What is the difference between Liraglutide and Tirzepatide?

Liraglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue). Tirzepatide is classified as: Dual agonist of the GIP and GLP-1 receptors (incretin-based metabolic peptide). Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Tirzepatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.

Is Liraglutide or Tirzepatide approved?

Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Tirzepatide 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 Tirzepatide?

Peptide Science Daily tracks 500 registered clinical trials for Liraglutide (evidence grade A) and 252 for Tirzepatide (evidence grade A).

Compound comparison

Liraglutide vs Tirzepatide

This page sets Liraglutide and Tirzepatide 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)
Tirzepatide
Dual agonist of the GIP and GLP-1 receptors (incretin-based metabolic peptide)
Mechanism: Liraglutide
In plain terms, liraglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.
Tirzepatide
In plain terms, tirzepatide imitates two natural gut hormones that lower blood sugar and reduce appetite.
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).
Tirzepatide
Approved. Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes (May 2022); Zepbound for chronic weight management (November 2023) and for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (December 2024).
European Union (EMA): Liraglutide
Authorized: Victoza (2009) for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda (2015) for weight management.
Tirzepatide
Authorized (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes and weight management (marketing authorization granted September 2022).
Australia (TGA): Liraglutide
Registered on the ARTG: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management, available on prescription.
Tirzepatide
Registered on the ARTG (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes and 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.
Tirzepatide
Not prohibited. Added to the WADA 2026 Monitoring Program, with markers tracked in- and out-of-competition to detect patterns of misuse; not a banned substance.
Evidence grade: Liraglutide
A
Tirzepatide
A
Tracked clinical trials: Liraglutide
500
Tirzepatide
252
Full profile: Liraglutide
Liraglutide profile
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide profile

Comparison of Liraglutide and Tirzepatide by class, mechanism, regulatory status by region, evidence grade, and number of tracked clinical trials.
Attribute	Liraglutide	Tirzepatide
Class	Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue)	Dual agonist of the GIP and GLP-1 receptors (incretin-based metabolic peptide)
Mechanism	In plain terms, liraglutide copies a natural gut hormone that signals fullness and helps control blood sugar.	In plain terms, tirzepatide imitates two natural gut hormones that lower blood sugar and reduce appetite.
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. Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes (May 2022); Zepbound for chronic weight management (November 2023) and for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (December 2024).
European Union (EMA)	Authorized: Victoza (2009) for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda (2015) for weight management.	Authorized (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes and weight management (marketing authorization granted September 2022).
Australia (TGA)	Registered on the ARTG: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management, available on prescription.	Registered on the ARTG (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes and 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. Added to the WADA 2026 Monitoring Program, with markers tracked in- and out-of-competition to detect patterns of misuse; not a banned substance.
Evidence grade	A	A
Tracked clinical trials	500	252
Full profile	Liraglutide profile	Tirzepatide profile

Common questions

What is the difference between Liraglutide and Tirzepatide?: Liraglutide is classified as: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (acylated GLP-1 analogue). Tirzepatide is classified as: Dual agonist of the GIP and GLP-1 receptors (incretin-based metabolic peptide). Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Tirzepatide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.
Is Liraglutide or Tirzepatide approved?: Liraglutide is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Tirzepatide 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 Tirzepatide?: Peptide Science Daily tracks 500 registered clinical trials for Liraglutide (evidence grade A) and 252 for Tirzepatide (evidence grade A).