Liraglutide injection goes on the FDA drug shortage list

The Food and Drug Administration added liraglutide injection to its drug shortage database on July 18, 2023, placing the older daily GLP-1 alongside the semaglutide and tirzepatide products that were already hard to find ^[3]. Liraglutide is the molecule sold by Novo Nordisk as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management.

The listing has proved durable. FDA's shortage page for liraglutide injection still shows a status of "Currently in Shortage," with the original posting date of 07/18/2023 ^[3]. In the most recent company updates on that page, Novo Nordisk lists both Victoza 6 mg/mL presentations as having "Limited Availability" with an estimated shortage duration of "TBD" and a stated reason of "Delay in shipping of the drug" ^[3]. Saxenda is also listed as limited availability, with a note that the product "will be available until discontinuation in January 2027" ^[3].

Shortage status changed the generic timeline

The shortage did more than inconvenience pharmacies. FDA has said plainly that it "prioritizes assessment of generic drug applications for drugs in shortage to help improve patient access to these medications," and it cited liraglutide's shortage status when announcing the first generic ^[2].

That approval came on December 23, 2024, when FDA cleared the first generic referencing Victoza (liraglutide injection) 18 mg/3 mL, granted to Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. ^[2]. The agency noted that it had approved the first generic in the GLP-1 class the month before, a generic referencing Byetta (exenatide) ^[2] — so liraglutide was the second GLP-1 molecule to get a generic, not the first, though it is the first of the newer daily injectable weight-and-diabetes GLP-1s to face copycat competition.

FDA framed the approval as part of a broader push on hard-to-copy drugs. "The FDA supports development of complex generic drugs, such as GLP-1s, by funding research and informing industry through guidance as part of our ongoing efforts to increase access to needed medications," said Iilun Murphy, M.D., director of the Office of Generic Drugs, adding that generics "are generally more affordable for patients" ^[2].

The generic label carries the same safety language as the brand, including a Boxed Warning about increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, plus warnings about pancreatitis, pen sharing, low blood sugar when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea, kidney problems, hypersensitivity and acute gallbladder disease ^[2]. The most common side effects reported in liraglutide trials were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion and constipation ^[2].

Where supply stands now

The current FDA shortage entry shows multiple generic makers reporting product as "Available": Hikma lists two 6 mg/mL presentations as available, as does Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, and Novo Nordisk's page lists two liraglutide presentations "Distributed by Teva" as available ^[3]. At the same time, FDA's shortage database shows a Teva liraglutide injection 6 mg/mL presentation (NDC 0480-7250-46) with a status of "To Be Discontinued," posted 05/14/2026, with the reason given as "Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug" ^[1].

In short, the supply picture is mixed: generics have entered, some brand presentations are limited, and at least one generic presentation is being discontinued while the overall shortage listing remains open ^[1][3].

Why it matters for patients

A shortage listing is the formal signal that a product may not be reliably stocked, and it affects what a pharmacy can fill and what an insurer may prefer. For people taking liraglutide, the practical consequence has been years of uncertainty about refills, with FDA's own page showing brand Victoza at limited availability and no end date given ^[3].

The counterweight is price and choice. Generic liraglutide from more than one manufacturer is now listed as available ^[3], and FDA says generics generally cost less than brands ^[2]. Saxenda's planned discontinuation in January 2027 ^[3] means the brand weight-management version of this molecule is on a clock, though FDA's page does not say what that means for the generic supply of the same 6 mg/mL strength.

What is not yet known from these sources: when the liraglutide shortage will be declared resolved, what generic liraglutide costs at US pharmacies, or whether the Teva discontinuation will affect overall availability. Questions about switching between brand and generic products belong with a prescriber or pharmacist.

What happens next

• January 2027: Novo Nordisk's Saxenda is scheduled to be discontinued, per FDA's shortage listing ^[3].
• Ongoing: FDA's liraglutide shortage entry remains active and is updated as companies report changes; the most recent revisions shown are from August and September 2026 ^[3].