Liraglutide vs Semaglutide
Liraglutide: GLP-1 receptor agonist (daily). Semaglutide: GLP-1 receptor agonist. Per milligram, Semaglutide is cheaper right now ($1.25 vs $0.350 at the cheapest tested vendor). Prices per mg compare cost, not effect: the amounts used in studies differ between compounds.
Liraglutide
An earlier, once-daily GLP-1 analog. Lowers blood sugar and appetite; generics are now available.
- What it is
- GLP-1 receptor agonist (daily)
- Category
- GLP-1 & metabolic
- Status
- FDA-approved as Victoza (type 2 diabetes) and Saxenda (weight management).
- Cheapest
- $1.25 per mg (Qingdao Sigma Chemical QSC)
- Median price
- $3.60 per mg
- Vendors
- 4 independently tested, 1 with a lab report
- Research
- Grade A: Strong human evidence (8 papers)
- Studied as
- an approved drug
- Reported side effects
- Gastrointestinal events (nausea, diarrhea, constipation); Loss of appetite; Discontinuation due to adverse events; Serious adverse events (similar to or slightly above placebo)
Semaglutide
A long-acting analog of the gut hormone GLP-1 that increases insulin release after meals, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. Large trials showed substantial weight loss and cardiovascular benefit.
- What it is
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Category
- GLP-1 & metabolic
- Status
- FDA-approved as Ozempic and Rybelsus (type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (weight management).
- Cheapest
- $0.350 per mg (BFF Chem)
- Median price
- $2.70 per mg
- Vendors
- 74 independently tested, 22 with a lab report
- Research
- Grade A: Strong human evidence (8 papers)
- Studied as
- an approved drug
- Reported side effects
- Nausea, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal events (mostly mild-moderate, transient); Discontinuation due to adverse events; Serious hepatobiliary/GI events such as acute pancreatitis and gallstones; Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (observational association)
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Liraglutide and Semaglutide?
Liraglutide: GLP-1 receptor agonist (daily). Semaglutide: GLP-1 receptor agonist. Per milligram, Semaglutide is cheaper right now ($1.25 vs $0.350 at the cheapest tested vendor). Prices per mg compare cost, not effect: the amounts used in studies differ between compounds.
Which is cheaper, Liraglutide or Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is cheaper per mg: $1.25 for Liraglutide vs $0.350 for Semaglutide at the cheapest independently tested vendor.