Liraglutide vs semaglutide
What the research says about each, side by side. Every row comes from the studies and drug labels in the last row. More on each: Liraglutide and Semaglutide.
| Liraglutide | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | GLP-1 and metabolic | GLP-1 and metabolic |
| Evidence | Extensive clinical research | Extensive clinical research |
| FDA status | FDA-approved as Victoza (2010, type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (2014, weight management; teens 12+ since 2020). | FDA-approved as Ozempic (2017), Rybelsus (2019) and Wegovy (2021). Wegovy was also approved for lowering heart attack and stroke risk in 2024. Compounded copies aren't FDA-approved. |
| How it works | Like other GLP-1 medicines, it boosts insulin when blood sugar is high, slows the stomach and reduces appetite. It's shorter-acting than semaglutide, so it's taken every day. | It switches on GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, gut and brain. That helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows how fast the stomach empties, and quiets hunger signals in the brain, so people feel full sooner and think about food less. |
| Half-life | About 13 hours. Levels peak 8–12 hours after a shot, which is why it's a daily medicine. | About 7 days, so weekly shots build to a steady level after 4–5 weeks. Levels peak 1–3 days after a shot. The daily pill peaks about an hour after taking it. |
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