Victoza vs Ozempic: Which Is Better for Type 2 Diabetes?
Victoza (liraglutide) is a once-daily injection with a cheaper generic; Ozempic (semaglutide) is once weekly and lowered A1C more in the SUSTAIN 10 head-to-head trial (−1.7% vs −1.0% at 30 weeks). Here is how the two compare on weight, side effects, heart risk, and cost.
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Victoza and Ozempic are both GLP-1 receptor agonist injections for type 2 diabetes, but they are different molecules with different dosing schedules. Victoza is liraglutide, injected once daily; Ozempic is semaglutide, injected once a week [1][2]. In the head-to-head randomized trial covered here, SUSTAIN 10, once-weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg lowered A1C and body weight more than once-daily liraglutide 1.2 mg over 30 weeks [1]. On hard outcomes like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, an observational study of more than 21,000 veterans found no significant difference between the two drugs [4]. The biggest practical difference is cost: liraglutide now has generic versions in the US, and GoodRx-reported coupon prices run far below the retail averages GoodRx reports, which are user-paid averages rather than list prices, while no generic semaglutide price appears in the sources used here [5][6][8].
This page compares the published evidence. It is not medical advice, and the choice of drug and dose belongs to you and your prescriber.
What are Victoza and Ozempic?
Victoza is the brand name for liraglutide injection, a 6 mg/mL solution in a prefilled, single-patient-use pen that delivers 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg doses [2]. It is injected under the skin once a day. Its packager is Novo Nordisk; the FDA first approved it in 2010, and its label was most recently revised in October 2025 [2].
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection; the SUSTAIN 10 trial tested the 1.0 mg once-weekly dose [1]. Both drugs are used for type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, as cited by the FDA, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of those cases are type 2 [5].
Victoza is approved for two uses: improving glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, as an adjunct to diet and exercise; and reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease [2]. The label notes one limitation: coadministration with other liraglutide-containing products is not recommended [2].
Is Ozempic better than Victoza for lowering A1C and weight?
At the doses tested, yes. SUSTAIN 10 was a phase 3b, open-label trial that randomized 577 adults with type 2 diabetes (baseline HbA1c 7.0% to 11.0%, already on 1 to 3 oral antidiabetic drugs) 1:1 to once-weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg or once-daily liraglutide 1.2 mg, with endpoints at week 30 [1].
Mean HbA1c fell from a baseline of 8.2% by 1.7% with semaglutide versus 1.0% with liraglutide, an estimated treatment difference of −0.69% (95% CI −0.82 to −0.56, P<0.0001) [1]. Mean body weight fell from a baseline of 96.9 kg by 5.8 kg with semaglutide versus 1.9 kg with liraglutide, an estimated treatment difference of −3.83 kg (95% CI −4.57 to −3.09, P<0.0001) [1].
More subjects on semaglutide hit HbA1c targets below 7.0% and at or below 6.5%, lost at least 5% and at least 10% of body weight, and met a composite endpoint of HbA1c below 7.0% without severe or blood glucose-confirmed symptomatic hypoglycemia and no weight gain (all P<0.0001) [1].
One caveat matters when reading these numbers: the trial authors chose liraglutide 1.2 mg because it was the most frequently prescribed dose in Europe at the time, not liraglutide’s maximum labeled dose of 1.8 mg [1][2]. So the trial shows semaglutide 1.0 mg beating liraglutide 1.2 mg, not liraglutide at its highest dose.
Which one causes more side effects?
In SUSTAIN 10, gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events in both groups, but they were more frequent with semaglutide: 43.9% versus 38.3% with liraglutide [1]. Adverse events leading to premature discontinuation of treatment were also more common with semaglutide, 11.4% versus 6.6% [1]. The trial’s conclusion was that safety profiles were generally similar apart from those higher gastrointestinal rates with semaglutide [1].
For Victoza specifically, the most common adverse reactions in clinical trials (incidence of 5% or more) were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, and constipation [2][5]. Immunogenicity-related events including urticaria were more common among Victoza-treated patients (0.8%) than comparator-treated patients (0.4%) [2].
In the large veterans study, the only gastrointestinal difference observed between drugs was between dulaglutide and semaglutide (lower risks of gallstones, HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54–0.95, and acute cholecystitis, HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39–0.99); no liraglutide-versus-semaglutide gastrointestinal difference was reported [4].
Does Victoza reduce heart attack and stroke risk?
Yes, in the LEADER trial. LEADER was a double-blind study that randomly assigned 9,340 patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk to liraglutide or placebo, with a median follow-up of 3.8 years [3].
