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Saxenda for healthcare professionals
Clinical reference for Saxenda (liraglutide) — mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, key drug interactions, NDC codes, and FDA approval history.
This page is for clinical reference. Patient-friendly version →
Mechanism of action
Pharmacology class
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Liraglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist (97% homology to native GLP-1) with a fatty-acid side-chain that enables albumin binding and extends half-life to ~13 hours, supporting daily dosing.
Pharmacokinetics
- Half-life
- ~13 hours
- T-max
- 8–12 hours
- Metabolism
- Proteolytic cleavage and fatty-acid metabolism
- Excretion
- Renal and fecal (metabolites only — no intact drug excreted)
- Bioavailability
- 55% (subcutaneous)
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
- Pregnancy
- Known hypersensitivity to liraglutide
Key drug interactions
Not exhaustive. See the FDA label for the full interaction list.
| Interacting drug | Severity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin | major | Hypoglycemia risk. |
| Sulfonylureas | major | Hypoglycemia risk. |
| Oral medications | moderate | Delayed gastric emptying. |
NDC codes & AWP
Representative NDC codes
- 0169-2800-15 (3 pens × 3 mL multi-dose, 6 mg/mL)
AWP per month (US, 2026 estimate)
~$1,623 AWP (cash $1,300–$1,500)
FDA approval history
2014
Initial FDA approval for chronic weight management in adults.
2020
Pediatric extension for adolescents 12+ with obesity.
2024
Teva generic liraglutide approved (primarily Victoza diabetes indication; Saxenda weight-loss-dose generic availability rolling).
References
Sourcing Saxenda for your patients
Compare US telehealth and pharmacy partners that dispense Saxenda — useful when a patient asks about cash-pay options outside of their insurance formulary.
Compare GLP-1 telehealth providers
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