What is the difference between Liraglutide and Semaglutide?

Liraglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue). Semaglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Semaglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.

Is Liraglutide or Semaglutide approved?

Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Semaglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.

How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Liraglutide and Semaglutide?

Peptide Science Daily tracks 500 registered clinical trials for Liraglutide (evidence grade A) and 500 for Semaglutide (evidence grade A).

Compound comparison

Liraglutide vs Semaglutide

This page sets Liraglutide and Semaglutide side by side using the data recorded on Peptide Science Daily: drug class, mechanism of action, regulatory status by region, the evidence grade assigned here, and the number of clinical trials tracked. It is a neutral, factual comparison and does not rank either compound or recommend one over the other.

Side-by-side comparison

Class: Liraglutide
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue)
Semaglutide
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist
Mechanism: Liraglutide
In plain terms, liraglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.
Semaglutide
In plain terms, semaglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.
United States (FDA): Liraglutide
Approved. Victoza for type 2 diabetes (2010), with a cardiovascular risk reduction indication added in 2017; Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) for chronic weight management (2014), later extended to adolescents aged 12 to 17 with obesity (2020).
Semaglutide
Approved. Ozempic for type 2 diabetes (2017, cardiovascular risk reduction added 2020); Rybelsus oral for type 2 diabetes (2019); Wegovy for chronic weight management (2021) and cardiovascular risk reduction (2024); oral Wegovy for weight management approved in 2025.
European Union (EMA): Liraglutide
Authorized: Victoza (2009) for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda (2015) for weight management.
Semaglutide
Authorized - Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management.
Australia (TGA): Liraglutide
Registered on the ARTG: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management, available on prescription.
Semaglutide
Registered on the ARTG - Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management, available on prescription.
WADA: Liraglutide
Not prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists are not on the WADA Prohibited List and are not banned substances.
Semaglutide
Not prohibited. On the WADA Monitoring Program (introduced 2024, continued into 2026); it is tracked but not a banned substance.
Evidence grade: Liraglutide
A
Semaglutide
A
Tracked clinical trials: Liraglutide
500
Semaglutide
500
Full profile: Liraglutide
Liraglutide profile
Semaglutide
Semaglutide profile

Comparison of Liraglutide and Semaglutide by class, mechanism, regulatory status by region, evidence grade, and number of tracked clinical trials.
Attribute	Liraglutide	Semaglutide
Class	Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue)	Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist
Mechanism	In plain terms, liraglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.	In plain terms, semaglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.
United States (FDA)	Approved. Victoza for type 2 diabetes (2010), with a cardiovascular risk reduction indication added in 2017; Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) for chronic weight management (2014), later extended to adolescents aged 12 to 17 with obesity (2020).	Approved. Ozempic for type 2 diabetes (2017, cardiovascular risk reduction added 2020); Rybelsus oral for type 2 diabetes (2019); Wegovy for chronic weight management (2021) and cardiovascular risk reduction (2024); oral Wegovy for weight management approved in 2025.
European Union (EMA)	Authorized: Victoza (2009) for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda (2015) for weight management.	Authorized - Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management.
Australia (TGA)	Registered on the ARTG: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management, available on prescription.	Registered on the ARTG - Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management, available on prescription.
WADA	Not prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists are not on the WADA Prohibited List and are not banned substances.	Not prohibited. On the WADA Monitoring Program (introduced 2024, continued into 2026); it is tracked but not a banned substance.
Evidence grade	A	A
Tracked clinical trials	500	500
Full profile	Liraglutide profile	Semaglutide profile

Common questions

What is the difference between Liraglutide and Semaglutide?: Liraglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue). Semaglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Semaglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.
Is Liraglutide or Semaglutide approved?: Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Semaglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.
How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Liraglutide and Semaglutide?: Peptide Science Daily tracks 500 registered clinical trials for Liraglutide (evidence grade A) and 500 for Semaglutide (evidence grade A).