SAXENDA®

Why Practitioners Choose SAXENDA®

SAXENDA® is approved for adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh more than 60kg and have obesity based on age- and sex-specific BMI criteria corresponding to an adult BMI of at least 30kg/m². The approved pharmacologic options for adolescent weight loss management remain limited, and liraglutide is one of the few agents with an established clinical record in this age group. [1] SAXENDA® generally produces less average weight loss than weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide. Its once-daily dosing schedule does offer more flexibility, allowing smaller dose adjustments and quicker interruption when gastrointestinal effects become difficult to tolerate. For patients who have struggled with the prolonged exposure of a weekly agent, or when a prescriber prefers closer control over dose escalation, daily liraglutide may still have a practical role.[1]

Contact Med Supply Solutions About SAXENDA®

Licensed healthcare professionals may contact the Med Supply Solutions support team for general information about SAXENDA®, including product details and documentation.

What Is SAXENDA® Used For?

SAXENDA® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for long-term weight management in adults with an initial BMI of at least 30kg/m², adults with a BMI of at least 27kg/m² and one or more weight-related comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia, and adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh more than 60kg and meet the approved BMI criteria for obesity. [1] Liraglutide is an analog of human glucagon-like peptide-1 that activates GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite control. Its effects include greater satiety, lower caloric intake, and delayed gastric emptying. In the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial, liraglutide 3mg used alongside diet and exercise produced significantly greater weight loss than placebo over 56 weeks.[1][2] SAXENDA® is not indicated for the treatment of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. VICTOZA® has the same active ingredient, liraglutide, but is formulated and dosed for glycemic management in type 2 diabetes. The two products must not be used together, and SAXENDA® should not be combined with any other liraglutide-containing product or GLP-1 receptor agonist. [1]

SAXENDA® Dosing & Titration

• Administer SAXENDA® once daily by subcutaneous injection, with or without meals.
• Recommended injection sites include the abdomen, upper arm, and thigh. Rotate sites with each dose.
• Begin at 0.6mg once daily and increase by 0.6mg at weekly intervals — 1.2mg in Week 2, 1.8mg in Week 3, 2.4mg in Week 4, reaching the 3mg maintenance dose from Week 5. Escalation may be delayed by approximately one additional week if a dose increase is not tolerated. [1]
• Store unused pens at 2°C–8°C; do not freeze. After first use, a pen may be stored for up to 30 days at 15°C–30°C or under refrigeration; protect from excessive heat and direct light. [1]

SAXENDA® Safety Profile

Liraglutide caused dose- and duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. It is unknown whether SAXENDA® causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, in humans. SAXENDA® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, and in patients with serious hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any formulation component. Practitioners should counsel patients about the potential risk and symptoms, including a neck mass, persistent hoarseness, dysphagia, or difficulty breathing. Weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy, and treatment should be discontinued once pregnancy is recognized. [1]

Common Adverse Reactions

The most frequently reported adverse reactions include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Injection-site reactions
• Headache
• Dyspepsia
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Abdominal pain
• Increased lipase
• Hypoglycemia, particularly in patients receiving concomitant glucose-lowering therapy

Gastrointestinal effects are expected during initiation and dose escalation and typically diminish with continued treatment. [1]

Serious Risks and Precautions

• Acute pancreatitis
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Increased resting heart rate
• Severe gastrointestinal reactions
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Acute kidney injury resulting from volume depletion
• Hypoglycemia, with increased risk when used alongside insulin secretagogues or other glucose-lowering agents

Current labeling also warns of rare pulmonary aspiration during procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists; the relevant clinical team should be informed before any planned procedure. [1]

SAXENDA® vs Other GLP-1 Weight-Management Agents

vs WEGOVY®

WEGOVY® (semaglutide) is administered once weekly, while SAXENDA® (liraglutide) requires daily dosing. Although both GLP-1 receptor agonists are indicated for chronic weight management, semaglutide 2.4mg has produced substantially greater average weight loss than liraglutide 3mg in head-to-head research. SAXENDA® therefore should not be presented as offering comparable weight-loss efficacy.

