Prescription medicine
Liraglutide Brand names: Victoza, Saxenda
Liraglutide (Victoza) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2010. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 9 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $31.41 per mL (Liraglutide 2-pak 18 mg/3 mL) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
- In shortage
- Boxed warning
Check it at the source: the liraglutide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 14, 2025, Novo Nordisk); the NDA 22341 record on Drugs@FDA; every liraglutide label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of October 14, 2025; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS •.
Liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether VICTOZA causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )].
VICTOZA is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of VICTOZA and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g., a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with VICTOZA [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. […]
Used for
From the label: indications and usageVICTOZA is indicated:
as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus,
to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease.
Forms and strengths
- 6 mg/ml
- 18 mg/3ml
Injection (solution); injection.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 25, 2010 Victoza, Novo Nordisk Inc; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 11 first December 23, 2024; 11 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 13 of which 9 under generic applications, 3 under brand applications, repackagers included
- Last listed patent
- July 9, 2037 Victoza injection; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $31.41 per mL Liraglutide 2-pak 18 mg/3 mL
- Shortage (FDA)
- 3 of 11 presentations limited or unavailable updated September 22, 2026
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 3 since 2021 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest April 24, 2026
- FAERS reports
- 49,117 through July 30, 2026
What is liraglutide used for?
From the label: indications and usageVICTOZA is indicated:
as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus,
to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease. Limitations of Use: VICTOZA contains liraglutide. Coadministration with other liraglutide-containing products is not recommended. […]
Conditions named in the indications of liraglutide's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
From other liraglutide labelsWeight management: Liraglutide injection is indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in:
FDA pharmacologic class: GLP-1 Receptor Agonist.
Source: FDA drug label (Victoza), Novo Nordisk, effective October 14, 2025 (SPL set 5a9ef4ea-c76a-4d34-a604-27c5b505f5a4), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for liraglutide say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What is the most important information I should know about VICTOZA?VICTOZA may cause serious side effects, including: • Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, VICTOZA and medicines that work like VICTOZA caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if VICTOZA will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. • Do not use VICTOZA if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Source: FDA drug label (Victoza), Novo Nordisk, effective October 14, 2025 (SPL set 5a9ef4ea-c76a-4d34-a604-27c5b505f5a4), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for liraglutide (Victoza)?
The FDA approved the first generic liraglutide on December 23, 2024. 11 generic applications are approved; 11 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.
FDA's NDC Directory lists liraglutide from 9 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 3 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
The Orange Book lists 2 patents for Victoza injection: the compound patent runs to August 13, 2025 (pediatric exclusivity to February 13, 2026), and the last listed entry to July 9, 2037. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 2010 earliest approval on file
- 2024 first generic approved
- 2037 last listed patent
- 2023 to now in shortage
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for liraglutide (Victoza)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $31.41 per mL (Liraglutide 2-pak 18 mg/3 mL), down 50% from $62.46 on October 8, 2025. The survey records the price, not the reason for a change; large moves often follow a new generic or a list-price change. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Liraglutide 3-pak 18 mg/3 mL (generic)
- Saxenda 18 mg/3 mL pen (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liraglutide 2-pak 18 mg/3 mL | Generic | $31.41 per mL | n/a | -50% |
| Liraglutide 3-pak 18 mg/3 mL | Generic | $30.63 per mL | n/a | -44% |
| Liraglutide 5-pak 18 mg/3 mL | Generic | $49.25 per mL | n/a | n/a |
| Saxenda 18 mg/3 mL pen | Brand | $87.13 per mL | $261.38 per pen | +0.2% |
| Victoza 2-pak 18 mg/3 mL pen | Brand | $87.75 per mL | $263.24 per pen | +0.2% |
| Victoza 3-pak 18 mg/3 mL pen | Brand | $87.82 per mL | $263.46 per pen | +0.4% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Is liraglutide in shortage?
The FDA Drug Shortage Database lists 3 of 11 liraglutide presentations as limited or unavailable (updated September 22, 2026); the first entry was posted on July 18, 2023. 6 more presentations are on the list as available.
| Presentation | Company | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0143-9144-02) | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. | Current | September 18, 2026 |
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0143-9144-03) | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. | Current | September 18, 2026 |
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0480-3667-20) | Novo Nordisk, Inc. | Current | September 22, 2026 |
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0480-3667-22) | Novo Nordisk, Inc. | Current | September 22, 2026 |
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 71288-563-84) | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Current | August 27, 2026 |
| Liraglutide, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 71288-563-85) | Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Current | August 27, 2026 |
| Saxenda, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0169-2800-15) | Novo Nordisk, Inc. | Current | September 22, 2026 |
| Victoza, Injection, 6 mg/1 mL (NDC 0169-4060-12) | Novo Nordisk, Inc. | Current | September 22, 2026 |
Source: FDA Drug Shortage Database via openFDA, updated October 8, 2026
Has liraglutide been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 3 recalls naming liraglutide since 2021: 0 Class I (the most serious), 3 Class II, 0 Class III; 1 still ongoing. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | Class II | Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Presence of particulate matter: a white thread-like structure in the cartridge |
| March 22, 2021 | Class II | Novo Nordisk Inc | Temperature Abuse: product samples were stored at temperatures below 32* F which is not in accordance with storage requirements that could cause a lack of … |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the liraglutide label say about other medicines?
The liraglutide label names 1 other medicine in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 3 other medicines name liraglutide. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Metformin | warnings and precautions | In pediatric patients 10 years of age and older, the risk of hypoglycemia was higher with VICTOZA regardless of insulin and/or metformin use. |
Source: FDA drug label (Victoza), Novo Nordisk, effective October 14, 2025 (SPL set 5a9ef4ea-c76a-4d34-a604-27c5b505f5a4), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for liraglutide?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 49,117 reports that list liraglutide among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 1,765 are coded as a death and 10,774 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as liraglutide?
13 other medicines are given the same way (subcutaneous) and in the same FDA class as liraglutide or labeled mainly for the same use (type 2 diabetes), the same class first. Type 2 diabetes lists all 52 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (subcutaneous) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tirzepatide | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Type 2 diabetes, Weight management | none listed | $538.68 per mL 10 mg/0.5 mL pen | No current entry |
| Semaglutide | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Type 2 diabetes, Weight management | none listed | $331.99 per mL 0.25-0.5 mg/dose (2 mg/3 mL) pen | A presentation being discontinued |
| Dulaglutide | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $487.57 per mL 0.75 mg/0.5 mL pen | No current entry |
| Exenatide | Type 2 diabetes | 1 labeler | $300.17 per mL 10 mcg dose pen injection | No current entry |
| Insulin glargine and lixisenatide | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $57.06 per mL 100 unit-33 mcg/mL pen | No current entry |
| Insulin glargine | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $2.90 per mL 100 pen | A presentation being discontinued |
| Insulin aspart | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $6.95 per mL 100 unit/mL vial | No current entry |
| Insulin lispro | Type 2 diabetes | none listed | $10.19 per mL 100 unit/mL kwikpen | A presentation being discontinued |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as liraglutide
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does liraglutide compare with medicines for the same use?
3 side-by-side pages set liraglutide beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to liraglutide
- 13 medicines for the same use
- Other GLP-1 receptor agonists
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Liraglutide side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Liraglutide shortage record
- every presentation, company and date
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other