Generic Liraglutide: The Cheapest GLP-1 in the US
Yes. Generic liraglutide comes in two versions: a Victoza-referenced generic for type 2 diabetes (GoodRx coupon $112.19 for 2 pens) and a Saxenda-referenced generic for weight loss ($372.45 for 5 pens, September 14, 2026).
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Yes, there is a generic GLP-1 in the US, and it is liraglutide. It arrived in two separate waves: a generic referencing Victoza, the type 2 diabetes brand, and a generic referencing Saxenda, the weight-management brand. Both are the same molecule at the same 18 mg/3 mL pen strength, but they are approved as referencing different brands, carry different indications, and come in different carton sizes [3][6].
On price, the two versions are far apart. On September 14, 2026, a GoodRx coupon listed the Victoza-referenced generic at $112.19 for a 2-pen carton, while the Saxenda-referenced generic listed at $372.45 for a 5-pen carton [7][8]. The main thing a buyer needs to watch is which of the two products a prescription actually maps to, because a script written simply for “liraglutide” can be filled as either one, and the price and indication both change with it [7][8][17].
Is there a generic GLP-1 in the US?
Yes. Teva describes its authorized generic of Victoza, launched June 24, 2024, as the first-ever generic GLP-1 in the US market [2]. Liraglutide is also the only GLP-1 with a generic indicated for weight loss: Teva’s generic of Saxenda, approved and launched August 28, 2025, is described by Teva as the first generic GLP-1 indicated for weight loss [6].
Liraglutide is not, however, the only GLP-1 with a generic of any kind. The FDA approved a generic referencing Byetta (exenatide) in November 2024, one month before it approved the first generic referencing Victoza, so the exenatide generic was the first generic in the class overall [3].
The molecule itself sits behind two brand products. Victoza is the type 2 diabetes brand, described as liraglutide injection 1.8 mg, and Saxenda is the weight-management brand, described as liraglutide injection 3 mg [2][6][18]. Both the Victoza-referenced and Saxenda-referenced generics come in an 18 mg/3 mL pen, which is 6 mg/mL [3][4]. GoodRx’s page for the Victoza-referenced version notes that liraglutide (Victoza) is now only available as a generic drug [7].
What is the difference between generic Victoza and generic Saxenda?
They are the same active molecule at the same pen strength, but each generic was approved as referencing one specific brand, and the indications follow the brand [3][6].
The Victoza-referenced generic is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease [2][3].
The Saxenda-referenced generic is indicated for weight management: adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, and pediatric patients aged 12 to 17 with body weight above 60 kg and obesity, used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity [6][18].
The packaging differs too. The Victoza-referenced generic is sold in 2-pen and 3-pen cartons, while the Saxenda-referenced generic is sold in a 5-pen carton [7][8][15][17]. That carton difference is a big part of the price difference buyers see at the counter.
Who makes generic liraglutide, and when did each version arrive?
Three launches matter here, in order:
| Date | Product | Maker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Authorized generic of Victoza | Teva | Novo’s own product sold without the brand name [2] |
| December 23, 2024 | First generic referencing Victoza | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA | FDA approval; launched December 26, 2024 [3][4] |
| August 28, 2025 | Generic Saxenda | Teva | First generic GLP-1 indicated for weight loss [6] |
Teva’s June 2024 product was an authorized generic, which means it was the brand manufacturer’s product sold under Teva’s label [2]. The FDA then approved the first generic referencing Victoza on December 23, 2024, granting the approval to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA [3]. Hikma launched it immediately, on December 26, 2024, and describes itself as a top-three supplier of generic injectable medicines by volume in the US [4].
Teva’s generic Saxenda was approved and launched on August 28, 2025, and Teva described it as its fifth first-to-market generic entry of 2025 [6].
More manufacturers may follow. diaTribe reported in 2024 that Sandoz and Viatris were also developing Victoza generics, and that only Teva’s version would be on the market for the first six months [12].
Why did liraglutide get a generic before Ozempic or Mounjaro?
Patents. Victoza was approved in the US in 2010, Saxenda in 2014, and Victoza’s US patent expired in late 2023, which opened the door for generic applicants [12]. The newer GLP-1s have years of patent life left: diaTribe lists semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) US patents expiring in 2032, tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) in 2039, and dulaglutide (Trulicity) in 2027 [12].
