Dulaglutide Vs. Liraglutide: Drug Comparison

Dulaglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Trulicity^®. The information below is about brand name Trulicity. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing glucagon production. Additionally, Trulicity is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Administered once weekly, Trulicity can be used alone or with other diabetes medications. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. It should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of pancreatitis​.

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Victoza^®. The information below is about brand name Victoza. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

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

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is indicated:

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

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors

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 once weekly

• Comes in 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg per 0.5 mL single-dose pens

• 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 adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Decreased appetite

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

• 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 dulaglutide or any of the product components

• Drug interactions: Trulicity delays gastric emptying and has the potential to reduce the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• 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

• Thyroid C-cell tumors

• Pancreatitis

• Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute kidney injury

• Severe gastrointestinal disease

• Diabetic retinopathy complications

• Acute gallbladder disease

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

• 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

Dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats. It is unknown whether Trulicity causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

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

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 Trulicity^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.

*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.