The primary composite outcome (death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) occurred in fewer liraglutide patients: 608 of 4,668 (13.0%) versus 694 of 4,672 (14.9%) on placebo, a hazard ratio of 0.87 (95% CI 0.78–0.97; P<0.001 for noninferiority, P=0.01 for superiority) [3]. Cardiovascular death was lower with liraglutide (219 patients, 4.7%, versus 278, 6.0%; HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.93, P=0.007), as was death from any cause (381 patients, 8.2%, versus 447, 9.6%; HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74–0.97, P=0.02) [3]. Rates of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure were nonsignificantly lower with liraglutide [3]. The most common adverse events leading to discontinuation of liraglutide were gastrointestinal, and pancreatitis incidence was nonsignificantly lower with liraglutide [3].
This evidence is why the Victoza label carries an indication to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease [2]. Teva’s authorized generic carries both the glycemic-control and cardiovascular-risk-reduction indications as well [6].
Do liraglutide and semaglutide differ on heart, kidney, and death outcomes?
A comparative-effectiveness study of veterans tried to answer this using real-world data. It emulated a target trial using national data linked among the VA, Medicare, and the US Renal Data System, following 21,790 GLP-1-naive veterans with type 2 diabetes on metformin (no end-stage kidney disease) who started liraglutide, semaglutide, or dulaglutide between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, with outcomes tracked through March 31, 2023 [4]. The mean age was 63.5 years, 91.0% were male, and 5,425 started liraglutide, 10,838 semaglutide, and 5,527 dulaglutide [4].
Compared with semaglutide initiators, liraglutide initiators had similar hazards for kidney failure (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.60–1.44), the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic composite (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.84–1.10), and MACE (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83–1.09) [4]. All-cause death was lower with liraglutide in the intent-to-treat analysis (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69–0.99), but that result lost significance in per-protocol models [4].
Two cautions apply. This was an observational, non-randomized study, so it cannot prove the drugs are equivalent; the authors themselves state that head-to-head randomized trials are needed to confirm the findings [4]. And the study population was overwhelmingly male veterans, which limits how far the results generalize.
How is each drug taken?
For Victoza, the FDA-approved adult dosing starts at 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for one week, then increases to 1.2 mg daily; if more glycemic control is needed, the dose can increase to 1.8 mg daily after one week at 1.2 mg [2]. For pediatric patients aged 10 and older, dosing starts at 0.6 mg once daily for at least one week, and may increase to 1.2 mg, then to 1.8 mg after at least one week at 1.2 mg [2].
Victoza is injected in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, at any time of day and independent of meals [2]. The solution should be inspected before each injection and used only if it is clear, colorless, and free of particles [2]. When used with insulin, the two should be given as separate injections and never mixed [2].
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection [1]. Its specific dosing schedule, storage, and other label details are not covered in the sources used here; the current Ozempic prescribing information is the reference for those specifics.
What warnings does Victoza carry?
Victoza’s label carries a boxed warning stating that liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both male and female rats and mice, and that it is unknown whether Victoza causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, in humans [2]. The generic liraglutide prescribing information includes the same boxed warning [5].
Victoza is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, in people with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, and in anyone with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or its excipients [2][5].
Other labeled warnings include acute pancreatitis; never sharing a Victoza pen between patients, even if the needle is changed; hypoglycemia risk, which is higher in adults taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin and was higher in pediatric patients aged 10 and older regardless of insulin or metformin use; acute kidney injury from volume depletion; severe gastrointestinal reactions, with the drug not recommended in severe gastroparesis; hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema; acute gallbladder disease; and pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation [2]. Because liraglutide delays gastric emptying, it may affect the absorption of oral medications [2]. In pregnancy, the label states Victoza should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus [2].
Is there a generic Victoza or a generic Ozempic?
Liraglutide has generics in the US; that is the biggest practical difference between the two drugs. Teva launched an authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8 mg) in the United States on June 24, 2024, described by Teva as the first-ever generic GLP-1 in the US market [6]. Victoza had annual sales of $1.656 billion as of April 2024, according to Teva [6].
Separately, on December 23, 2024, the FDA approved the first generic referencing Victoza (liraglutide injection 18 mg/3 mL), granted to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. [5]. The FDA noted that liraglutide injection and certain other GLP-1 medications were in shortage at that time, and that the FDA prioritizes assessment of generic applications for drugs in shortage [5]. The FDA had approved the first generic in the GLP-1 class the previous month, a generic referencing Byetta (exenatide) [5]. GoodRx’s product page states that liraglutide (Victoza) is available only as a generic [8].
