glp1versus

Victoza vs Zepbound

liraglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) vs tirzepatide (Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist) — a complete side-by-side comparison.

Novo NordiskEli Lilly

Victoza weight loss

3.2%

Zepbound weight loss

22.5%

Victoza dosing

Once daily

Zepbound dosing

Once weekly

Reviewed by Dr. Elena Vance, DOLast reviewed 14 sources cited

Quick Summary

Victoza (liraglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) are both incretin-based therapies. In clinical trials, Zepbound showed greater weight loss (22.5% vs 3.2%).

See the comparison table below for detailed side-by-side data.

Victoza vs Zepbound: Full Comparison

FeatureVictoza(liraglutide)Zepbound(tirzepatide)
Active Ingredientliraglutidetirzepatide
Drug ClassGLP-1 receptor agonistDual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist
ManufacturerNovo NordiskEli Lilly
FDA Approved2010-01-252023-11-08
Approved Indications
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjunct to diet and exercise)
  • Reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease
  • Type 2 diabetes in patients aged 10+ years
  • Chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (adjunct to diet and exercise)
  • Treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (December 20, 2024)
Routesubcutaneous injectionsubcutaneous injection
FrequencyOnce dailyOnce weekly
Starting Dose0.6 mg daily2.5 mg weekly
Maintenance Dose1.2 mg or 1.8 mg daily5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly
Max Dose1.8 mg daily15 mg weekly
Weight Loss (%)3.2%22.5%
A1C Reduction1.1%N/A (not indicated for diabetes)
Key TrialLEADER (188 weeks)SURMOUNT-1 / SURMOUNT-5 (head-to-head vs semaglutide) (72 weeks)
List Price$950-$1,100/month$1,060-$1,176/month
With Insurance$25-$150/month (varies by plan)$25-$250/month (varies; weight-loss coverage is limited)
Savings Card$25/month (Novo Nordisk savings card, commercially insured)$25/month (Lilly savings card, commercially insured)

Side Effects: Victoza vs Zepbound

Side EffectVictozaZepbound
Nausea28%24-33%
Diarrhea17%18-25%
Vomiting11%10-18%
Headache9%Not reported
Decreased appetite9%Not reported
Dyspepsia7%7-10%
Constipation6%13-17%
Pancreatitis (rare)<1%<1%
Abdominal painNot reported10-14%
Injection site reactionNot reported3-7%
Hair lossNot reported5-6%
Gallbladder eventsNot reported1.6%

Severity scale: 1 (mild) to 5 (serious). Based on FDA prescribing information and clinical trial data.

Related Comparisons

Victoza vs OzempicZepbound vs OzempicVictoza vs WegovyZepbound vs WegovyVictoza vs MounjaroZepbound vs MounjaroVictoza vs RybelsusZepbound vs Rybelsus

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

FDA & Regulatory

  1. Victoza FDA Drugs@FDA approval record — FDA
  2. Zepbound FDA Drugs@FDA approval record — FDA

Clinical Trial Records

  1. LEADER clinical trial record — ClinicalTrials.gov
  2. SURMOUNT-1 / SURMOUNT-5 (head-to-head vs semaglutide) clinical trial record — ClinicalTrials.gov

Peer-Reviewed Literature

  1. Marso SP et al. Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes (LEADER). N Engl J Med 2016;375:311-322 — New England Journal of Medicine
  2. Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med 2022;387:205-216 — New England Journal of Medicine
  3. Malhotra A et al. Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity (SURMOUNT-OSA). N Engl J Med 2024;391:1193-1205 — New England Journal of Medicine

Safety Communications

  1. FDA approves first medication for obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound OSA indication, December 20, 2024) — FDA

Manufacturer Information

  1. Victoza patient and healthcare provider website — Novo Nordisk
  2. Zepbound patient and healthcare provider website — Eli Lilly
  3. Lilly lowers price of Zepbound single-dose vials (December 1, 2025) — Eli Lilly Investor Relations
  4. SURMOUNT-5: Zepbound superior weight loss over Wegovy (May 11, 2025) — Eli Lilly Investor Relations

Reference Entries

  1. Liraglutide entry on Wikipedia — Wikipedia
  2. Tirzepatide entry on Wikipedia — Wikipedia

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions. See our full medical disclaimer.