Semaglutide & Liraglutide continue to be effective
Semaglutide and Liraglutide continue to be researched and studied and produce positive results for weight loss and medical outcomes.
GLP1 Receptor Agonists are well-researched class of drugs. Large studies and much research poured into efficacy and the quest to figure out side-effects of the drug.
Check out our quick explainer
While we often focus on many new formulations of GLP1 Receptor Agonists that are under research and due to be released (and possibly increase the supply of GLP1 RAs that are available), it's important to note that research is still ongoing into the existing formulations with impressive results continuously on display.
Semaglutide and Liraglutide (which now has a generic) still work great, and research continues to produce positive results.
A study published in JAMA to this effect had a cohort of 3389 patients with obesity who were taking Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza):
Hamlet Gasoyan
The results of this study were encouraging:
Findings In this cohort study of 3389 patients with obesity, the mean percentage of body weight change from baseline to 1 year was −5.1% for semaglutide vs −2.2% for liraglutide treatment; −3.2% for type 2 diabetes vs −5.9% for obesity indications; and −5.5% for patients with persistent medication coverage vs −2.8% with 90 to 275 coverage days and −1.8% with fewer than 90 coverage days.
A 5.1% average body weight loss for Semaglutide is impressive, with 2.2% average body weight loss for Liraglutide is somewhat less impressive.
GLP1 Receptor Agonists do not work for everyone, but when they do they can clearly be quite effective. Importantly, this study focused more on real world usages with a large cohort.
Which patients lost the most weight?
Clearly, some patients lost more weight than others, and it's important to look into why – the study explored this area and found the following differences:
- Semaglutide was more effective than Liraglutide
- Obesity as a treatment indication (not Type 2 diabetes)
- Coverage for medication (reducing cost)
- High dosage
- Being Female
All of the above factors contributed positively to weight loss as observed by the study.
While it's hard to know if Liraglutide was increasingly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, clearly there were several factors that skewed the results for most people.
Where there any conflicts of interest?
Along with this research there was some conflict of interest noted which is worth reproducing here:
Dr Gasoyan reported receiving grant funding from the National Cancer Institute outside the submitted work.
Dr Butsch reported advisory board fees from Novo Nordisk A/S and research funding from Eli Lilly and Co during the conduct of the study.
Dr Rothberg reported receiving personal fees from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association outside the submitted work.
No other disclosures were reported.
While we don't think these conflicts are enough to actually discount the research, as the cohort was quite high and results were in line with previous studies, it's important to note that there was some conflict of interest at play here.
Don't forget: Liraglutide now has a generic
Teva Pharmaceuticals, a large producer of generic drugs has started to produce a generic version of Victoza (Liraglutide):
GLP1.Guide Staff
While it's unclear just how widely prescribed it is over Ozempic (Semaglutide) and others, it's important to note that the availability of one is likely very different than the other.
