Liraglutide

Liraglutide is a synthetic peptide and a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist designed as an analog of the endogenous human GLP-1 hormone. Its molecular formula is C₁₇₂H₂₆₅N₄₃O₅₁, with a molecular weight of 3751.2 g/mol, and it is registered under CAS number 204656-20-2 and PubChem CID 16134956. Structurally, liraglutide distinguishes itself from native GLP-1 by the addition of a C16 fatty-acid (palmitoyl) side chain attached via a glutamic acid spacer. This modification facilitates reversible binding to albumin in the bloodstream, which significantly extends its plasma half-life to approximately 13 hours. In contrast, native GLP-1 is rapidly degraded and has a half-life of only a few minutes, necessitating frequent dosing if used therapeutically without modification.

Due to its prolonged half-life, liraglutide is administered once daily, differentiating it from other GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are typically dosed once weekly. This pharmacokinetic profile enables more convenient daily dosing while maintaining sustained receptor activation.

Clinically, liraglutide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for multiple indications. It was first approved on January 25, 2010, under the brand name Victoza for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, liraglutide received FDA approval as Saxenda on December 23, 2014, at a 3.0 mg dose for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight conditions accompanied by at least one weight-related comorbidity. In December 2020, the Saxenda indication was expanded to include pediatric patients aged 12 years and older for weight management.

The clinical efficacy of liraglutide at these doses is supported by large-scale, peer-reviewed trials. For example, the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial demonstrated significant weight loss with 3.0 mg daily liraglutide compared to placebo over 56 weeks in adults without type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the LEADER trial showed cardiovascular benefit in high-risk type 2 diabetes patients treated with liraglutide at doses up to 1.8 mg daily, reducing major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo over a median follow-up of 3.8 years.

It is important to emphasize that while liraglutide is an FDA-approved pharmaceutical drug marketed as Victoza and Saxenda, the research-grade liraglutide available through peptide suppliers is a distinct product intended solely for laboratory research purposes. This research-grade material is not formulated or approved for human use or consumption and should be handled accordingly in experimental settings.

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not FDA approved. Consult a licensed physician.

Liraglutide is a synthetic analog of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) designed with a C16 fatty-acid (palmitoyl) side chain attached via a glutamic acid spacer, which facilitates reversible albumin binding and extends its plasma half-life to approximately 13 hours, enabling once-daily dosing. This pharmacokinetic enhancement contrasts with native GLP-1, which is rapidly degraded with a half-life of only a few minutes. The compound’s molecular formula is C₁₇₂H₂₆₅N₄₃O₅₁, with a molecular weight of 3751.2 g/mol, CAS number 204656-20-2, and PubChem CID 16134956.

FDA-approved as the pharmaceutical drug Victoza on January 25, 2010, liraglutide is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, it received FDA approval as Saxenda on December 23, 2014, for chronic weight management at a 3.0 mg once-daily dose, including a pediatric indication for patients aged 12 years and older granted in December 2020. These approvals are based on extensive clinical trial data demonstrating liraglutide’s efficacy and safety in these indications.

One pivotal trial supporting the weight management indication is the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes study (Pi-Sunyer et al., 2015, New England Journal of Medicine, DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892). This randomized, controlled trial enrolled 3,731 adults without type 2 diabetes who had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or 27 or greater with at least one treated comorbidity. Participants received liraglutide 3.0 mg once daily or placebo for 56 weeks. The results demonstrated a mean weight loss of 8.0% in the liraglutide group compared to 2.6% with placebo. Moreover, 63.2% of liraglutide-treated participants achieved at least 5% body weight reduction, versus 27.1% in the placebo group. These findings substantiate liraglutide’s role in clinically meaningful weight reduction and underpin its regulatory approval as Saxenda for obesity management.

Separately, the LEADER trial (Marso et al., 2016, New England Journal of Medicine, PMID 27295427) evaluated cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk. This large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled study enrolled 9,340 participants and followed them for a median of 3.8 years. Patients received liraglutide at doses up to 1.8 mg daily or placebo. The primary composite outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)—including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke—occurred in 13.0% of the liraglutide group compared to 14.9% in the placebo group. The hazard ratio was 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 0.97), indicating a statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular risk. This trial provides robust evidence of liraglutide’s cardiovascular benefit, distinct from its metabolic and weight-loss effects, supporting its use in managing type 2 diabetes with concomitant cardiovascular risk.

It is important to emphasize that these landmark clinical trials were conducted with the FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulations of liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda). Research-grade liraglutide available through laboratory peptide suppliers is a separate, non-pharmaceutical product intended exclusively for in vitro and in vivo research applications. This research-grade material is not formulated or approved for human use or consumption. The approved drug and research-grade compound differ in regulatory status and intended use, although they share the same active peptide structure enabling investigation of GLP-1 receptor agonism and related mechanisms.

Researchers interested in the pharmacological properties, mechanisms of action, and potential applications of liraglutide can access extensive published data via PubMed and NIH databases, including the foundational SCALE and LEADER trials. At Verified Peptides, we offer research-grade liraglutide for laboratory investigation of GLP-1 receptor pathways, metabolic regulation, and cardiovascular biology, supporting ongoing scientific discovery in these areas.

