Human RCT
Mensch
Marso SP. et al. 2016
Reduction in cardiovascular events (MACE) in type-2-diabetes patients at high CV risk over 3.8 years
What does NOT follow: From the LEADER trial; at lower CV risk the absolute risk reduction is smaller.
Peptide entry · Metabolic
Liraglutide
NN2211 · Victoza · Saxenda
Highest evidence
Human RCT
Studies recorded
5· 4 in humans
Legal status · US
PrescriptionScientific context only. Not medical advice, not a recommendation to use.
At a glance
GLP-1 receptor agonist with a half-life of about 13 hours. The first daily (not weekly) modern GLP-1 RA — approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes (2010) and Saxenda for obesity (2014).
Researched for
Glycaemic control in type 2 diabetesWeight reduction in obesityCardiovascular outcomes (LEADER)
Official status
US: Prescription
FDA-approved as Victoza (2010, type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (2014, chronic weight management). Prescription-only.
01
Mechanism of action
Liraglutide is a synthetic GLP-1 analog with 97% sequence identity to human GLP-1. A fatty-acid side chain (C16) on Lys-26 reversibly binds serum albumin and protects against DPP-4 degradation. GLP-1 receptor activation glucose-dependently stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying and modulates central satiety.
02
Evidence at a glance
Reading note. The distribution shows on which evidence tier each observation sits. Strong colours mark stronger evidence — weaker tiers are deliberately visible, not hidden.
03
What the studies show
Human RCT
Mensch
Pi-Sunyer X. et al. 2015
Mean weight loss in adults with obesity over 56 weeks in the SCALE trial
What does NOT follow: Effect size smaller than that of semaglutide 2.4 mg in comparable trials.
Human RCT
Mensch
HbA1c reduction versus glimepiride and versus placebo observed in the LEAD trial series
What does NOT follow: The LEAD series comprises six individual phase-3 trials with different comparators.
05
Pharmacokinetics
Theoretical concentration curve at a half-life of 13 h. Pure pharmacokinetic model — not a dosing recommendation.
Open in PK tool →Start time: t₀ = 0h
Repeat interval: off (single dose)
06
Routes of administration in the literature
Which routes of administration the available studies describe — neutral reporting, not a usage guide.
Subcutaneous
In LEADER, SCALE and LEAD administered daily subcutaneously.
07
Known adverse events from studies
Factual reporting of what studies observed. Not a safety statement for individual use.
Human RCT
Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhoea)
Most frequently documented adverse events in LEADER and SCALE; mostly transient.
häufig in Titrationsphase
07b
Interactions & combinations
Documented interactions and contraindications from studies, prescribing information and guidelines. Where no data exists, this is stated.
Reporting of risks, NOT a combination guide. The absence of an entry does not mean „safe to combine“ but „not sufficiently studied“.
No documented interactions recorded
We have not yet found robustly documented interactions for this peptide. This does NOT mean none exist — the data is limited.
08
Risks & hygiene aspects in the literature
What regulatory and scientific literature reports on risks, sterility and identity in non-pharmaceutical sources — descriptive, not a hygiene guide.
Thyroid C-cell carcinoma (boxed warning)
The FDA label contains a boxed warning based on tumours in rat studies. Clinical relevance in humans is not confirmed.
09
Regulatory voices
Direct statements from official assessment documents — paraphrased with date and source link.
EMAEuropean Medicines Agency
2015-03-23EMA EPAR on Saxenda — the indication expansion for chronic weight management in adults with obesity.
Saxenda is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² or ≥ 27 kg/m² with weight-related comorbidities.
FDAU.S. Food and Drug Administration
2014-12-23FDA press release on the 2014 approval of Saxenda as chronic weight-management therapy.
Saxenda may reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke — the first GLP-1 analog for which the FDA confirmed this in an outcome trial.
11
Legal status by country
12
Reconstitution calculator
Pure mg/mL maths — works like a calculator. Not a usage recommendation.
Peptides ship as a dry powder. Once dissolved in a liquid (reconstitution), this calculator answers a single question: how much substance is in one millilitre of solution afterwards?
- 1Enter the vial's substance amount (printed on the label).
- 2Enter how much solvent you add.
- 3Result = concentration in mg per mL.
Printed on the label
/
Liquid you add
=
2.50
mg / mL
5 mg in 2 mL gives 2.50 mg/mL — each millilitre contains 2.50 mg of substance.
14
Study register
Human RCTRandomised controlled trialn = 9340
Marso SP. et al. · 2016
Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER)
Concrete results
Primary MACE endpoint
HR 0.87
vs Placebo · median 3.8 Jahre
Human RCTRandomised controlled trialn = 3731
Pi-Sunyer X. et al. · 2015
A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management (SCALE)
Concrete results
Mean weight reduction
−8.0%
vs Placebo (−2.6%) · 56 Wochen
Preclinical
Knudsen LB. et al. · 2000
Potent derivatives of glucagon-like peptide-1 with pharmacokinetic properties suitable for once daily administration
Human RCTRandomised controlled trial
Garber A. et al. · 2009
Liraglutide versus glimepiride monotherapy for type 2 diabetes (LEAD-3 Mono): a randomised, 52-week, phase 3, double-blind, parallel-treatment trial
Human RCTRandomised controlled trial
Danne T. et al. · 2017
Liraglutide in an adolescent population with obesity
15
Sources & method
Reviewed by
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Last reviewed
2026-05-22
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