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Before Ozempic and Wegovy there was liraglutide — the first GLP‑1 approved for weight loss, taken once a day. The newer weekly drugs lose more, but liraglutide just became the first of the class to go generic. Here is exactly how it compares, and when older and cheaper is still the right call.
| Drug | Frequency | Avg loss | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
Liraglutide (Saxenda) First approved; generic exists (2024) | Daily | ~8.0% | SCALE, 56 wk |
Semaglutide (Wegovy) No generic | Weekly | ~15% | STEP 1, 68 wk |
Tirzepatide (Zepbound) Dual GIP/GLP-1; no generic | Weekly | ~21% | SURMOUNT-1, 72 wk |
The gap is real: in the head-to-head STEP 8 trial, weekly semaglutide produced ~15.8% loss versus ~6.4% for daily liraglutide at 68 weeks. If your single goal is the most weight lost, a weekly drug wins — see Wegovy vs Zepbound or the full GLP-1 comparison chart.
Saxenda and Victoza are both liraglutide from Novo Nordisk. Saxenda is titrated to 3.0 mg daily and FDA-approved for chronic weight management; Victoza goes up to 1.8 mg daily for type 2 diabetes. Same molecule, split by dose and indication — the same pattern as Ozempic vs Wegovy. Read the product detail in the Saxenda review.
In 2024 the first generic liraglutide reached the U.S. market — making liraglutide the first GLP-1 to go generic. Every weekly drug (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro) is still brand-only with no generic, so on raw cost liraglutide can undercut them. If price or coverage is your binding constraint, that matters — weigh it against the lower efficacy in the cheapest-route guide and cost breakdown.
For most people chasing maximum loss, a weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide is the better starting point — but “best on average” isn’t “best for everyone.” New to the class? Start with what a GLP-1 is, or find who prescribes via find a provider.