Is Victoza the same as Saxenda?

Both contain liraglutide from Novo Nordisk, but the licensed indications and dose ranges differ. Victoza is licensed for type 2 diabetes glycaemic control at doses up to 1.8 mg daily; Saxenda is licensed for chronic weight management at doses up to 3.0 mg daily. They are not interchangeable.

Did Victoza show cardiovascular benefit?

Yes, in the LEADER trial: liraglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events versus placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk. Hazard ratio approximately 0.87 (95% CI ~0.78-0.97) per the primary NEJM 2016 publication.

Is Victoza available on the NHS?

Victoza is MHRA-licensed and available via NHS prescribing within the relevant NICE technology appraisal and clinical pathway. Access is via a qualified UK prescriber following appropriate clinical assessment.

Victoza (Liraglutide) UK Research Guide 2026

Victoza (liraglutide) — UK research guide

Educational UK research guide to Victoza (liraglutide for type 2 diabetes): MHRA licence, LEADER cardiovascular outcomes evidence, and the distinction from the weight-management formulation Saxenda. Not a prescribing or sourcing guide.

What Victoza is

Victoza is the Novo Nordisk brand name for liraglutide at doses up to 1.8 mg daily, MHRA-licensed for type 2 diabetes glycaemic control. The molecule is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with a C16 fatty-acid side chain conferring albumin binding and a half-life of approximately 13 hours, enabling daily dosing.

Evidence base

The LEADER trial established cardiovascular benefit for liraglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk (see /trials/leader). Earlier LEAD phase 3 trials established glycaemic efficacy across the dose range.

Brand vs molecule

Victoza is one of two Novo Nordisk brands for liraglutide. The other is Saxenda, licensed at higher doses (up to 3.0 mg daily) for chronic weight management. The full molecule profile is at /peptides/liraglutide.

UK regulatory context

Victoza is a UK prescription-only medicine. It is supplied via a UK-registered pharmacy on a valid prescription from a UK-registered prescriber following appropriate clinical assessment. See UK POM context for GLP-1 medicines.

FAQs

Is Victoza the same as Saxenda?: Both contain liraglutide from Novo Nordisk, but the licensed indications and dose ranges differ. Victoza is licensed for type 2 diabetes glycaemic control at doses up to 1.8 mg daily; Saxenda is licensed for chronic weight management at doses up to 3.0 mg daily. They are not interchangeable.
Did Victoza show cardiovascular benefit?: Yes, in the LEADER trial: liraglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events versus placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk. Hazard ratio approximately 0.87 (95% CI ~0.78-0.97) per the primary NEJM 2016 publication.
Is Victoza available on the NHS?: Victoza is MHRA-licensed and available via NHS prescribing within the relevant NICE technology appraisal and clinical pathway. Access is via a qualified UK prescriber following appropriate clinical assessment.

Procurement and supplier position

This page is educational and does not advertise, sell, supply, recommend or rank any supplier, compounder, online pharmacy or telehealth service for Victoza or any version of liraglutide. Victoza is a UK prescription-only medicine and should only be accessed through a qualified UK prescriber following appropriate clinical assessment.