Saxenda contains liraglutide for weight management and is injected daily. Its doses and approved uses differ from Victoza’s. NovoCare has announced that final US wholesale shipments are planned for late January 2027, for reasons unrelated to safety.
The approved uses and formulations described here follow US prescribing information. They may differ in other countries.
| Medicine detail | Details |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient(s) | liraglutide |
| Medicine class | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Forms and strengths | 6 mg/mL solution in a 3 mL multidose pen; daily injection |
Weight-management indication
The US label covers adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, alongside reduced-calorie diet and increased activity. It also covers qualifying children aged 12 years and older with obesity and body weight above 60 kg. The full label criteria guide eligibility.
Source: [1]
A daily multidose pen
The pen contains liraglutide 6 mg/mL in 3 mL and can deliver the labeled dose steps up to 3 mg. It is a daily injection, not a weekly pen. The clinician’s escalation and maintenance plan determines use; total pen contents should not be mistaken for a single dose.
Source: [1]
Boxed warning and precautions
Saxenda carries a thyroid C-cell tumor boxed warning based on animal findings, with human relevance unknown, and is contraindicated with personal or family medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2. Pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, gastrointestinal effects and dehydration-related kidney injury are among the other concerns.
Source: [1]
Saxenda and Victoza
Victoza also contains liraglutide, but is used for type 2 diabetes with different doses and approved uses. The same concentration does not make the two products interchangeable. A change needs a prescription and instructions for the intended product.
Source: [1]
Planned end of US supply
NovoCare states that final US wholesale shipments of Saxenda are planned for late January 2027 and that the decision is not due to a safety issue. Individual pharmacies may run out earlier or have different remaining stock. Availability outside the United States may differ.
Questions and answers
Is Saxenda weekly?
No. Its labeled regimen is daily, using a multidose pen.
Is Saxenda interchangeable with Victoza because both contain liraglutide?
No. Although both contain liraglutide, their doses, approved uses and prescriptions differ.
Does the January 2027 notice mean a safety recall?
NovoCare says the planned discontinuation is not due to a safety issue. It is a supply-status notice.
Related reading
Sources
- Saxenda: official US prescribing information
- NovoCare: Saxenda discontinuation notice and expired savings offer
Sources checked 1 October 2026. This information does not replace advice from your healthcare professional. For complete warnings and instructions, read the product information and consult the prescribing team.
Reviewed by: Mattias Hagman, PhD
About the reviewer:
Dr Mattias Hagman (PhD, University of Sydney) has an academic background and experience working with healthcare-related content and regulated industries. He has lecturing experience at international universities, including Stockholm University and the University of Malta.
Last reviewed: October 2026