How Much Does Liraglutide Cost?
Saxenda costs $1,300-$1,500/month at list price. Victoza runs $900-$1,100. Limited compounding options. Savings programs and alternatives explained.
Saxenda (brand)
$1,300-1,500/mo
Victoza (brand)
$900-1,100/mo
Compounded
Not widely available
With savings card
$25/mo
Cost-effectiveness
Lower vs. newer agents
Saxenda Pricing (Weight Management)
Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0mg for weight management) carries a list price of approximately $1,300-$1,500 per month. This makes it one of the more expensive GLP-1 options, particularly when considering its lower average weight loss compared to semaglutide and tirzepatide.
When evaluating cost-effectiveness, Saxenda's ~8% average weight loss at $1,400/month compares unfavorably to Wegovy's ~15% at $1,349/month or Zepbound's ~22.5% at $1,059/month. This cost-effectiveness gap has contributed to declining Saxenda prescriptions as newer options gain coverage.
Victoza Pricing (Diabetes)
Victoza (liraglutide 1.8mg for type 2 diabetes) costs approximately $900-$1,100 per month at list price. Insurance coverage for Victoza is generally better than Saxenda, with most commercial plans and Medicare Part D covering it for diabetes with prior authorization.
Victoza faces increasing competition from Ozempic and Mounjaro for diabetes management, and many insurers now prefer these weekly alternatives. Step therapy may require trying Victoza before newer agents, or vice versa.
Limited Compounding Options
Unlike semaglutide and tirzepatide, liraglutide is not widely compounded. The drug's shorter half-life (requiring daily injection) and the availability of cheaper compounded alternatives to semaglutide and tirzepatide have reduced demand for compounded liraglutide.
As a result, patients seeking affordable liraglutide have fewer options compared to those seeking semaglutide or tirzepatide. The cost difference between brand liraglutide and compounded semaglutide is significant, leading many providers and patients to choose compounded semaglutide instead.
Savings Programs
Novo Nordisk offers the Saxenda Savings Card for commercially insured patients, which can reduce copays to as low as $25/month. The Saxenda Patient Assistance Program provides free medication for qualifying uninsured patients. Victoza has a similar savings card and patient assistance program.
GoodRx and other pharmacy discount cards may reduce retail pricing by 15-30%, bringing costs to approximately $1,000-$1,200/month for Saxenda. Even with discounts, liraglutide remains more expensive than compounded alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saxenda worth the cost?
Given that Saxenda produces less weight loss (~8%) than semaglutide (~15%) or tirzepatide (~22.5%) at comparable or higher prices, most patients and providers now prefer the newer options. Saxenda may still be appropriate if you can't tolerate weekly alternatives.
Is there a generic for Saxenda?
No generic version of Saxenda is currently available. Novo Nordisk's patent protection remains in effect. Compounded liraglutide is not widely available unlike compounded semaglutide.
Why would someone choose Saxenda over Wegovy?
Reasons include insurance coverage that covers Saxenda but not Wegovy, preference for daily (more controllable) dosing, history of good response to liraglutide, or use in adolescents where Saxenda has specific FDA approval.
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