Saxenda for Men: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Saxenda has no separate rule for men. It is approved for weight loss. In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on Saxenda lost 7.4% of body weight on average, vs 3% on placebo.
- Active ingredient
- liraglutide
- How it is taken
- daily injection
- Approved for
- Weight loss
- Best result (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes)
- 7.4% weight loss
Saxenda overview
Its half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h, half is gone, and after five half-lives (2.7 d), about 3% remains.
Results from SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks, showed weight loss of 7.4% of body weight, compared with 3% on placebo.
Label source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Who qualifies?
| Who sets the rule | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | With diet and activity, this medicine helps with weight loss, then keeping it off long term. It is for adults and children 12 or older (over 60 kg) with obesity, or for adults with overweight plus a condition related to weight. |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 30 or higher |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 27 or higher with a weight-related condition |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | a diet and activity program is required first for 6 months |
References: DailyMed FDA label, aetna.com.
Trial results for men
No study enrolled men alone; the participants were adults who had obesity or overweight but did not have type 2 diabetes.
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Saxenda | Adults with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | 3,731 | 7.4% weight loss | 3% on placebo |
Research source: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
What is different for men?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors | It caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents; whether it does in people is not known. If medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) appears in your personal or family history, or if you have MEN 2, do not use this. |
| Acute Pancreatitis | Can cause inflammation of the pancreas. Severe stomach pain that continues and sometimes spreads to your back calls for medical care. |
These details come from the FDA labels: FDA (DailyMed) label.
These warnings come from the label: FDA label on DailyMed.
Coverage for men
Medicare Part D does not cover a GLP-1 used only for weight loss.
When Medicaid covers weight-loss GLP-1s, prior authorization is standard.
Sources: humana.com, KFF.
- Saxenda Cost
- Saxenda Coupon
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- Saxenda Cost With Insurance
- Is Saxenda Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Cheapest Way to Get Saxenda
- Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Saxenda? Criteria, Copay, How
- Does Cigna Cover Saxenda? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Does Aetna Cover Saxenda? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Alternatives for men
| Medicine | For men | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxenda | Approved uses apply | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
 Ozempic | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Approved uses apply | weekly injection or daily tablet | 14.9% weight loss |
 Rybelsus | Approved uses apply | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | 20.9% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Approved uses apply | daily tablet | 11.1% weight loss |
 Trulicity | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Victoza | Approved uses apply | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | Approved uses apply | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Label source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Does the label's weight rule apply to me?
- Which of my conditions might my plan count?