The FDA also moved these applications up its queue. At the December 23, 2024 approval, the FDA stated that liraglutide injection and certain other GLP-1 medications were currently in shortage, and that the FDA prioritizes assessment of generic applications for drugs in shortage to improve patient access [3]. The FDA added that complex products like liraglutide can be harder to copy because of their complex active ingredient, formulation, or mode of delivery, and that it works to clarify regulatory expectations for applicants early in development [3].
The sales context explains why generic makers went after it. Victoza had annual sales of $1.656 billion as of April 2024 [2]. IQVIA put US sales of liraglutide injection 6 mg/mL at roughly $1.3 billion in the 12 months ending October 2024 [4]. Saxenda’s annual sales were $165 million as of June 2025 [6].
What did the first generic cost at launch?
Teva’s authorized generic of Victoza launched at $469.60 for a 2-pen pack and $704.40 for a 3-pen pack, according to diaTribe [12]. At the time, brand Victoza typically cost about $560 for a 2-pack and about $850 for a 3-pack per GoodRx, making the authorized generic about 16% to 17% cheaper than the brand [12].
That is a modest cut, and it is typical of how authorized generics are priced. Teva’s own press release gave no price [2]. The bigger price drops came later, after independent competition arrived: Hikma’s generic referencing Victoza launched December 26, 2024, and diaTribe noted that once multiple generics are on the market, competition should reduce prices further [4][12].
What does generic Victoza cost without insurance today?
GoodRx’s page for the Victoza-referenced generic, with coupon prices last updated September 14, 2026, lists these carton prices [7]:
| Carton | GoodRx “retail” price | GoodRx coupon price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 pens, 18 mg/3 mL | $615.85 | $112.19 |
| 3 pens, 18 mg/3 mL | $924.00 | $154.01 |
One caution on that table: GoodRx states that its “retail price” figures are the average costs users pay for these drugs, not a list price and not a specific pharmacy’s price in a given location [7].
The same GoodRx page also shows pharmacy-level coupon prices for the 2-pen carton: Walmart at $206.38, Walgreens at $217.71 (against a $305.19 retail figure on that page), Hy-Vee at $337.20, and Costco at $497.80 [7]. The $101.90 price shown for CVS/Target requires a paid GoodRx Companion subscription [7].
The page is not fully consistent with itself. Elsewhere on the same page, GoodRx says users can get liraglutide “for as low as $102.40, which is 77% off the average retail price of $455.02” [7]. That $455.02 average retail figure does not match the $615.85 shown in the carton table on the same page, so treat these numbers as ballpark figures and confirm the price at the pharmacy before filling.
What does generic Saxenda cost without insurance today?
GoodRx’s page for the Saxenda-referenced generic, also updated September 14, 2026, lists the 5-pen carton of 18 mg/3 mL at a GoodRx “retail” price of $717.63 and a coupon price of $372.45 at Walgreens [8].
The pharmacy spread on the same page, for the same 5-pen carton on the same day, is wide [8]:
| Pharmacy | Coupon price |
|---|---|
| Walgreens | $372.45 |
| Capsule | $550.25 |
| CVS / Target | $570.06 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $732.12 |
| Publix | $732.92 |
| Walmart | $1,236 |
| Sam’s Club | $1,239 |
| Costco | $1,241 |
That is roughly $372 to $1,241 for the identical carton on the identical day, depending only on the pharmacy [8].
For scale on how long a carton lasts: 5 pens at 18 mg/3 mL each contain 90 mg total, and the Saxenda brand is described as a 3 mg once-daily injection, so a 5-pen carton works out to about 30 days at that amount. That arithmetic is this site’s calculation, not a figure stated by a source [3][18].
What about Cost Plus Drugs, SingleCare and Amazon Pharmacy?
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs lists liraglutide (generic for Victoza) at $87.80 for a “1 count supply of 18 mg/3ml,” broken down as $72.00 manufacturing, $10.80 markup (15%), and $5.00 pharmacy labor, with $55.00 next-day refrigerated shipping added at checkout [15]. The page showed the 18 mg/3 mL strength as “Out of Stock” and listed a retail price elsewhere of $615.99 [15].
Two cautions on that listing. First, the page’s form options are a box of 2 pens or a box of 3 pens, but the unit the $87.80 price applies to is ambiguous on the page, so it is not possible to say how many pens that price buys [15]. Second, Cost Plus states it cannot guarantee a specific manufacturer when an order is placed [15].
