Saxenda for Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Saxenda is not FDA approved for type 2 diabetes. It is approved for weight loss. Victoza, with the same ingredient, is approved for type 2 diabetes. In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on Saxenda lost 7.4% of body weight on average, vs 3% on placebo.
- For type 2 diabetes
- Not an approved use
- Active ingredient
- liraglutide
- How it is taken
- daily injection
- Best result (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes)
- 7.4% weight loss
Saxenda in brief
Its half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h half of it is gone, and about 3% is left once five half-lives have passed (2.7 d).
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks: 3% on placebo, compared with 7.4% of body weight.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Long-term weight loss and maintaining the lower weight, through diet and activity, for people with obesity who are adults or children 12 and older (over 60 kg), and for adults who have overweight along with a weight-related condition. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Trial results for type 2 diabetes
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Saxenda | Adults with obesity or overweight, and no type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | 3,731 | 7.4% weight loss | 3% on placebo |
Sources for the trials: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Coverage for type 2 diabetes
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Hypoglycemia | Low blood sugar becomes more likely when it is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea, so the doses of those medicines may need to be lowered. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | Insulin or a sulfonylurea taken with it raises the risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. |
From the FDA labels: FDA label (DailyMed).
Warnings listed in the label: FDA label (DailyMed).
Coverage for type 2 diabetes
Medicare Part D may cover these medicines if they are prescribed for diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Sources: humana.com.
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Alternatives for type 2 diabetes
| Medicine | For type 2 diabetes | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ozempic | FDA approved | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | FDA approved | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 2.3 points |
 Trulicity | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 1.77 points |
 Victoza | FDA approved | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | FDA approved | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
| Saxenda | Not an approved use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
 Wegovy | Not an approved use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Zepbound | Not an approved use | weekly injection | 14.7% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not an approved use | daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
Sources used: FDA label (DailyMed), PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Will my other diabetes medicines need changes, especially for insulin or a sulfonylurea?
- What schedule should I use for eye checks?
- Which A1C target should I aim for?
Read Saxenda prescribing information on DailyMed for all the details.