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not FDA approved. Consult a licensed physician.

Liraglutide represents a significant pharmacological innovation within the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, primarily due to its unique molecular design incorporating a C16 fatty-acid (palmitoyl) side chain attached via a glutamic acid spacer. This structural modification enables reversible binding to albumin, markedly extending liraglutide’s plasma half-life to approximately 13 hours. This contrasts sharply with native glucagon-like peptide-1, which is rapidly degraded and has a half-life measured in mere minutes. The albumin-binding strategy pioneered by liraglutide established a foundational approach for the development of subsequent longer-acting GLP-1 analogs, including once-weekly agents such as semaglutide, which further improve patient convenience and adherence through less frequent dosing schedules.

Unlike these newer agents, liraglutide’s pharmacokinetic profile necessitates once-daily administration, a factor that continues to influence its role in both clinical practice and research. Ongoing investigations often compare liraglutide’s efficacy, safety, and patient adherence with those of longer-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists, providing valuable insights into the impact of dosing frequency on therapeutic outcomes and tolerability. The once-daily regimen may offer advantages in titration flexibility and steady-state plasma levels, aspects that remain relevant in experimental designs and mechanistic studies.

Another lesser-known but critical aspect of liraglutide is its demonstrated cardiovascular benefit, which was established independently from its effects on weight management or glycemic control. The LEADER trial, a large-scale, randomized, controlled study involving over 9,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated cardiovascular risk, showed that liraglutide at doses up to 1.8 mg significantly reduced the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to placebo. This cardiovascular risk reduction is a distinct therapeutic indication that sets liraglutide apart from many other glucose-lowering agents and underscores its multifaceted clinical profile.

These differentiating features—innovative albumin-binding pharmacology, once-daily dosing, and proven cardiovascular benefit—contribute to liraglutide’s ongoing relevance in research contexts. While the approved pharmaceutical formulations (Victoza for diabetes and Saxenda for weight management) have well-characterized clinical data, research-grade liraglutide available through peptide suppliers enables laboratory investigations into its molecular mechanisms, receptor interactions, and potential novel applications, separate from its approved human uses.

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not FDA approved. Consult a licensed physician.

Research-grade liraglutide, a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide with a molecular formula of C172H265N43O51 and a molecular weight of 3751.2 g/mol, is a specialized product distinct from the FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulations marketed as Victoza and Saxenda. At Verified Peptides, we source liraglutide from reputable manufacturers who adhere to stringent peptide synthesis protocols to ensure high purity and structural fidelity. This peptide’s unique modification—a C16 fatty-acid (palmitoyl) side chain attached via a glutamic acid spacer—necessitates precise synthetic and purification techniques to maintain its albumin-binding capacity and extended half-life characteristics.

To guarantee the integrity of our research-grade liraglutide, at Verified Peptides, we employ comprehensive quality control measures. Each batch undergoes rigorous high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to confirm purity levels, typically exceeding 95%, ensuring minimal impurities and degradation products. Additionally, mass spectrometry is utilized to verify the molecular identity and confirm the peptide’s exact mass, matching the expected 3751.2 g/mol. This dual analytical approach provides researchers with confidence in the reproducibility and reliability of experimental results involving liraglutide.

It is critical to emphasize that research-grade liraglutide is intended exclusively for laboratory research applications and is not formulated or approved for human use. Unlike the pharmaceutical-grade Victoza and Saxenda products, which have undergone extensive clinical testing and regulatory review for specific indications such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic weight management, the research peptide is supplied without medical claims and is not suitable for clinical or therapeutic use. At Verified Peptides, we support the scientific community by delivering high-quality liraglutide for investigative studies, enabling exploration of its biochemical properties, receptor interactions, and potential novel applications under controlled laboratory conditions.

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not FDA approved. Consult a licensed physician.

Liraglutide, as a synthetic peptide analog with a molecular weight of 3751.2 g/mol, is typically supplied in lyophilized powder form for research purposes. Proper storage and handling are critical to maintain its structural integrity and biological activity during laboratory use. Lyophilized liraglutide should be stored at low temperatures, ideally at -20°C or below, to minimize degradation over time. Avoid exposure to moisture and light, which can accelerate peptide hydrolysis or oxidation.

Upon reconstitution, commonly performed using sterile water or appropriate buffer solutions, liraglutide solutions should be prepared fresh or stored refrigerated at 2–8°C for short-term use, generally not exceeding 24 to 48 hours to preserve stability. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles must be avoided as they can cause peptide aggregation or loss of activity. Aliquoting reconstituted peptide into single-use portions prior to freezing is recommended to prevent degradation from multiple thaw events.

The shelf-life of lyophilized liraglutide under optimal storage conditions can extend several months to a year, but this depends on factors such as vial sealing, storage temperature consistency, and absence of contaminants. Researchers should monitor for any visible changes such as discoloration or precipitation, which may indicate compromised peptide quality. It is important to emphasize that these guidelines pertain solely to research-grade liraglutide and not to the FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulations, which have distinct storage requirements.

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not FDA approved. Consult a licensed physician.