SingleCare, for a 2-pen quantity in Hampton, Virginia, with prices updated October 16, 2026, showed CVS at $206.44 ($104.90 with a free signup bonus), Walgreens at $227.26, Kroger and Harris Teeter at $468.61, and Walmart at $502.69 [16]. SingleCare’s one-month average prices for the same quantity put CVS liraglutide retail at $616.02 versus a SingleCare price of $100.35, Walmart at $261.29 versus $220.47, and Walgreens at $292.22 versus $144.32 [16].
Amazon Pharmacy lists liraglutide 18 mg/3 mL pen injector at a retail price of $495.66, or $210.50 without insurance through its Prime prescription savings benefit [17]. That benefit is administered by Inside Rx, is not insurance, and has restrictions for people over 65 or with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare [17]. The “around $10” figure Amazon displays is an average insured copay based on recent purchases over the past two months, not a cash price [17].
How do these prices compare with the brands?
Brand Saxenda has a list price of $1,349.02, according to NovoCare, which also states that most people with insurance that covers weight-management medications do not pay list price [18]. NovoCare offers a savings program under which eligible people pay as little as $25 or save up to $200 per prescription for up to 12 months, and the offer carries eligibility and other restrictions [18].
Brand Victoza runs higher than its generic at retail. SingleCare’s one-month averages put brand Victoza retail at $649.02 at CVS and $673.92 at Walmart, for a 2-pen quantity [16].
For context against the newer GLP-1s, the GoodRx pages displayed on September 14, 2026 showed Ozempic at $1,209.15 and a Mounjaro 4-pen 2.5 mg carton at $1,310.99 [7][8]. Against those figures, the Victoza-referenced generic’s $112.19 coupon price and the Saxenda-referenced generic’s $372.45 coupon price are the lowest GLP-1 numbers on the page.
What should a buyer watch out for at the pharmacy counter?
The biggest trap is that a prescription for “liraglutide” can map to either reference product: a 2-pen or 3-pen Victoza-referenced carton, or a 5-pen Saxenda-referenced carton [7][8][17]. Amazon’s listing makes the confusion visible, showing “18 MG/3ML” and “18 MG/3 ML (5-PAK)” as two separate strengths under one product page [17].
The two products are not interchangeable in price or indication. On the same day, September 14, 2026, the GoodRx coupon gap between them was $112.19 versus $372.45 [7][8]. The Victoza-referenced generic is indicated for type 2 diabetes, while the Saxenda-referenced generic is indicated for weight management [2][6]. They reference different brands with different indications and different package sizes.
Before filling, check the price. SingleCare states plainly that the prices it publishes are its best estimate and may not exactly match the price at the pharmacy, and it directs users to contact the pharmacy with the card’s BIN/GRP/PCN numbers for an exact price [16]. GoodRx likewise notes its prices are subject to change without notice and that sales tax may apply [7][8].
Is supply an issue?
It has been. At the December 23, 2024 approval, the FDA stated that liraglutide injection and certain other GLP-1 medications were currently in shortage [3]. diaTribe reported that Teva’s June 2024 launch came amid shortages of many GLP-1 and incretin medications [12].
Stock can still be a problem at individual sellers. The Cost Plus Drugs listing showed the 18 mg/3 mL strength as “Out of Stock” on September 14, 2026 [15]. Both Cost Plus and Amazon state that they use multiple suppliers and cannot guarantee a specific manufacturer, which means the product a buyer receives may vary in appearance [15][17].
Is the generic the same as the brand?
The FDA approved the generic referencing Victoza at the same 18 mg/3 mL strength as the brand [3]. Amazon’s product page states that generics may vary in size, color, and shape between manufacturers, but the active ingredients are always the same [17].
The safety profile follows the brand. The generic label carries a Boxed Warning about thyroid C-cell tumors, and the drug is contraindicated for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 [3][4]. The label also carries warnings about pancreatitis, never sharing pens between patients, hypoglycemia when used with insulin or sulfonylureas, kidney injury, hypersensitivity, gallbladder disease, and pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation [3][4].
The most common side effects reported in the type 2 diabetes trials were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, and constipation [3]. The Saxenda-referenced generic’s label additionally warns about increased resting heart rate and about depression or suicidal thoughts [6].
How does liraglutide compare with weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide?
On effectiveness, the one head-to-head data point in these sources is SUSTAIN 10, reported by diaTribe: Victoza reduced A1C by 1% while Ozempic reduced it by 1.7%, and participants lost about 4 pounds on Victoza versus about 13 pounds on Ozempic [12].
On convenience, liraglutide is injected once daily [18], while the newer GLP-1s are weekly injections. Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and dulaglutide all remain under patent, with US expirations listed at 2032, 2039, and 2027 respectively [12].