For Ozempic, no generic semaglutide price appears in the sources used here, so this page cannot say what a generic Ozempic would cost or when one might be available.
What do Victoza and Ozempic cost?
All prices below are GoodRx-reported figures last updated on September 14, 2026, for coupon prices that vary by pharmacy and location; they are not list prices and not a prediction of what any individual will pay [8].
| Liraglutide (Victoza), GoodRx-reported | Price |
|---|---|
| 2 pens of 18 mg/3 mL, 1 carton — GoodRx coupon | $112.19 |
| 2 pens of 18 mg/3 mL, 1 carton — listed retail | $615.85 |
| 3 pens of 18 mg/3 mL, 1 carton — GoodRx coupon | $154.01 |
| 3 pens of 18 mg/3 mL, 1 carton — listed retail | $924.00 |
GoodRx also states a price as low as $102.40, which it describes as 77% off an average retail price of $455.02 for the most common version [8]. A $101.90 price shown at CVS Pharmacy and Target (CVS) requires GoodRx Companion, a paid subscription [8]. GoodRx notes its retail averages are user-paid averages, not location-specific pharmacy pricing [8].
Same-day pharmacy prices for the 2-pen carton spread widely, according to GoodRx: Walmart $206.38, Sam’s Club $211.91, Walgreens $217.71, Hy-Vee $337.20, and Costco $497.80 [8].
For comparison, the same GoodRx page carries a promotional listing for Ozempic at $1,209.15 — a GoodRx-displayed brand price, not a generic price [8]. One note of caution on that listing: GoodRx labels it as tablets, which does not match the once-weekly injection described in the clinical sources [1]. Insurance coverage, savings programs, and pharmacy choice will shape the real out-of-pocket cost for either drug.
Which one should you choose?
The published evidence supports a few clear statements. Semaglutide was superior to liraglutide for both HbA1c and body weight at the doses tested in SUSTAIN 10 (1.0 mg weekly versus 1.2 mg daily) [1]. Observational VA data found no difference between liraglutide and semaglutide for kidney failure, the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic composite, or MACE, though that evidence is non-randomized and its authors call for head-to-head trials [4]. Victoza is labeled down to age 10 with a specified pediatric titration schedule, while no Ozempic pediatric information appears in the sources used here [2]. Liraglutide has generics on the US market, which changes the cost picture [5][6]. And the dosing burden differs: one injection a day versus one a week [1][2].
What the evidence does not settle is which drug is better for any individual person. That depends on A1C goals, weight goals, cardiovascular history, side-effect tolerance, insurance coverage, and age, among other factors. The choice of drug and dose is a prescriber decision; follow your own prescription and the Instructions for Use that come with your pen [2].
Frequently asked questions
Is Ozempic stronger than Victoza for lowering A1C?
At the doses compared, yes. In SUSTAIN 10, semaglutide 1.0 mg once weekly lowered HbA1c by 1.7% versus 1.0% for liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily, an estimated treatment difference of −0.69% (95% CI −0.82 to −0.56, P<0.0001) [1]. The trial did not test liraglutide at its maximum 1.8 mg dose [1][2].
Which causes more nausea, semaglutide or liraglutide?
In the head-to-head trial, gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events in both groups and were more frequent with semaglutide (43.9% vs 38.3%), and more semaglutide patients discontinued treatment early due to adverse events (11.4% vs 6.6%) [1]. For Victoza, the label lists nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, and constipation as the most common reactions [2][5].
Can you switch from Victoza to Ozempic?
No switching protocol between the two drugs appears in the sources used here, so this page cannot describe one. Whether and how to switch is a prescriber decision; the Victoza label directs patients to follow their prescription and Instructions for Use [2].
Is there a generic Ozempic?
No generic semaglutide price appears in the sources used here, so this page cannot confirm generic semaglutide availability or pricing. Liraglutide, by contrast, is available as a generic in the US [5][6][8].
Who makes generic liraglutide and when did it launch?
Teva launched an authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8 mg) in the US on June 24, 2024, described as the first-ever generic GLP-1 in the US market [6]. On December 23, 2024, the FDA approved the first generic referencing Victoza (liraglutide injection 18 mg/3 mL), granted to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. [5].
Does Victoza help with weight loss?
