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PeptideHormone

Liraglutide

A once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist; an earlier acylated analog.

Also known as Victoza, Saxenda.

AnalogEstablishedBased on Glucagon-like peptide-1Compare with GLP-1 Compare lineage

The daily precursor that established the trick — do not armour the peptide, tether it to something the body has already decided to keep.

Identity

Class
GLP-1 receptor agonist (acylated, 31 aa)
Source
Synthetic analog of human GLP-1
Receptor
GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R)

Key properties

Evidence floorClinicalREF1CLIN1
Molecular weight
~3,751.2 Da
REF
Half-life (native)
~13 h
CLIN
Model dosing

Approximate values for the native hormone; engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting. Each figure carries its own provenance tier, and the floor is the weakest of them - the Standard.

Mechanism

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog with a C16 fatty-acid acylation that promotes albumin binding and self-association, giving a ~13-hour half-life suited to once-daily dosing. It signals through the same GLP-1R cascade as native GLP-1.

Reference notes

  • About 97% sequence identity to native GLP-1, with one substitution and a fatty-acid chain.
  • Once-daily — an intermediate step between native GLP-1 and the weekly analogs.
  • Approved for type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Common questions

What is Liraglutide?
A once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist; an earlier acylated analog. Structurally it is GLP-1 receptor agonist (acylated, 31 aa).
How does Liraglutide work?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 analog with a C16 fatty-acid acylation that promotes albumin binding and self-association, giving a ~13-hour half-life suited to once-daily dosing. It signals through the same GLP-1R cascade as native GLP-1.
How strong is the evidence for Liraglutide?
PeptideHormone grades Liraglutide at the "Established" evidence tier — its mechanism and core effects are settled across the peer-reviewed literature. It is catalogued as an engineered analog built on an endogenous hormone, and the tier is an editorial judgment about the public literature that can change as the science does.
What is the half-life of Liraglutide?
The reported circulating half-life of Liraglutide is ~13 h.
Is Liraglutide the same as Victoza or Saxenda?
Victoza, and Saxenda are brand names of Liraglutide — the same molecule in different approved presentations. This page is the molecule reference, not a prescribing guide.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.GLP-1 physiology informs the pharmacotherapy of obesity · Molecular metabolism, 2022 · PMID 34626851
  2. 2.Medications for Obesity: A Review · JAMA, 2024 · PMID 39037780

External references

Liraglutide in the public knowledge graph — the same entity resolved across the authoritative chemistry and protein databases.