On market position, the sales figures tell the story: Saxenda’s $165 million in annual sales as of June 2025 against Victoza’s $1.656 billion as of April 2024 reflects how much weight-management prescribing has shifted to the newer drugs [2][6]. Generic liraglutide is the low-cost entry point into the class; the weekly brands are the higher-priced, patent-protected options.
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration. National Drug Code directory data for liraglutide.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals. Teva announces launch of authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8mg) in the United States.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves first generic of once-daily GLP-1 injection to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Hikma receives FDA approval and launches the generic version of Victoza, Liraglutide, in the US. December 26, 2024.
- Business Wire. Meitheal Pharmaceuticals announces approval and launch of Liraglutide Injection in the United States.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals. Teva announces FDA approval and launch of generic Saxenda (liraglutide) injection, first generic GLP-1.
- GoodRx. Liraglutide (Victoza) 2026 prices, coupons & savings tips.
- GoodRx. Liraglutide (Saxenda) 2026 prices, coupons & savings tips.
- Reddit. Online discussion thread on the US generic Saxenda shortage.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Drug shortages database for Liraglutide Injection (current).
- US Food and Drug Administration. Drug shortages database for Liraglutide Injection (discontinued).
- DiaTribe. Generic Victoza now available in the U.S.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA data for liraglutide.
- Medicaid.gov. NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) 2026. Updated September 8, 2026.
- Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Medication details for liraglutide 18 mg/3mL solution pen injector.
- SingleCare. Liraglutide coupons 2026: Up to 80% discount - how much does liraglutide cost?
- Amazon Pharmacy. Liraglutide 18 mg/3mL pen injector product listing.
- NovoCare. Saxenda (liraglutide) injection 3mg list price & insurance coverage explained.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a generic Saxenda?
Yes. Teva received FDA approval and launched a generic of Saxenda (liraglutide injection) on August 28, 2025, which Teva describes as the first generic GLP-1 indicated for weight loss. It is sold in a 5-pen carton of 18 mg/3 mL pens, and a GoodRx coupon listed it at $372.45 on September 14, 2026.
Is there a generic Victoza?
Yes, and there are two versions. Teva launched an authorized generic of Victoza on June 24, 2024, and the FDA approved the first independent generic referencing Victoza on December 23, 2024, granted to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, which launched it December 26, 2024.
How much does generic liraglutide cost without insurance?
It depends on which version. On September 14, 2026, GoodRx coupon prices were $112.19 for a 2-pen Victoza-referenced carton and $372.45 for a 5-pen Saxenda-referenced carton. Cost Plus Drugs listed a 1-count supply of 18 mg/3 mL at $87.80, though the listing was out of stock and the unit is ambiguous.
What is the liraglutide price on GoodRx?
GoodRx lists the Victoza-referenced generic at a coupon price of $112.19 for 2 pens and $154.01 for 3 pens, against GoodRx "retail" averages of $615.85 and $924.00. The Saxenda-referenced 5-pen carton lists at $372.45 coupon price against a $717.63 average. GoodRx's retail figures are its own averages, not list prices.
Who makes generic liraglutide?
Teva makes the authorized generic of Victoza (launched June 24, 2024) and the generic of Saxenda (launched August 28, 2025). Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA received FDA approval for the first generic referencing Victoza on December 23, 2024 and launched it three days later. Sandoz and Viatris were also developing Victoza generics.
Why does generic Saxenda cost more than generic Victoza?
They are the same molecule at the same pen strength, but they are different products: the Victoza-referenced generic comes in 2-pen and 3-pen cartons, while the Saxenda-referenced generic comes in a 5-pen carton. On September 14, 2026, GoodRx coupon prices were $112.19 versus $372.45 for those cartons.
Can a pharmacy swap generic Victoza for generic Saxenda?
They are not the same product. Each generic was approved as referencing one specific brand, with different indications (type 2 diabetes versus weight management) and different package sizes, so a prescription for one does not simply map to the other. A script written for "liraglutide" can be filled as either, which is why the price can vary widely.
Is generic liraglutide as effective as the brand?
The FDA approved the generic referencing Victoza at the same 18 mg/3 mL strength as the brand, and Amazon Pharmacy notes that generic active ingredients are always the same even if appearance varies by manufacturer. The generic carries the same Boxed Warning about thyroid C-cell tumors and the same warnings as the brand label.
This article summarizes FDA labeling, published research and company information current as of October 18, 2026. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own healthcare provider. How we research and verify.