vs MOUNJARO® and ZEPBOUND®

MOUNJARO® (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated for glycemic management in type 2 diabetes. ZEPBOUND® is the tirzepatide product approved for chronic weight management and is administered once weekly. Tirzepatide currently produces the greatest average weight reduction among widely used approved incretin-based therapies.

vs OZEMPIC®

OZEMPIC® (semaglutide) is a once-weekly semaglutide product approved for type 2 diabetes and associated cardiovascular and kidney-risk indications — not the semaglutide brand labeled for chronic weight management. WEGOVY® is the appropriate semaglutide comparator for SAXENDA® in the weight-management context. Maintaining this distinction helps practices avoid treating same-molecule products as interchangeable across indications.

vs Orlistat

Orlistat is an oral gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor that limits the absorption of dietary fat rather than acting on the GLP-1 pathway. Average weight loss is generally lower than with injectable incretin-based therapies, but the oral route may appeal to patients who prefer not to use injections. Long-term use can still be challenging because gastrointestinal side effects, dietary fat restrictions, and the need to consider fat-soluble vitamin intake may affect adherence. SAXENDA® is an earlier-generation GLP-1 therapy administered once daily. Although it produces less average weight loss than weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide, it still has a place in adolescent weight management and in cases where gradual, closely controlled dose escalation is preferred. Daily dosing also allows prescribers to respond more quickly when gastrointestinal adverse effects develop.

About SAXENDA® (Novo Nordisk)

SAXENDA® is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company with an established portfolio in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic care. Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA specifically for chronic weight management in adults. The FDA approved SAXENDA® for adults in December 2014 and expanded the indication in December 2020 to include eligible adolescents aged 12 years and older. [1][3] SAXENDA® contains liraglutide at 6mg/mL and is supplied in a 3mL prefilled multi-dose pen, capable of delivering doses of 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 1.8mg, 2.4mg, or 3mg. SAXENDA® and VICTOZA® contain the same active ingredient but have different dosing schedules and approved indications and must not be administered together. [1]

SAXENDA® Regulatory Status

The FDA approved SAXENDA® for chronic weight management in adults on December 23, 2014, and extended the indication to adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh more than 60kg and meet the specified BMI criteria in December 2020. [1] SAXENDA® carries an FDA Boxed Warning regarding the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. The product is also authorized in the European Union and other international markets for weight management in defined patient populations.

FAQs

What is SAXENDA® and how does it work?

SAXENDA® is liraglutide 3mg, a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist for long-term weight management. It supports appetite regulation by increasing satiety, reducing caloric intake, and delaying gastric emptying. [1]

How does SAXENDA® compare with WEGOVY® and MOUNJARO®?

SAXENDA® is administered daily and produces lower average weight reduction than weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide. Its principal advantages are daily titration flexibility and an established indication in adolescents. [1]

Can SAXENDA® be used in adolescents?

Yes — SAXENDA® is approved for adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh more than 60kg and have obesity based on FDA-defined age- and sex-specific BMI criteria. [1]

What is the SAXENDA® titration schedule?

Treatment begins at 0.6mg once daily, increasing by 0.6mg each week until the 3mg maintenance dose is reached at Week 5. Escalation may be delayed if gastrointestinal effects are not tolerated. [1]

What is the Boxed Warning for SAXENDA®?

The Boxed Warning addresses thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodents. SAXENDA® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. [1]

What is the difference between SAXENDA® and VICTOZA®?

Both contain liraglutide. SAXENDA® is administered at up to 3mg daily for chronic weight management; VICTOZA® is dosed at up to 1.8mg daily for type 2 diabetes-related indications. The two products must not be used together. [1]

How can licensed professionals obtain information about SAXENDA®?

Licensed healthcare professionals may contact the Med Supply Solutions support team for general product information and related inquiries.

Citations

[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/206321s016lbl.pdf [2] Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(1):11-22. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26132939/ [3] Novo Nordisk. SAXENDA® (liraglutide) Injection 3 mg Official Physician Site. https://www.novomedlink.com/obesity/products/treatments/saxenda.html For licensed healthcare professionals only. The content of this page is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.