It produces some weight loss, though less than semaglutide in the head-to-head trial. In SUSTAIN 10, liraglutide 1.2 mg was associated with a mean 1.9 kg weight loss over 30 weeks, versus 5.8 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg (estimated treatment difference −3.83 kg, P<0.0001) [1]. Victoza is not approved as a weight-loss drug in the sources used here.
Does Victoza reduce heart attack and stroke risk?
In the LEADER trial, the composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, or nonfatal stroke occurred in 13.0% of liraglutide patients versus 14.9% on placebo (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78–0.97) [3]. On that basis, the Victoza label carries an indication to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease [2].
Can children take Victoza or Ozempic?
Victoza is FDA-approved for glycemic control in pediatric patients aged 10 and older, with a labeled titration schedule starting at 0.6 mg once daily [2]. The label also notes higher hypoglycemia risk in pediatric patients aged 10 and older regardless of insulin or metformin use [2]. No Ozempic pediatric information appears in the sources used here.
Sources
- PubMed. Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide 1.0mg vs once-daily liraglutide 1.2mg as add-on to 1-3 oral antidiabetic drugs in subjects with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 10).
- DailyMed. VICTOZA - liraglutide injection. Drug Label Information updated October 14, 2025.
- PubMed. Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes.
- PubMed. Liraglutide vs Semaglutide vs Dulaglutide in Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes.
- 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.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals. Teva Announces Launch of Authorized Generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8mg), in the United States.
- US Food and Drug Administration. National Drug Code directory records for liraglutide.
- GoodRx. Liraglutide (Victoza) 2026 Prices, Coupons & Savings Tips.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Drug shortage details for liraglutide injection.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs@FDA records for liraglutide.
- Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Liraglutide 18 mg/3ml solution pen injector medication details.
- SingleCare. Liraglutide Coupons 2026: Up to 80% Discount - How Much Does Liraglutide Cost?
Frequently asked questions
Is Ozempic stronger than Victoza for lowering A1C?
At the doses compared, yes. In SUSTAIN 10, semaglutide 1.0 mg once weekly lowered HbA1c by 1.7% versus 1.0% for liraglutide 1.2 mg once daily, an estimated treatment difference of −0.69% (95% CI −0.82 to −0.56, P<0.0001). The trial did not test liraglutide at its maximum 1.8 mg dose.
Which causes more nausea, semaglutide or liraglutide?
In the head-to-head trial, gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events in both groups and were more frequent with semaglutide (43.9% vs 38.3%), and more semaglutide patients discontinued treatment early due to adverse events (11.4% vs 6.6%). Victoza's label lists nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, and constipation as its most common reactions.
Can you switch from Victoza to Ozempic?
No switching protocol between the two drugs appears in the sources used here, so this page cannot describe one. Whether and how to switch is a prescriber decision. The Victoza label directs patients to follow their prescription and the Instructions for Use that come with the pen.
Is there a generic Ozempic?
No generic semaglutide price appears in the sources used here, so this page cannot confirm generic semaglutide availability or pricing. Liraglutide, by contrast, is available as a generic in the US, with Teva's authorized generic launching June 24, 2024, and an FDA-approved generic granted to Hikma on December 23, 2024.
Who makes generic liraglutide and when did it launch?
Teva launched an authorized generic of Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8 mg) in the US on June 24, 2024, described as the first-ever generic GLP-1 in the US market. On December 23, 2024, the FDA approved the first generic referencing Victoza (liraglutide injection 18 mg/3 mL), granted to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc..
Does Victoza help with weight loss?
It produces some weight loss, though less than semaglutide in the head-to-head trial. In SUSTAIN 10, liraglutide 1.2 mg was associated with a mean 1.9 kg weight loss over 30 weeks, versus 5.8 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg (estimated treatment difference −3.83 kg, P<0.0001). Victoza is not approved as a weight-loss drug in the sources used here.
Does Victoza reduce heart attack and stroke risk?
In the LEADER trial, the composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, or nonfatal stroke occurred in 13.0% of liraglutide patients versus 14.9% on placebo (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78–0.97). The Victoza label carries an indication to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.
Can children take Victoza or Ozempic?
Victoza is FDA-approved for glycemic control in pediatric patients aged 10 and older, with a labeled titration schedule starting at 0.6 mg once daily. The label notes higher hypoglycemia risk in pediatric patients aged 10 and older regardless of insulin or metformin use. No Ozempic pediatric information appears in the sources used here.
This article summarizes FDA labeling, published research and company information current as of September 14, 2026. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own healthcare provider. How we research and verify.