A once-daily GLP-1 analog engineered for a longer half-life than native GLP-1.
Also known as: Victoza · Saxenda
Part of the Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides cluster
Overview
Liraglutide is a modified glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog carrying a fatty-acid chain that extends its circulation time. It is a prescription drug approved by Health Canada and the FDA, and is a landmark example of peptide half-life engineering. This page is educational and not medical advice.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Synthetic analog of human GLP-1 with a fatty-acid side chain
Primary research or clinical context: Prescription medicine approved in Canada, the US and EU
How it is engineered
Native GLP-1 is broken down within minutes by the enzyme DPP-4. Liraglutide adds a C16 fatty-acid (palmitoyl) side chain via a glutamate spacer, which promotes reversible binding to albumin. This slows clearance and enables once-daily dosing, illustrating the acylation strategy widely used in later GLP-1 analogs.
Approval and status
Liraglutide is an approved prescription medicine sold under brand names such as Victoza and Saxenda, first cleared in the EU in 2009 and the US in 2010. Because it is a scheduled therapeutic, it is dispensed only under medical supervision. This educational summary describes the peptide chemistry without dosing or treatment guidance.
FAQ about Liraglutide
What is Liraglutide?+
Liraglutide is a modified glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog carrying a fatty-acid chain that extends its circulation time. It is a prescription drug approved by Health Canada and the FDA, and is a landmark example of peptide half-life engineering. This page is educational and not medical advice.
Is Liraglutide an approved medicine?+
Liraglutide: Prescription medicine approved in Canada, the US and EU. Always follow licensed medical guidance for approved products.
What is the typical length of Liraglutide?+
Liraglutide is commonly described as approximately 31 amino acids (GLP-1 receptor agonist (acylated peptide)).