Byetta Vs. Victoza: Drug Comparison

Byetta^® (exenatide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin secretion, slowing stomach emptying, and reducing glucagon release. Its FDA-approved indication is for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, typically alongside diet and exercise. It is not approved for use in type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Byetta is available as a twice-daily injectable solution. Most common side effects include nausea, low blood sugar, vomiting, diarrhea, feeling jittery, dizziness, headache, indigestion, constipation, and weakness. Nausea usually decreases over time. Byetta has been associated with a risk of pancreatitis and should be used cautiously with other medications that affect blood sugar levels.

Victoza^® (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, and slowing gastric emptying to lower blood sugar levels. Victoza is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death,] in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. It should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Byetta (exenatide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Victoza (liraglutide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

• Typically taken as an injection twice daily

• Comes in single-patient-use prefilled pens that deliver 5 mcg or 10 mcg per dose

• Typically taken as an injection once daily

• Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg per injection

Most common (≥5%) and occurring more frequently than placebo in clinical trials:

• Nausea (usually decreases over time)

• Low blood sugar

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Feeling jittery

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Indigestion

• Constipation

• Weakness

Postmarketing reports with exenatide of increased international normalized ratio (INR) with concomitant use of warfarin, sometimes with bleeding

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Decreased appetite

• Indigestion

• Constipation

Immunogenicity-related events, including hives, were more common among Victoza-treated patients (0.8%) than among comparator-treated patients (0.4%) in clinical trials

• History of severe hypersensitivity to exenatide or any of the excipients in Byetta

• History of drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from exenatide products

• Drug interactions: orally administered medications, warfarin

• Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any of the excipients in Victoza

• Drug interactions: Victoza delays gastric emptying and may impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Never share a Byetta pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

• Acute pancreatitis

• Low blood sugar with concomitant use of insulin secretagogues or insulin

• Acute kidney injury

• Severe gastrointestinal disease

• Immunogenicity: Patients may develop antibodies to exenatide

• Hypersensitivity

• Drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Pancreatitis

• Never share a Victoza pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

• Low blood sugar: Adult patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Pregnancy: Victoza should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Victoza causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Victoza is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

*This information is from the label for brand name Byetta^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Exenatide, the active ingredient in Byetta, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient exenatide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Victoza^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient liraglutide.