at higher dose — carries the weight-management indication.

Is Victoza still widely prescribed?

Use has declined as weekly GLP-1s have become available. Some patients remain on Victoza if it is well-tolerated and effective; new initiations more commonly start with weekly options.