Saxenda vs Victoza: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Saxenda and Victoza contain the same medicine, liraglutide, from Novo Nordisk, but carry different approvals: Saxenda for weight loss, Victoza for type 2 diabetes and heart risk.
Saxenda and Victoza: a quick overview
Saxenda and Victoza compared side by side
| Saxenda | Victoza | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Saxenda |  Victoza |
| Active ingredient | liraglutide | liraglutide |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | Daily injection | Daily injection |
| Approved for | Weight loss | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk |
| First FDA approval | 2014 | 2010 |
| Average weight loss in trials | 7.4% (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks) | Not listed |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 39.3% vs 13.8% on placebo | Nausea 20% vs 5% on placebo |
| List price | $1,349.02 per 5 pens | $543.51 per 2 pens |
| FDA shortage | On the FDA shortage list | On the FDA shortage list |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), Novo Nordisk pricing, api.fda.gov.
Comparing weight loss
No head-to-head trial exists. So the figures come from separate studies with different people and different lengths.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | Average weight loss | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Adults with obesity or overweight but without type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | 7.4% | 3% |
Trial source: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Side effects compared
Compare each drug with its own placebo first. Each label tested a separate group against a placebo group of its own.
| Side effect | Saxenda | Placebo (Saxenda trials) | Victoza | Placebo (Victoza trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 39.3% | 13.8% | 20% | 5% |
| Diarrhea | 20.9% | 9.9% | 12% | 4% |
| Constipation | 19.4% | 8.5% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Vomiting | 15.7% | 3.9% | 9% | 2% |
| Injection Site Reaction | 13.9% | 10.5% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Headache | 13.6% | 12.6% | 11% | 7% |
| Hypoglycemia in T2DM | 12.6% | 6.6% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dyspepsia | 9.6% | 2.7% | 7% | 1% |
| Nasopharyngitis | Not listed | Not listed | 10% | 8% |
| Decreased appetite | Not listed | Not listed | 10% | 1% |
| Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | Not listed | Not listed | 7% | 6% |
Price and coverage compared
Who should pick which?
- Without diabetes, Saxenda alone is approved for weight loss.
- Victoza alone is approved for type 2 diabetes.
- For heart risk, approval covers lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke with Victoza.
Your prescriber decides if you switch. They will consider your health history, other medicines and coverage.