Victoza Vs. Xultophy: Drug Comparison

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​.

Xultophy^® 100/3.6 is a combination medication containing insulin degludec, a long-acting insulin, and liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, used to manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels, while liraglutide slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite, helping to control sugar levels. The FDA-approved indication for Xultophy 100/3.6 is as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Xultophy 100/3.6 is available as a pre-filled injection pen, administered once daily with or without food. Common side effects include inflammation of the nasal passages and throat, headache, nausea, diarrhea, increased lipase, and upper respiratory tract infection, while serious risks include pancreatitis and a possible risk of thyroid tumors, leading to a boxed warning for the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.

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

Insulin degludec: long-acting human insulin analog

Liraglutide: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

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

Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec and liraglutide) is indicated:

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

• 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

• Typically taken as an injection once daily

• Comes in 3 mL single-patient-use pens of 100 units/mL of insulin degludec and 3.6 mg/mL of liraglutide

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

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

• Inflammation of the nose and throat

• Headache

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Increased lipase

• Upper respiratory tract infection

Immunogenicity-related events, including urticaria, were more common among liraglutide-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 liraglutide or any of the excipients in Victoza

• Drug interactions: Victoza delays gastric emptying and may impact 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

• During episodes of low blood sugar

• Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to insulin degludec, liraglutide, or any of the excipients in Xultophy 100/3.6

• Drug interactions: drugs that affect glucose metabolism, anti-adrenergic drugs (e.g., beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine)

• Effects of delayed gastric emptying on oral medications: May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• 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

• Pancreatitis

• Never share a Xultophy 100/3.6 penbetween patients, even if the needle is changed

• High or low blood sugar with changes in insulin regimen

• Overdose due to medication errors

• Low blood sugar

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Low blood potassium

• Fluid retention and congestive heart failure with use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

• Pregnancy: Xultophy 100/3.6 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.

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide, one of the components of Xultophy 100/3.6, causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Xultophy 100/3.6 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.

Xultophy 100/3.6 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 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.

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