Skip to content
Peptigraph home

Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: What the Research Shows

Liraglutide and Semaglutide side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
GLP-1 agonistFDA approved (Saxenda, Victoza)LiraglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist sold as Victoza (and Saxenda); the Victoza label covers glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes.[13]
GLP-1 agonistFDA approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)SemaglutideFDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus); in a 68-week trial in adults with obesity, mean weight change was -14.9% versus -2.4% with placebo.[14]GLP-1 & metabolic−38% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider Liraglutide if…

  • you want an FDA-approved product: Saxenda (liraglutide) is labelled, with diet and activity, to reduce excess body weight and keep it off long term in adults with obesity or with overweight plus a comorbidity[15]
  • you want a diabetes label for liraglutide: Victoza is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes[13]

Consider Semaglutide if…

  • you want an FDA-approved product: Wegovy (semaglutide) is labelled to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity, or with overweight plus a weight-related condition[12]
  • you want cardiovascular-outcomes data in obesity without diabetes: The primary cardiovascular composite occurred in 6.5% on semaglutide vs 8.0% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.90).[16]

What they have in common

  • In a head-to-head trial of the STEP program, mean weight change was -15.8% with semaglutide vs -6.4% with liraglutide[10]
Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 8 of 10 fields where the two differ. Class, PCAC vote, Jul 2026 are the same or both unknown.

FieldLiraglutideSemaglutide
Also calledSaxenda, Victozasema, Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Wegovy pill
FDA statusFDA approved (Saxenda, Victoza)FDA approved (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)
WADANo WADA record in our dataNot on the WADA Prohibited ListGLP-1 and GIP agonists are not named anywhere on the 2026 list. This one is an approved medicine, so the catch-all S0 (which only covers drugs with no approval anywhere) does not apply to it.
Half-life[half-life by route]approximately 1 weeksubcutaneous · FDA label (Ozempic)
Evidence strength[evidence grade]Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Strongest: Lancet 2026, PMID 41865758
Human studies we summarised[n]23 human (19 randomized or controlled) of 27 summarised
Typical study doses[dose range]
Named in FDA warning letters, 2026Not in the letters we trackYes (24 Aug 2026; 31 Mar 2026)

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Taken together?

Liraglutide and Semaglutide together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: 2 published studies included both (PMID 35015037, 30122305). The FDA label names a drug interaction relevant to the pair.

Open the stack page
StackLiraglutide + Semaglutide, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

  1. 1FDA warning letters to five research-peptide sellersFDA warning letter (NuScience Peptides; 1 of 5) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2FDA proposes excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the 503B bulks listFDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Seven FDA warning letters to online sellers of GLP-1 productsFDA warning letter (Gram Peptides; 1 of 7) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5These highlights do not include all the information needed to use OZEMPIC ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for OZEMPIC. OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use FDA label (Ozempic), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg (flexible dose) in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Lancet (London, England) · 2026PMID 41865758Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40305708Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40934115Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9PubMed search: (liraglutide[tiab] OR Victoza[tiab] OR Saxenda[tiab]) AND (semaglutide[tiab] OR Ozempic[tiab] OR Wegovy[tiab] OR Rybelsus[tiab] OR NN9535[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2022PMID 35015037Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Efficacy and safety of semaglutide compared with liraglutide and placebo for weight loss in patients with obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo and active controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2 trial.Lancet (London, England) · 2018PMID 30122305Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12WEGOVY prescribing information (FDA label)FDA label, DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13VICTOZA prescribing information (FDA label)FDA label, DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2021PMID 33567185Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15SAXENDA prescribing information (FDA label)FDA label, DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2023PMID 37952131Accessed 2 Oct 2026

Found an error? Report a correction.