Independent · non-commercial · publishes on a quarterly cycle|Current cycle 2026 Q3
Compound Evidence InstituteEvidence synthesis · established 2023Graded assessments of compounds, trials, methods and supply
Document set current to 30 July 2026
Compound monograph · Incretin receptor agonists

Liraglutide — compound monograph

GLP-1 receptor agonist (acylated, once-daily). Approved. The Institute assesses 7 outcomes for this compound and grades the strongest at high certainty.

Document identifier
CEI-MN-007
Series
Compound monograph
Version
3.3
Published
27 Nov 2023
Last reviewed
27 Aug 2024
Next review
27 Aug 2026
Identifier
10.71829/cei.mono.7
Certainty
High
Cycle
2023 Q4

§1Identification and status

§1.1Nomenclature

Preferred name
Liraglutide
Compound class
GLP-1 receptor agonist (acylated, once-daily)
Assessment series
Incretin receptor agonists
Synonyms and codes
NN2211 · liraglutide (INN) · Victoza (trade) · Saxenda (trade)
Route as evaluated
Subcutaneous once daily

§1.2Chemistry

Chemical identifiers are reproduced where they are public. Where a structure has not been published the monograph records not disclosed rather than constructing one.[1]

CAS registry number
204656-20-2
Molecular formula
C172H265N43O51
Average mass
3751.20
Monoisotopic mass
3749.03
ATC classification
A10BJ02

§1.3Sequence and structural notes

H-HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAK(γGlu-palmitoyl)EFIAWLVRGRG-OH

A 31-residue GLP-1(7-37) analogue with a single amino-acid substitution (Lys34→Arg) and a palmitic acid (C16) conjugated to Lys26 through a γ-glutamate spacer. The shorter, non-diacid fatty chain confers weaker albumin binding than semaglutide and hence a once-daily rather than once-weekly profile.

§1.4Assessment status

The Institute assesses Liraglutide across 7 indications and grades the strongest of them at high certainty. Holds a marketing authorisation for at least one indication in at least one jurisdiction.

Distribution of certainty ratingsShare of assessed outcomes at each certainty level.7assessed outcomes
HighModerateLowVery low
Figure 1. Distribution of certainty ratings across the 7 outcomes the Institute assesses for Liraglutide. A rating attaches to a specific population, comparator and outcome and does not transfer between them.

Table 1. Assessed outcomes for Liraglutide, ordered by certainty. Each row links to the per-indication evidence extract.

IndicationEffect as recordedCertaintyTrials
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk reductionMACE hazard ratio 0.87 in type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular riskHigh1
Obesity and overweight in adults−8.0 % body weight at 56 weeks with 3.0 mg versus −2.6 % with placeboHigh2
Type 2 diabetes mellitus−1.1 to −1.5 % HbA1c at 26 weeks with 1.8 mgHigh2
Adjunctive therapy in type 1 diabetesHbA1c reduction of approximately 0.2 % with increased hypoglycaemia and hyperketonaemiaModerate2
Obesity in children and adolescentsBMI z-score reduction of 0.22 versus 0.01 with placebo at 56 weeksModerate1
Obstructive sleep apnoea with obesityApnoea–hypopnoea index reduced by 12.2 events/hour versus 6.1 with placebo at 32 weeksModerate1
Prediabetes and progression to type 2 diabetesTime to onset of type 2 diabetes over 160 weeks: hazard ratio 0.21Moderate1
Effects are reproduced as the contributing trials reported them. Where a confidence interval is held it appears on the per-indication extract rather than in this summary table.

References cited on this page

References are numbered in order of first citation in this document. Each superscript in the text links to its entry below.

  1. International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. ICH Q6B Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for Biotechnological/Biological Products. ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline 1999;Step 4 version. identifier not held by the Institute

Identifiers are reproduced only where the Institute holds them. Where a digital object identifier or PubMed identifier is not shown, the Institute has recorded the journal and year and has not constructed an identifier.

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