Liraglutide vs Semaglutide

Name: Liraglutide vs Semaglutide
Published: 2026-10-24

Updated Oct 24, 20266 sources

Key differences

1STEP 8 tested them head to head (338 adults, 68 weeks): weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg averaged 15.8% weight loss vs 6.4% for daily liraglutide 3 mg.
2Liraglutide is a daily shot with a 13-hour half-life; semaglutide is weekly.
3Both carry the same thyroid C-cell boxed warning. Liraglutide has had US generics since 2024.

Facts from each record, in the same words as their own pages.

Liraglutide and Semaglutide side by side
	Liraglutide	Semaglutide
Category	GLP-1, Weight loss	GLP-1, Weight loss
Evidence	Strong human trials	Strong human trials
FDA status	FDA approved as Victoza +1Regulatory	FDA approved as Ozempic +2Regulatory
WADA	Not prohibited	Not prohibited
Half-life	About 13 hours after an injection under the skin, which suits once-daily dosing.Regulatory	About 1 week. It is still present 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose.Regulatory
Routes	Subcutaneous injection	Subcutaneous injection, Oral
Forms	Prefilled pen, Ready-to-use vial, Vial (powder)	Not reported
Reported doses	0.6 to 3 mg (subcutaneous injection)	0.125 to 7.2 mg (subcutaneous injection) 1.5 to 25 mg (oral) 300 to 1,000 mcg (subcutaneous injection)
Most cited frequency	Once daily; up 0.6 mg each week from 0.6 mg, then hold at 3 mg	Once weekly; 4 weeks per step, then hold at 2.4 mg
Vial sizes	5 mg, 10 mg, 30 mgCompetitor guide	5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mgVendor guide
Mixed vial keeps	Keep a mixed research vial in the fridge and use it within 28 days, per guides.Competitor guide	Keep the mixed vial in the fridge and use it within about 28 days; one guide says 30.Competitor guide
Protocols on file	5	12

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

6 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 24, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.